Tana, Norway
Encyclopedia
Deatnu or Tana (Norwegian
) is a municipality
in Finnmark
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tana Bru
.
The areas of Tana, Berlevåg
, and Polmak
(separated from Lebesby
on 1 January 1846) were merged together with the area of Nesseby
(separated from Vadsø
the same date) to create the greater municipality of Nesseby.
Tana (together with Berlevåg) was separated from Nesseby on 1 January 1864 and together with the area of Gamvik
(separated from Lebesby the same date) these were merged to create the greater municipality of Tana.
The areas of Berlevåg and Gamvik were separated from Tana as municipalities of their own on 1 July 1913. The municipality of Polmak (separated from Nesseby on 1 January 1903) was merged with Tana on 1 January 1964.
name Deatnu. The Sami name is identical with the Sami word deatnu which means "great river
" or "main river".
Prior to 1918, the name was written "Tanen". In 1992 the name was changed to Deatnu-Tana. Then in 2005 the name was again changed such that either Deatnu or Tana can be used.
is from modern times. They were granted on 11 May 1984. The arms show three typical low riverboat
s used for centuries in the area. The three boats symbolise the Sami, Finns, and Norwegians that live in this border municipality. The colours are the Norwegian colours.
, which borders Finland
along most of its course. People live in small settlements along the river, notably Sirma, Polmak
, Rustefjelbma, Seida, Skipagurra, Austertana, and Tana Bru. The last is where the municipal centre is located. Most inhabitants are Sami
, and the Sami language and culture are today promoted by the municipality and the schools.
The river Tana has represented a mainstay in the economy, as it is one of Europe
's main salmon
rivers. River transportation is traditionally done by long, narrow river boats, that are still in use, albeit motorized. Lakes in this area include Geassájávri
and Nissojávri
. Tana Bru, the bridge over the Tana river, is an important link on the European route E6
and the European route E75
. The nearest airports are Vadsø Airport
, 70 km away, and Kirkenes Airport, 130 km away. Kirkenes, not Vadsø, has direct flights to Oslo.
, the municipality of Tana has a one of the most spectacular gatherings in Norway. As many as 25,000 Goosander
s can accumulate along the Tana waterway system. Add to this, thousands of Common Eider
and Long-tailed Duck
, then you have one of the largest concentrations of wildfowl in Norway.
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
) is a municipality
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, 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...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tana Bru
Tana Bru
Tana bru is the administrative centre of Deatnu - Tana municipality, Norway. Its population is 590.See also Tana Bridge....
.
The areas of Tana, Berlevåg
Berlevåg
is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Berlevåg. Berlevåg was separated from the municipality of Tana to form a municipality of its own on 1 July 1913....
, and Polmak
Polmak
Polmak is a village and a former municipality in Finnmark county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Tana...
(separated from Lebesby
Lebesby
Lebesby is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kjøllefjord. Lebesby is also the name of a village in the municipality....
on 1 January 1846) were merged together with the area of Nesseby
Nesseby
Unjárga or Nesseby is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Varangerbotn....
(separated from Vadsø
Vadsø
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The city is the administrative centre of the municipality and the county of Finnmark....
the same date) to create the greater municipality of Nesseby.
Tana (together with Berlevåg) was separated from Nesseby on 1 January 1864 and together with the area of 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....
(separated from Lebesby the same date) these were merged to create the greater municipality of Tana.
The areas of Berlevåg and Gamvik were separated from Tana as municipalities of their own on 1 July 1913. The municipality of Polmak (separated from Nesseby on 1 January 1903) was merged with Tana on 1 January 1964.
Name
Tana is a Norwegianized form of the SamiSami languages
Sami or Saami is a general name for a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Sami people in parts of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and extreme northwestern Russia, in Northern Europe. Sami is frequently and erroneously believed to be a single language. Several names are used for the Sami...
name Deatnu. The Sami name is identical with the Sami word deatnu which means "great river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
" or "main river".
Prior to 1918, the name was written "Tanen". In 1992 the name was changed to Deatnu-Tana. Then in 2005 the name was again changed such that either Deatnu or Tana can be used.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 11 May 1984. The arms show three typical low riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
s used for centuries in the area. The three boats symbolise the Sami, Finns, and Norwegians that live in this border municipality. The colours are the Norwegian colours.
Location
Deatnu-Tana is situated along the lower river basin of the TanaTana River (Norway)
Tana river , is a long river in Sápmi, in the Norwegian county of in Finnmark and the Lapland of Finland. The Sámi name means "Great River". The main tributaries of Tana are Anarjohka and Karasjohka....
, which borders Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
along most of its course. People live in small settlements along the river, notably Sirma, Polmak
Polmak
Polmak is a village and a former municipality in Finnmark county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Tana...
, Rustefjelbma, Seida, Skipagurra, Austertana, and Tana Bru. The last is where the municipal centre is located. Most inhabitants are Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
, and the Sami language and culture are today promoted by the municipality and the schools.
The river Tana has represented a mainstay in the economy, as it is one of 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...
's main salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
rivers. River transportation is traditionally done by long, narrow river boats, that are still in use, albeit motorized. Lakes in this area include Geassájávri
Geassájávri
Geassájávri is a lake in the municipality of Tana-Deatnu in Finnmark county, Norway....
and Nissojávri
Nissojávri
Nissojávri is a lake in the municipality of Tana-Deatnu in Finnmark county, Norway....
. Tana Bru, the bridge over the Tana river, is an important link on the European route E6
European route E6
European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
and the European route E75
European route E75
European route E 75 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 75 starts from Vardø, Norway in the Barents Sea and runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Republic of Macedonia to Sitia, Greece on...
. The nearest airports are Vadsø Airport
Vadsø Airport
Vadsø Airport is a small regional airport, opened in 1974, which serves the municipality of Vadsø in the county of Finnmark, Norway. The airport lies 2 nautical miles east of the main population centre. The airport has a single 877 m long runway and it has been considered extending this to...
, 70 km away, and Kirkenes Airport, 130 km away. Kirkenes, not Vadsø, has direct flights to Oslo.
Birdlife
With the Tana River flowing through wild and spectacular habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
, the municipality of Tana has a one of the most spectacular gatherings in Norway. As many as 25,000 Goosander
Common Merganser
The Common Merganser or Goosander Mergus merganser is a large duck, of rivers and lakes of forested areas of Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America. It eats fish and nests in holes in trees...
s can accumulate along the Tana waterway system. Add to this, thousands of Common Eider
Common Eider
The Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, is a large sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on...
and Long-tailed Duck
Long-tailed Duck
The Long-tailed Duck or Oldsquaw is a medium-sized sea duck. It is the only living member of its genus, Clangula; this was formerly used for the goldeneyes, with the Long-tailed Duck being placed in Harelda...
, then you have one of the largest concentrations of wildfowl in Norway.