Storfjord
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| Storfjord kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Troms | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-1939 | ||
| Administrative centre | Oteren | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2003) | Hanne Braathen (Sp) | ||
| Area (Nr. 49 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 1,543 km² (595.8 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 1,477 km² (570.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 1,912 | ||
| - Density | 1/km² (2.6/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -0.3 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 340 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
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| Website: www.storfjord.kommune.no | |||
Storfjord is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.
Storfjord was separated from Lyngen July 1, 1930.
The municipality is situated around the inner parts of the fjord of Lyngen. The ethnic mix is interesting, with both Sami and Finnish cultures represented. In the valley of Signaldalen, a Norwegian dialect of southern origin is spoken, a relic of the valley's settlement from the south in the early 19th century.
Storfjord borders both Finland and Sweden, and the borders of the three countries meet at the beacon of Treriksrøysa, the northernmost point of Sweden. Treriksrøysa is a popular hiking destination; there are no fences, so at this location one step forward is all that is needed to get from one country to another.
Pine and birch forests are common in the dry climate in Storfjord, and the more rare calcaerous pine forests, with several orchids, are also present.
[edit] The name
The municipality is named after the fjord Storfjorden. The first element is stor 'great, big'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1990). It shows three poppies of the very rare species Papaver laestadianum. The meeting of the three poppies also represent the meeting point (Treriksrøysa) of the three countries Norway, Sweden and Finland, that lies in the municipality.
[edit] History
The Sami culture is the original culture; however, in the 19th century, settlers came from Finland and from the valleys of Southern Norway to establish themselves. Sami culture, though, has survived in parts of Storfjord to the present. In the 19th century, Laestadianism, a puritan religious movement, obtained a strong position. Skibotn is even today a stronghold for this movement.
The Market of Skibotn was traditionally a meeting point between ethnic groups, where Sami, Finns and Norwegians met to trade. This market still takes place today.
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