Cape Nordkinn
Encyclopedia
Cape Nordkinn at 71°8′2"N 27°39′0"E is the northernmost point on Nordkinn Peninsula
in Finnmark
county in northern Norway
. It is notable for being the northernmost point
of mainland Norway
, and by extension the northernmost point
of mainland Europe
.
peninsula within the northernmost part of the Nordkinn Peninsula, about 14 km in a straight line from the village of Mehamn
.
North Cape
, more precisely Knivskjellodden
, at 71°11′ 8″ N, 5.7 km further north than Cape Nordkinn is branded as Europe's "official" northernmost point, despite being located on the island of Magerøya
.
from Mehamn and one day back. The terrain is sufficiently difficult for hiking that more than two days is usually required for the loop, 24 km one way. On rainy weather the slippery stones make the terrain very difficult, whilst sudden fogs and associated whiteout can make orientation on the highland south of the cape impossible without a GPS
. There is no GSM coverage to the northwest of Mehamn Airport
.
The cape can also be reached by boat tours. The tourist bureau of the Gamvik
municipality provides tourist information. Hurtigruten
ships call at Mehamn and Kjøllefjord to the southwest of the cape, providing a sighting opportunity for visitors on the way.
Nordkinn Peninsula
Nordkinn Peninsula is a peninsula in Finnmark, in northern Norway. Settlement is mostly concentrated on the northern shores and at the base of the peninsula. The main towns are Mehamn, Gamvik and Kjøllefjord. The Slettnes lighthouse near Gamvik is the northernmost lighthouse in mainland Europe.-...
in Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
county in northern Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is notable for being the northernmost point
Extreme points of Norway
The extreme points of Norway include the coordinates that are further north, south, east or west than any other location in Norway; and the highest and the lowest altitudes in the country. The northern-most point is Rossøya on Svalbard, the southern-most is Pysen in Mandal, the eastern-most is...
of mainland Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and by extension the northernmost point
Extreme points of Europe
This is a list of the extreme points of Europe: the geographical points that are higher, farther north, south, east or west than any other location in Europe. Some of these positions are open to debate, as the definition of Europe is diverse....
of mainland Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Geography
Cape Nordkinn is the northern tip of the fractalFractal
A fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
peninsula within the northernmost part of the Nordkinn Peninsula, about 14 km in a straight line from the village of Mehamn
Mehamn
Mehamn is a village in the Gamvik municipality in the county of Finnmark in northern Norway. The village abuts the base of a small Vedvik peninsula, itself part of the greater Nordkinn Peninsula, at the southern end of Mehamn Fjord, a bay in the Barents Sea...
.
North Cape
North Cape, Norway
North Cape is a cape on the island of Magerøya in Northern Norway, in the municipality of Nordkapp. Its 307 m high, steep cliff is often referred to as the northernmost point of Europe, located at , 2102.3 km from the North Pole. However, the neighbouring point Knivskjellodden is actually...
, more precisely Knivskjellodden
Knivskjellodden
Knivskjellodden, located in the municipality of Nordkapp in Norway is the northernmost point of Magerøya, and is sometimes considered the northernmost point of the entire continent of Europe...
, at 71°11′ 8″ N, 5.7 km further north than Cape Nordkinn is branded as Europe's "official" northernmost point, despite being located on the island of Magerøya
Magerøya
Magerøya is an island in Finnmark county in the extreme north of Norway, in the community of Nordkapp. The island features a bleak, barren tundra-landscape devoid of any trees , with steep cliff faces on the coast and dramatic mountainscapes in the interior. It has an area of...
.
Tourism
In sharp contrast to North Cape with its extensive tourist infrastructure and busloads of visitors, Cape Nordkinn is a rather lonely place that can only be visited following at least a full-day hikeHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
from Mehamn and one day back. The terrain is sufficiently difficult for hiking that more than two days is usually required for the loop, 24 km one way. On rainy weather the slippery stones make the terrain very difficult, whilst sudden fogs and associated whiteout can make orientation on the highland south of the cape impossible without a GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
. There is no GSM coverage to the northwest of Mehamn Airport
Mehamn Airport
Mehamn Airport is a regional airport serving Mehamn in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Mehamn Airport had 10,895 passengers and is currently operated by Avinor...
.
The cape can also be reached by boat tours. The tourist bureau of the Gamvik
Gamvik
is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Mehamn. The municipality of Gamvik was separated from Tana on 1 July 1913....
municipality provides tourist information. Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
ships call at Mehamn and Kjøllefjord to the southwest of the cape, providing a sighting opportunity for visitors on the way.