Karasjok

Karasjok (Kárášjohka in Sami) is a township and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.

The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river, and its tributaries Anarjohka and Karasjohka, and includes large tracts of the high plateau of Finnmarksvidda. In this far northeastern part of Norway, climate is much more continental compared to the typical coastal climate in Norway. Situated in a river valley on this plateu, Karasjok has recorded the coldest 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 unofficialy a temperature of -52C was recorded.

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

80% of the population is Sami speaking, and Sami and Norwegian have equal status in the municipality.

Most people live in Karasjok village. The village is the seat of the Samediggi, the Sami parliament in Norway, as well as of the Sami broadcasting, and several Sami institutions, public and private, are to be found here.

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 war 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 duoddji, Sami handicraft.

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Municipalities of Finnmark | Villages in Norway | Settlements in Finnmark

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