About Hammerfest

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:20:29 +0200

Hammerfest, the town which lies 70 degrees north

Hammerfest, the northernmost town in the world, the polar night town, the gateway to the Barents Sea, the energy town of the north, the Snow White town – these are some of the many names which help to describe this little metropolis on the west coast of Finnmark. Hammerfest has consolidated its position as the northernmost town in the world and is a fascinating town. The people of Hammerfest are proud of their town – a town where both trade & industry, cultural life and tourism are rapidly expanding and developing. The northernmost town in the world and a little metropolis

Hammerfest is situated at 70 degrees north, and is not only the northernmost town in the world, but also a vital, international coastal town and metropolis. Hammerfest became a town as early as in 1789, and is northern Norway’s oldest town.

In spite of being situated 1000 km north of the Arctic Circle, the town has been an international centre and an arctic hunting town for centuries. The polar bear on the town’s emblem is a symbol of the town’s history and tradition for arctic hunting. The Gulf Stream blesses the town with an ice free harbour which has been used frequently by trading ships, war ships, polar ships and fishing boats throughout the centuries. The name Hammerfest can be divided into “hammer” and “fest” which translated means the places where the boats were moored.

Today Hammerfest is a modern town with approximately 9,200 inhabitants. The town has always been an important international arctic town and fishing harbour, and most of the trade and industry are based on utilising the resources along the coast and in the ocean. Hammerfest has also established itself as the county’s petroleum centre with a supply base, oil-pollution service and a helicopter base. The town is also host to the hi-tech Snow White project with Europe’s first full scale LNG installation.

The community is characterised by the various seasons. The summer is long and light. The midnight sun shines from the middle of May until the end of July. Every year in July the “Hammerfest Days” are arranged with small and large events which add fun and excitement to life in the town. With winter comes the darkness and the big contrasts are celebrated during the Polar Night Festival (Mørketidsfestivalen) in November. The absence of the sun increases the effect of the northern lights playing across the arctic sky.

Read moore at: Hammerfest Turist

Nytt fra Barentshavkonferansen

About Hammerfest

Hammerfest, the town which lies 70 degrees north

Map Hammerfest

Map Hammerfest and facilities

Regional Map

Regional Map