Sør-Varanger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sør-Varanger kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Finnmark | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-2030 | ||
| Administrative centre | Kirkenes | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2007) | Linda Beate Randal (Ap) | ||
| Area (Nr. 6 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 3,968 km² (1,532.1 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 3,468 km² (1,339 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 9,490 | ||
| - Density | 3/km² (7.8/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -3.7 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 106 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Bokmål | ||
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| Website: www.sor-varanger.kommune.no | |||
Sør-Varanger (North Sámi: Máttá-Várjjat) is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.
Sør-Varanger was separated from the municipality of Vadsø July 1, 1858.
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[edit] The name
The meaning of the name Sør-Varanger is originally the name of a fjord, old Norse "Ver (j) angr", from "ver" (fishing village) and "angr" (fjord), first probably used on the narrow fjord on the inside of Angsnes which now is called "Meskfjorden" and leads in to Varangerbotn. Sør meaning south.
Until 1918 the name was written Sydvaranger.
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
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] External links
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