Porsanger

Infobox_Kommune
name=Porsanger
alt_names_last=Porsáŋggu gielda Porsangin komuuni
idnumber=2020
county=Finnmark
landscape=
capital=Lakselv
governor=Bjørn Kåre Søderholm (H)
governor_as_of=2004
arearank=3
area=4873
arealand=4643
areapercent=1.51
population_as_of=2008
populationrank=221?
population=4,059
populationpercent=0.0
populationdensity=0.9
populationincrease=-8.2
language=Bokmål, Sami, and Kven
lat_deg=70| lat_min=1| lat_sec=7| lon_deg=25| lon_min=1| lon_sec=25
utm_zone=35W| utm_northing=7769191 |utm_easting=0424643| geo_cat=adm2nd


munwebpage=www.porsanger.no

Porsanger (Norwegian) or Porsáŋgu (Northern Sami) or Porsanki (Kven/Finnish) is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway. Since 2004 the municipality has had three official names: Porsanger, Porsáŋgu, and Porsanki.

Porsanger (until 1964 named Kistrand) was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Three other municipalities were later separated from it: Kautokeino (1851), Nordkapp (1861) and Karasjok (1866).

Facts

Porsanger is the third largest municipality by area, with 4.873 km². The fjord is the fourth longest in Norway, and the longest in North Norway. Based here is the northernmost winery, using crowberries instead of grapes.

Midnight sun from 16 May to 27 July. Polar night from 25 November to 16 January.

Population

With a population of 4100 people, many with Kven(Kainu) or Sami background. The population decreases slowly with 0-8% according to the municipality statistics, taken yearly.

Geography

The municipality is on the shores of the fjord Porsangen, a wide, open body of water with many islands. The biggest settlement and administrative centre is the town of Lakselv at the fjord's end, but there are smaller hamlets spread around on both sides, notably Kistrand, Olderfjord, Børselv and Billefjord.

On the western side of the fjord, one finds the Stabbursdalen National Park, with the world's northernmost pine forest.

History

The area has been settled by Sami since time immemorial. In the 18th century people from Finland, escaping famine and war, settled along the fjord. These people are today known as Kven. Today, three official languages are in use, and the municipality is named "Porsanger", "Porsáŋgu" and "Porsanki" (the name in respectively Norwegian, Northern Sami and Kven/Finnish).

Economy

Lakselv Airport, Banak has connections to Tromsø and Kirkenes operated by Widerøe, as well as charter flights in the summer season. The airport is also used by the Norwegian air force's Station Group Banak, and with the Norwegian army's garrison at Porsangmoen, the military presence is quite heavy.

Local newspapers are Finnmark Dagblad and Ságat.

The name

The Norse form of the name was "Porsangr". The first element is probably the name of the plant "pors"/"finnmarkspors" (Ledum palustre). (Another theory is that is comes from Sami "borsi" 'waterfall'.) The last word is "angr" 'fjord'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from 1967. It shows three reindeer.

(See also the coat-of-arms of Eidfjord, Rendalen, Tromsø, Vadsø and Vågå.)

Birdlife

Porsanger is an area of rich and varied bird fauna. The Stabbursdalen National Park can be found within the municipality, a site of international importance with the worlds northernmost pine forests. Here one can find such species as Pine Grosbeak. Away from the woodlands, it is the surrounding wetlands that have the greatest diversity. During spring thousands of Red Knot stop to rest and feed along the shores of Porsangerfjord.

External links

* [http://www.porsanger.com/ Porsanger.com]
* [http://museumsnett.no/stabbursnes/engelsk.htm Stabbursnes nature house and museum]
* [http://www.stabbursdalen.no Angling in Porsanger]