Alta, Vest-Finnmark - Exploring Norway

Alta is a town in Finnmark County in the far north of Norway. It lies at the shores of the fjord Altafjorden. This is where the river Altaelva flows into the fjord and the Arctic Ocean. Alta is together with Kirkenes the two main commercial centers for Finnmark. The town is for many visitors the gateway to Nordkapp or the North Cape. It is the last major city on the long drive north that eventually ends up facing the Arctic Ocean. Maybe even a drive under the midnight sun? Or maybe with a view of the northern lights? Two famous natural phenomenon this far north,

With a population of around 15.900 inhabitants, Alta is considered to be the northernmost city in the world. That is when you only count cities with more than 10.000 inhabitants. This is a young city. It was first established in the year 2000. The villages of Alta, Bossebop, and Elvebakken were then merged into a city.

A Short History of Alta

The first known written mentioning of Alta dates back to the year 1520. The area around the fjord was at the time inhabited by the Sámi people. They lived on hunting, fishing, and livestock. The area did officially become a part of Denmark-Norway with the treaty of Knäred in 1613. Both Russia and Sweden had made claims to the area before the treaty.

Around 2000 people lived in the area at the start of the 19th century. A majority of them were Sámi, while there was also many Kven people and Norwegians. The 19th century also included the beginning of mining in the area. The main mining settlement was in Kåfjord, to the west of today’s Alta. The village and area did, however, not fare well during the Second World War. Most was burned down by the Germans in 1944. The sole surviving building was the church. The returning refugees in 1945 had to live in tents as they rebuilt their homes.

The village of Alta merged with the villages of Bossebop and Elvebakken in 2000. Together, they created the new city of Alta.

Things to Do and See

Alta is in many ways the gateway to the arctic and many of the famous sights in the area. One of these sights is the Northern Cape, or Nordkapp. The area is famous for the possibility to see majestic northern lights during the long winter. There is of course also the midnight sun in the summer. The sun doesn’t set here from mid-May until the end of July. That is a day stretching for around two and a half months. The Polar night is instead from the end of November until mid-January.

The center of Alta consists, in addition to a pedestrian street, of several warehouse stores and a shopping center. This is where you will find what is probably the most prominent building in the area – the Northern Lights Cathedral.

Northern Lights Cathedral

The Northern Lights Cathedral is the new parish church in Alta. It is also known by its Norwegian name Nordlyskatedralen and it is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway. It was completed in 2013 and is known for its uncommon modern architecture. The church has a capacity of 350 visitors.

Alta Museum

The Alta Museum is located in Hjemmeluft, just to the southwest of the city center. It has both indoor exhibitions as well as an outdoor area with rock carvings. The Rock Art of Alta was added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985. There are in total 4 sites with rock carvings and one site with rock paintings. One of the sites of rock carvings is located next to the museum.

The indoor exhibitions includes the stories of the rock art and the people who carved the figures in these stones. There are also exhibitions of the local heritage and the area’s resources.

In addition, and a little bit our of topic, this is also where you can learn more about Bjørn Wirkola. Wirkola came from Alta and was once the world’s best ski jumper. He became the world champion in 1966.

Nordlysbadet

Nordlysbadet is the local aquatic center with indoor swimming pools. In addition to a 25-meter swimming pool there are several areas for play and relaxation. From a large water slide to a wellness center with saunas.

Alta Kirke

Alta Kirke was the main parish church up until the completion of the Northern Lights Cathedral in 2013. The church was completed in 1858 and was the first church in Alta. It is a white wooden church with a capacity of around 230 visitors.

How to Get to Alta

Flights: The nearest airport is Alta Airport, located just outside of the city. It has mainly domestic flights, but also a few international seasonal flights. This is also where you will find the regional flights across the Arctic part of Norway.
Car: Alta is located along European Route E6, between Tromsø and Kirkenes.

The driving distance from 5 major Norwegian cities, according to Google Maps: