Mehamn

Mehamn
—  Village  —
Mehamn in winter
Mehamn Location in Norway
Coordinates: 71°02′N 27°51′E / 71.033°N 27.85°E / 71.033; 27.85
Country	Norway
Region	Northern Norway
County	Finnmark
Municipality	Gamvik
Population (2009)
- Total	709
Time zone	CET (UTC+01)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02)

map of Mehamn

Mehamn (Northern Sami: Donjevuotna, Kven: Meehamina) is a village in the Gamvik municipality in the county of Finnmark in northern Norway. The village abuts the base of a small Vedvik peninsula, itself part of the greater Nordkinn Peninsula, at the southern end of Mehamn Fjord, a bay in the Barents Sea. As of 1 January 2009, the village has 704 inhabitants,^[1] serving as the administrative center of the Gamvik municipality.

Transport

Mehamn Fjord during polar night, with the Normannsethfjorden inlet and Vedvikneset just north of Mehamn. Reipnakktinden as well as a sugarhead of Kinnarodden − the northernmost point on the Nordkinn Peninsula − are visible at the far end.

Regional route 888 connects Mehamn to the European route E6 at the base of the Nordkinn Peninsula, and thence to Kirkenes in the east and Alta in the west. Mehamn is a port of call for the Hurtigruten coastal ship.^[2] Mehamn is also connected by air via Mehamn Airport, with services by Widerøe.^[3]

History

Whaling

Svend Foyn established the whaling station in Mehamn that was the largest of its kind in Finnmark. This station was built in 1884-85, and was put into use from the spring of 1885. After Foyn’s death in 1894, the whaling station was run by Foyn’s whaling company. Svend Foyn also established the Svend Foyn Chapel, in Mehamn. This stood ready for use from 1887. ^[4]

1982 air crash

Main article: Widerøe Flight 933

On 11 March 1982 a Widerøe Twin Otter crashed into the sea^[5] on approach to Mehamn Airport during flight from Berlevåg Airport, killing all on board. Despite controversies regarding the cause of the crash, clear-air turbulence over Mehamn Fjord was determined as the official cause.^[5]

References

1. ^ Statistics Norway
2. ^ Hurtigruten timetable
3. ^ avinor.no
4. ^ 200 years since the birth of Svend Foyn (Kystmuseene)
5. ^ ^{a b} Aviation Safety Network

Coordinates: 71°02′N 27°51′E / 71.033°N 27.85°E / 71.033; 27.85