Storfjord

Storfjord (Northern Sami: Omasvuotna; Kven: Omasvuono[3]) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hatteng. Other villages in Storfjord include Elvevoll, Oteren, and Skibotn.

Storfjord kommune Omasvuona suohkan  (Northern Sami) Omasvuonon kunta  (Kven)
Municipality
View of the Skibotn harbor and camping area
Coat of arms Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Storfjord within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 69°16′43″N 20°17′12″E
Country	Norway
County	Troms og Finnmark
District	Nord-Troms
Established	1929
Administrative centre	Hatteng
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Geir Varvik (H)
Area
• Total	1,542.78 km^2 (595.67 sq mi)
• Land	1,477.79 km^2 (570.58 sq mi)
• Water	64.99 km^2 (25.09 sq mi)  4.2%
Area rank	54 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,829
• Rank	290 in Norway
• Density	1.2/km^2 (3/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	-3.1%
Demonym(s)	Storfjording[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5425
Official language form	Neutral[2]
Website	storfjord.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,543-square-kilometre (596 sq mi) municipality is the 54th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Storfjord is the 290th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,829. The municipality's population density is 1.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.1% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

The municipality of Storfjord was established in 1929 when the large Lyngen Municipality was divided into three: Lyngen Municipality in the northwest, Kåfjord Municipality in the northeast, and Storfjord Municipality in the south. The initial population of Storfjord was 1,499. On 1 January 1964, the Elvebakken farm of Balsfjord Municipality was transferred to Storfjord. Then on 1 January 1992, one uninhabited farm in the Nordnes area of Lyngen Municipality was transferred to Storfjord.[6]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[7]

Name

The municipality is named after the Storfjorden. The first element is stor which means "great" or "big", so it basically means "great fjord". After a long debate within the municipality, in 2014 the municipality (and national government) approved co-official names of the municipality in the Northern Sami language and Kven language. Omasvuotna (Northern Sami) or Omasvuono (Kven) are parallel, co-equal names that can be used interchangeably to refer to the municipality in the three different languages.[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times; it was granted on 9 February 1990. The arms show three poppies of the very rare species Papaver laestadianum (a subspecies of Papaver radicatum). The poppies are rotated around a meeting point which represents the meeting point (Treriksrøysa) of the three countries Norway, Sweden, and Finland, that lies on the edge of the municipality.[9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Storfjord. It is part of the Nord-Troms prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Storfjord

Parish (Sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Storfjord	Storfjord Church	Hatteng	1952
	Skibotn Chapel	Skibotn	1895

History

View of the Signaldalen valley

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. 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.

World War Two

There were several prison camps there during World War Two.[11] A 2014 NRK article estimated that a total of around 7000 or 8000 Soviet prisoners, were interred in these prison camps.[11] Furthermore, the Mallnitz Camp was the worst.[11]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Storfjord, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[12] The municipality falls under the Nord-Troms District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Storfjord is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste)	7
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste)	6
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	People of the Fjord (Fjordfolket)	2
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Common List (Felleslista)	1
	Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Common List (Felleslista)	1
	Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Common List (Felleslista)	2
	Skibotn People's List (Skibotn folkeliste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Joint list for Høyre and local list (Høyre og Felleslista)	2
	Skibotn Common List (Skibotn Fellesliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	People's list (Folkelista)	2
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Independent common list (Uavhengig felleslista)	1
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Workers' Common List (Arbeidernes Fellesliste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	2
	Independent common list (Uavhengig Fellesliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		15

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		15

Storfjord Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	2
Total number of members:		15

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	1
Total number of members:		15

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	3
Total number of members:		15

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	3
Total number of members:		12

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		12

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [29]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		12

Storfjord Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		12

Mayors

The mayors of Storfjord (incomplete list):

• 2019–present: Geir Varvik (H)
• 2015-2019: Knut Jentoft (LL)
• 2011-2015: Sigmund Steinnes (Ap)
• 2003-2011: Hanne Braathen (Sp)

Geography

The municipality is situated around the inner parts of the Lyngen fjord. 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 forests 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.

Climate

The Skibotn valley has a microclimate with very little clouds by Norwegian standards, and annual precipitation down to 300 to 450 millimetres (12 to 18 in). The monthly 24-hr average temperature varies from −6.5 °C (20.3 °F) in January to 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) in July.[31]

Climate data for Skibotn
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °C (°F)	−6.5 (20.3)	−6.1 (21.0)	−3.5 (25.7)	1.1 (34.0)	6.4 (43.5)	10.9 (51.6)	13.5 (56.3)	11.9 (53.4)	7.1 (44.8)	2.6 (36.7)	−2.3 (27.9)	−5.4 (22.3)	2.5 (36.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	43 (1.7)	42 (1.7)	30 (1.2)	24 (0.9)	20 (0.8)	34 (1.3)	46 (1.8)	48 (1.9)	41 (1.6)	54 (2.1)	47 (1.9)	46 (1.8)	475 (18.7)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[32]

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. "Stadnamn og rettskriving" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
7. Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (2019-12-24). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
8. Pulk, Åse (2014-03-07). "Storfjord kommune er Omasvuona suohkan på samisk". NRK Sapmi (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2018-08-06.
9. "Storfjord kommunes våpen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2008-12-07.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
11. Bare 35 av 272 krigsfanger overlevde dødsleiren [Only 35 of 272 war prisoners survived the death camp]
12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
31. Skibotn in Storfjord 1961-90 climate averages Archived 2012-05-26 at Archive.today
32. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 2004-06-14.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)