Kárášjohka - Karasjok

Infobox_Kommune
alt_names_first=Kárášjoga gielda
name=Karasjok
idnumber=2021
county=Finnmark
landscape=
capital=Karasjok
governor=Kjell H. Sæther (Ap)
governor_as_of=2004
arearank=2
area=5453
arealand=5205
areapercent=1.68
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=281
population=2,865
populationpercent=0.06
populationdensity=1
populationincrease=2.8
language=Bokmål and Sami
demonym=Karasjoking
lat_deg=69| lat_min=28| lat_sec=55| lon_deg=25| lon_min=6| lon_sec=18
utm_zone=35W| utm_northing=7709261 |utm_easting=0425889| geo_cat=adm2nd




munwebpage=www.karasjok.kommune.no

Kárášjohka (Sami language) or Karasjok (Norwegian) is a small town and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway. It is the second largest municipality in Norway by area.

History

The municipality was part of the old Kistrand municipality until 1866. The name of the municipality was "Karasjok" until 1990, when it was changed to "Kárášjohka-Karasjok" [ [http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fad/dok/regpubl/otprp/20012002/Otprp-nr-111-2001-2002-.html?id=125740 Ot.prp. nr. 111 (2001-2002) - regjeringen.no ] ] . It was the third municipality in Norway to get a Sami name. In 2005 the name was again changed, such that either "Kárášjohka" or "Karasjok" can be used [ [http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/wiztldles?doc=/usr/www/lovdata/for/lf/ov/ov-20041210-1636.html FOR-2004-12-10-1636 Endring av skrivemåten for tospråklige kommuner. Endring av skrivemåten for tospråklige kommunenavn, Deatnu-Tana, Gáivuotna-Kåfjord, Guovdageaidnu-Kautokeino, Kárášjohka-Karasjok og Unjárga-Nesseby, Troms og Finnmark ] ]

Geography and climate

The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river, and its tributaries Anárjohka and Kárášjohka, and includes large tracts of the high plateau of Finnmarksvidda. The river valley, unlike the plateau, is covered with pine and birch forest.

At Karigasniemi there is an official border crossing with Finland, and the European route E6 is passing through on its way from Lakselv to Deatnu Tana. The nearest airport is in Lakselv.

In this far northeastern part of Norway, climate is much more continental and dry compared to the typical coastal climate in Norway. Situated in a river valley on this plateau, Karasjok has recorded the coldest official temperature ever in Norway: −51.4C on January 1., 1886. The warmest temperature ever recorded in the summer is 32.4°C. In January 1999, there was also a cold shock, the "official" temperature recording was −51.2C, but unofficially a temperature of −56 °C was recorded. The warmest month on record was July 1941, with a mean (24hr) temperature of 17.9°C; the coldest month was February 1966 with a mean of −27.1°C.

Economy and tourism

Most people live in Karasjok (Kárášjohka) village. The village is the seat of the "Sámediggi", the Sami parliament in Norway, as well as of the Sami broadcasting, and several Sami institutions, public and private, are to be found here. 80% of the population is Sami speaking, and Sami and Norwegian have equal status in the municipality.

The attractions include the Sami parliament, Samediggi, the Sami museum and the church, dating from 1807. The Sami parliament was opened in 1989, by King Olav V, the first Samiparliamentpresident was Ole Henrik Magga, from Kautokeino. He was the president for more than eight years. The church in Karasjok is the oldest lutheran church in Finnmark, and the only building to survive the World War II damage. The church is today too small, so a big, wooden church, inspired by Sami architecture, has been built. Karasjok is also the place to look for duodji, Sami handicraft.

The name

"Karasjok" is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name "Kárášjohka". The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is "johka" 'river'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). It shows three bonfires. (The bonfire symbolizes meetingplace and protection.)

Birdlife

The birdlife to be found in this municipality is characteristic for the region. The inland habitats of Finmarksvidda are known for their rich bird life with species like Bluethroat preferring areas with scrub. The Tana river also flows through Karasjok and many of the species found in higher areas use it as a migration route.

References

External links

* [http://www.norphoto.com/r/eng39.php Pictures from Karasjok]
* [http://www.fishtana.com/pages/page_14.php Angling in Tana river]