Sør-Varanger

The meaning of the name Sør-Varanger is '(the) southern (part of) Varanger'. (Until 1964 there also existed a municipality with the name Nord-Varanger.)

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1982). It shows three flames. The number of three have several meanings: There are three sources for the economy (fishing, agriculture and mining). Three peoples live in the municipality (Norwegians, Sami and Finns). Three states meet here (Norway, Finland and Russia) - and there is three border-rivers (Neiden, Pasvikelva and Jakobselva).

[edit] Geography

Neiden, Sør-Varanger. The river yields a large catch of salmon.

Sør-Varanger is a vast area of some 3,700 km², situated between Finland and Russia. Most of the area is low-lying forest of pine and birch, with barren sections facing the Barents Sea. The centre of Sør-Varanger is the town of Kirkenes. Other settlements include Bugøynes, Neiden and little hamlets along the river of Pasvikelva. The local airport is called Høybuktmoen which is also a military camp. Garnisonen i Sør-Varanger (GSV) is based at Høybuktmoen.

The flora of the area is a part of the Russian and Siberian taiga, including a few hundred spruce trees of the Russian variety. Bears also inhabit the upper valley, notably in the Øvre Pasvik National Park.

[edit] History

The original inhabitants of the area are the Skolt Sami. This Sami group migrated between coast and inland in present Norwegian, Finnish and Russian territory, long before any borders existed. In the 16th century, they were converted to the Russian Orthodox faith, and still today the chapel of Saint George at Neiden, dating from 1565, is a reminder of eastern influence. In 1826, the previously disputed areas were divided between Norway and Russia (Finland being a Russian principality), causing great difficulties for the Sami. The Norwegian state also invited Norwegian settlers to come to the area, building Lutheran churches to counterbalance the Orthodox heritage. During the 19th century Finnish settlers (Kven) arrived to the valleys, and from 1906 Norwegians came in numbers because of the iron mining starting up in Kirkenes.

In 1906 the Bjørnevatn Mine opened at Bjørnevatn and four years later the mine was connected to the port in Kirkenes by Kirkenes-Bjørnevatnbanen, the world's most northery railway. The mine was closed in 1996.

[edit] Attractions and recreation

The attractions in the area include the Orthodox chapel of Saint George in Neiden, the chapel of King Oscar II in Grense Jakobselv on the Russian border (built in 1869 to mark the border) and prehistoric labyrinth constructions in the area, probably used for religious purposes.

Popular leisure activities include salmon fishing in one of the numerous rivers, hunting for elk and grouse, and snowmobile driving. Many inhabitants also own and frequently use a cabin located in more remote parts of the municipality.

[edit] Birdlife

For those interested in birds, Sør Varanger means the Pasvik Valley. This is a truly great area, an area where east meets west and a fauna that represents this. The region has many exciting species, amongst them some of the owls like Hawk Owl and Great-grey Owl. The region is also known for some interesting wetland areas with the Neiden and Munkefjorden being just one of many. For more information then check; Bird Watching In Norway - Sør Varanger

[edit] External links

Municipalities of Finnmark
Alta \| Berlevåg \| Båtsfjord \| Gamvik \| Hammerfest \| Hasvik \| Karasjok \| Kautokeino \| Kvalsund \| Lebesby \| Loppa \| Måsøy \| Nesseby \| Nordkapp \| Porsanger \| Sør-Varanger \| Tana \| Vadsø \| Vardø