Båtsfjord
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County | Finnmark | |
District | ||
Municipality | NO-2028 | |
Administrative centre | Båtsfjord | |
Mayor (2003) | Geir Knutsen (Ap) | |
Official language form | Neutral | |
Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 58 1,433 km² 1,415 km² 0.44 % |
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Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 319 2,290 0.05 % -7.4 % 2/km² |
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Coordinates | ||
www.batsfjord.kommune.no |
Båtsfjord is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.
The municipality is situated on the north-eastern coast of the peninsula of Varangerhalvøya. Previously, there were several villages along this barren coast, but today everyone lives in the town of Båtsfjord, with a sheltered situation at the end of the Båtsfjord inlet. Båtsfjord Airport is a new, modern airport, and the hurtigruten calls at Båtsfjord.
The most interesting attraction is Hamningberg, an abandonded fishing village on the outer coast, with well-preserved 19th c. wooden houses, a unique example of old architecture in a county so devastated by World War II. Now it is used for summer stays.
Båtsfjord was used in the cartoon Metalocalypse's first episode, "The Curse of DethKlok." In the episode thousands of people from around the world travel to Båtsfjord to hear the main characters, a death metal band named DethKlok play a little-over 1 minute song promoting a fictional coffee company. The episode features a large amount of death by various means, mainly the parachuted stage missing its landing spot. the episode also features James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica fame.
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[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name was Botnsfjorðr. The first element is the genitive case of botn m 'innermost part of a fjord'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1985). It shows a fishhook. (Similar fishhooks made of bone, from the Stone Age, are found in the municipality.)
(See also the coat-of-arms of Frøya.)
[edit] Birdlife
The municipality covers an area of 1,433 sq. km including Finnmark's highest mountain pass over Ordofjell at 400 m.a.s. With the Barents Sea pounding the rocky coastline, Båtsfjord is at the mercy of the elements, but it is a great place to visit with the worlds northern most Gannet colony to be found on the stack at Syltefjordstauran. The two pairs that were discovered in 1961 have now grown to well over 300 pairs. The Northern Gannet is just one of many species that can be seen. For more information on the areas birdlife check Bird Watching In Norway - Båtsfjord
[edit] External Links
Municipalities of Finnmark | |
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Alta | Berlevåg | Båtsfjord | Gamvik | Hammerfest | Hasvik | Karasjok | Kautokeino | Kvalsund | Lebesby | Loppa | Måsøy | Nesseby | Nordkapp | Porsanger | Sør-Varanger | Tana | Vadsø | Vardø |