Vardø
Encyclopedia
is a town and a municipality
in Finnmark
county
in the extreme northeast part of Norway
.
Vardø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The law required that all cities should be separated from their rural districts, but because of a low population and very few voters, this was impossible to carry out for Vardø in 1838. (See also Hammerfest
and Vadsø
.)
The rural district of Vardø (Vardø herred–renamed Båtsfjord
in 1957) was separated from the city in 1868. The eastern part of Båtsfjord was, however, merged back into the municipality of Vardø on 1 January 1964.
form of the name was Vargøy. The first element is vargr which means "wolf" and the last element is øy which means "island
". The first element was later replaced (around 1500) with varða which means "cairn
".
is from 1898. Its borders are drawn using the national colours: red, white, and blue. The border frames the shield, and the centre field shows a complex scene incorporating a sunrise
with rays, two fishing boats
with crews, the sea
with waves, and a large cod
. In the chief
we find the year of the town's foundation, 1787, together with the words "Vardöensis Insignia Urbis", meaning "the seal of the town of Vardø". In the lower part of the arms, we find the town motto: "Cedant Tenebræ Soli", meaning "Darkness shall give way to the sun."
New coat of arms indicate the correct year of foundation 1789 (two weeks after the French revolution) Coat of arms - high resolution
Vardø is the easternmost town in Norway and the Nordic countries
, located at 31°E, which is east of Saint Petersburg
, Kiev
and Istanbul
. The eastern part of Finnmark is in the same time zone
as the rest of the country, even if it is more than an hour at odds with daylight hours.
The port of Vardø, on the Barents Sea
, remains ice-free all year round thanks to the effect of the warm North Atlantic drift
. Vardø is usually referred to as Norway's only mainland town in the Arctic climate zone (Köppen
: ET), although this is not strictly correct since the town is in fact located on an island about 2 kilometres (1 mi) off the northeastern coast of the Varanger Peninsula
. In July, the 24-hr average temperature is only 9.1 °C (48 °F), while the January average is a modest -5.1 C.
(Norway's first such structure). The town's airport, Vardø Airport, Svartnes
, and the settlement of Svartnes are located on the mainland opposite the tunnel entrance. Vardø is a port of call on Norway's Hurtigruten
ferry service. The town is the northern termination of European route E75
, which starts in Sitia
, Crete
.
Fishing
and seafood processing remain Vardø's major sources of income, although tourism
is starting to become an important economic factor.
Vardø's tourist attractions include the Vardøhus Festning
, a fortress dating back to the late 13th century (although the present structure dates from 1734); several sea bird colonies; two museums: one about the Pomor trade and the other about local history and birdlife; and remnants of German fortifications from World War II
. The Yukigassen
competition in Vardø is unique in Norway.
Vardøhus Festning is home to two rowan
trees which are diligently nurtured and warmed in winter since these trees cannot normally survive in Vardø's cold climate, north of the Arctic tree line. Originally, seven trees were planted in 1960; the one that survived managed to blossom twice, in 1974 and 1981. The tree finally succumbed to cold weather in 2002, but two new saplings have been planted in its place.
installation called Globus II
. Its official purpose is the tracking of space junk; however, due to the site's proximity to Russia
, and an alleged connection between the Globus II system and US
anti-missile systems, the site has been the basis for heated controversy in diplomatic and intelligence circles.
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...
in the extreme northeast part of 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...
.
Vardø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The law required that all cities should be separated from their rural districts, but because of a low population and very few voters, this was impossible to carry out for Vardø in 1838. (See also Hammerfest
Hammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and 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 rural district of Vardø (Vardø herred–renamed Båtsfjord
Båtsfjord
Båtsfjord is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Båtsfjord.Vardø herred was separated from the town of Vardø in 1868 to be a municipality of its own. In 1957, the municipality was renamed Båtsfjord...
in 1957) was separated from the city in 1868. The eastern part of Båtsfjord was, however, merged back into the municipality of Vardø on 1 January 1964.
Name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
form of the name was Vargøy. The first element is vargr which means "wolf" and the last element is øy which means "island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
". The first element was later replaced (around 1500) with varða which means "cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
".
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 1898. Its borders are drawn using the national colours: red, white, and blue. The border frames the shield, and the centre field shows a complex scene incorporating a sunrise
Sunrise
Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight...
with rays, two fishing boats
Fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat or ship used to catch fish in the sea, or on a lake or river. Many different kinds of vessels are used in commercial, artisanal and recreational fishing....
with crews, the sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
with waves, and a large cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
. In the chief
Chief (heraldry)
In heraldic blazon, a chief is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the top edge of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by the chief, ranging from one-fourth to one-third. The former is more likely if the...
we find the year of the town's foundation, 1787, together with the words "Vardöensis Insignia Urbis", meaning "the seal of the town of Vardø". In the lower part of the arms, we find the town motto: "Cedant Tenebræ Soli", meaning "Darkness shall give way to the sun."
New coat of arms indicate the correct year of foundation 1789 (two weeks after the French revolution) Coat of arms - high resolution
Geography and climate
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, located at 31°E, which is east of Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
and Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. The eastern part of Finnmark is in the same time zone
Time zone
A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
as the rest of the country, even if it is more than an hour at odds with daylight hours.
The port of Vardø, on the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
, remains ice-free all year round thanks to the effect of the warm North Atlantic drift
North Atlantic Drift
North Atlantic Drift is:* An ocean current that continues from the North Atlantic Current* An album by Ocean Colour Scene: North Atlantic Drift this doesn't make any goddamn sense....
. Vardø is usually referred to as Norway's only mainland town in the Arctic climate zone (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
: ET), although this is not strictly correct since the town is in fact located on an island about 2 kilometres (1 mi) off the northeastern coast of the Varanger Peninsula
Varanger Peninsula
Varanger Peninsula is a peninsula in Finnmark, north-eastern Norway, by the Barents Sea. The peninsula has the Tanafjord to the west, the Varangerfjord to the south and the Barents Sea to the north and east. Vadsø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg, Vardø and Unjárga - Nesseby are the municipalities sharing the...
. In July, the 24-hr average temperature is only 9.1 °C (48 °F), while the January average is a modest -5.1 C.
Birdlife
The municipality of Vardø with its seabird colonies of Hornøy and Reinøy are amongst the most interesting on this part of the coast. There is a small breeding population of Brunnich’s Guillemot as well as larger numbers of Razorbill and Common Guillemot.Transportation
The island is connected to the mainland via an undersea tunnelUndersea tunnel
An undersea tunnel is a tunnel which is partly or wholly constructed under a body of water. They are often used where building a bridge or operating a ferry link is impossible, or to provide competition for existing bridges or ferry links...
(Norway's first such structure). The town's airport, Vardø Airport, Svartnes
Vardø Airport, Svartnes
Vardø Airport, Svartnes is a regional airport serving Vardø in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Vardø Airport had 10,408 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
, and the settlement of Svartnes are located on the mainland opposite the tunnel entrance. Vardø is a port of call on Norway's 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...
ferry service. The town is the northern termination of 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...
, which starts in Sitia
Sitia
Sitia refers both to the port town, with 8,900 inhabitants and to the municipality with 19,209 inhabitants in Lasithi, Crete . It lies to the east of Agios Nikolaos and to the northeast of Ierapetra. Sitia port is on the Sea of Crete, which is a part of the Aegean Sea and is one of the economic...
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
Economy and tourism
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and seafood processing remain Vardø's major sources of income, although tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is starting to become an important economic factor.
Vardø's tourist attractions include the Vardøhus Festning
Vardøhus Fortress
Vardøhus Fortress is located in Vardø municipality in the county of Finnmark on the Barents Sea on the mouth of the Varangerfjord in north-eastern Norway near the Russian border.-History:...
, a fortress dating back to the late 13th century (although the present structure dates from 1734); several sea bird colonies; two museums: one about the Pomor trade and the other about local history and birdlife; and remnants of German fortifications from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Yukigassen
Yukigassen
is a snowball fighting-competition from Japan. Today there are annual tournaments in Sobetsu, Hokkaidō in Japan, Kemijärvi in Finland, Vardø in Norway, Mount Buller, Victoria in Australia, Luleå in Sweden, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada....
competition in Vardø is unique in Norway.
Vardøhus Festning is home to two rowan
Rowan
The rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or small trees in genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies...
trees which are diligently nurtured and warmed in winter since these trees cannot normally survive in Vardø's cold climate, north of the Arctic tree line. Originally, seven trees were planted in 1960; the one that survived managed to blossom twice, in 1974 and 1981. The tree finally succumbed to cold weather in 2002, but two new saplings have been planted in its place.
Globus II Radar
Since 1998, the town has housed a radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
installation called Globus II
Globus II
Globus II is a radar station located at in Vardø, Norway, near the Russian border.-Purpose and use:The site is administrated by the Norwegian Intelligence Service who state the radar is used for:*Space surveillance...
. Its official purpose is the tracking of space junk; however, due to the site's proximity to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and an alleged connection between the Globus II system and US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti-missile systems, the site has been the basis for heated controversy in diplomatic and intelligence circles.
External links
- Birding in the Vardø area
- Varanger.com: tourist information about Varanger area
- Vardø - Finnmark's millennium town includes pictures