Storfjord
Encyclopedia
Storfjord is a municipality
in Troms
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hatteng.
. The initial population was 1,499. On 1 January 1964, the Elvebakken farm of Balsfjord
was transferred to Storfjord. Then on 1 January 1992, one uninhabited farm in the Nordnes area of Lyngen
was transferred to Storfjord.
. The first element is stor which means "great" or "big".
is from modern times. They were granted on 9 February 1990. The arms show three poppies
of the very rare species papaver
laestadianum. The meeting of the three poppies also represents the meeting point (Treriksrøysa
) of the three countries Norway, Sweden
, and Finland
, that lies in the municipality.
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.
Storfjord borders both Finland and Sweden, and the borders of the three countries meet at the beacon of Treriksröset
, 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
forest
s are common in the valleys in Storfjord, and the more rare calcareous
pine forests, with several orchids, are also present. The lake Rihpojávri
is located near the eastern border of Storfjord. The Skibotn valley has a microclimate with very little clouds by Norwegian standards, and annual precipitation down to 300 – 450 mm. The monthly 24-hr average temperature varies from -6,5°C in January to 13,5°C in July.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hatteng.
General information
The municipality of Storfjord was established in 1929 when it was separated from the municipality of LyngenLyngen
Lyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
. The initial population was 1,499. On 1 January 1964, the Elvebakken farm of Balsfjord
Balsfjord
Balsfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storsteinnes, while Nordkjosbotn at the head of the fjord is another village....
was transferred to Storfjord. Then on 1 January 1992, one uninhabited farm in the Nordnes area of Lyngen
Lyngen
Lyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
was transferred to Storfjord.
Name
The municipality is named after the StorfjordenStorfjorden
Storfjorden is the body of water separating Spitsbergen in the west from Barentsøya and Edgeøya to the east. Its southern limits are Kikutodden in Sørkapp Land east to Håøya, Tiholmane, Brækmoholmane, and Menkeøyane in Tusenøyane and northeast to Negerpynten—the southeastern promontory of Edgeøya...
. The first element is stor which means "great" or "big".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 9 February 1990. The arms show three poppies
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
of the very rare species papaver
Papaver
Papaver is a genus of 70-100 species of frost-tolerant annuals, biennials, and perennials native to temperate and cold regions of Eurasia, Africa and North America. It is the type genus of the poppy family, Papaveraceae.-Description:...
laestadianum. The meeting of the three poppies also represents the meeting point (Treriksrøysa
Treriksrøysa
Treriksrøysa . Norway has two three-country land borderpoints and also two cairns of a similar type. The western is on the meetingpoint of her borders to Finland and Sweden, and the eastern on the meetingpoint of her borders to Finland and Russia.-See also:* Treriksröset - An article about the...
) of the three countries Norway, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, that lies in the municipality.
History
The SamiSami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
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
Laestadianism
Laestadianism is a conservative Lutheran revival movement started in the middle of the 19th century. It is strongly marked by both pietistic and Moravian influences. It is the biggest revivalist movement in the Nordic countries. It has members mainly in Finland, North America, Norway, Russia and...
, a puritan religious movement, obtained a strong position. Skibotn
Skibotn
Skibotn is a village with approximately 700 inhabitants in Storfjord municipality, located on the southeastern shore of the Lyngen Fjord in the Northern Norwegian county of Troms. The village area is located at the crossroads of the highways E6 and E8...
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.
Geography
The municipality is situated around the inner parts of the Lyngen fjord. 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 Treriksröset
Treriksröset
Treriksröset , Treriksrøysa , Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki is the point at which the borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet....
, the northernmost point of Sweden. Treriksrøysa
Treriksrøysa
Treriksrøysa . Norway has two three-country land borderpoints and also two cairns of a similar type. The western is on the meetingpoint of her borders to Finland and Sweden, and the eastern on the meetingpoint of her borders to Finland and Russia.-See also:* Treriksröset - An article about the...
is a popular hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of 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
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s are common in the valleys in Storfjord, and the more rare calcareous
Calcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
pine forests, with several orchids, are also present. The lake Rihpojávri
Rihpojávri
Rihpojávri is a lake which lies in the municipality of Storfjord in Troms county, Norway, just to the south of European route E8. The lake is a reservoir that has a dam on the north end. The water leaving the lake flows into the Rihpojohka river which then flows into the Skibotnelva....
is located near the eastern border of Storfjord. The Skibotn valley has a microclimate with very little clouds by Norwegian standards, and annual precipitation down to 300 – 450 mm. The monthly 24-hr average temperature varies from -6,5°C in January to 13,5°C in July.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...