Sør-Varanger

The municipality is situated in the Eastern area of Finnmark County and borders on Finland and Russia. Sør-Varanger muncipality has approximately 9.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 3.967,7 km2.

KIRKENES

Kirkenes is a small, modern town with approximately 6.000 inhabitants and all the service you would expect to find in a municipal center. Trade and Industry is agriculture and forestry, mining w/ pellet production, service industries and ship repairs. A meeting place for three countries, Finland, Russia and Norway in an area rich in cultural and scenic experiences that cannot be matched anywhere else.

Kirkenes is the administration center of the towship / municipality of Sør-Varanger, a municipality with approximately 10.000 inhabitants and were people from tree nations, Finns, Lapps and Norwegians have lived together for hundreds of years. The town was almost totally demolished during the Second World War, when the town was designated "Fortress Kirkenes".

Today Kirkenes is the center of the Barents Region, the region with the richest natural resources in Europe. Kirkenes has developed Norway's highest level of competence and knowledge in trading with Russia. Kirkenes is also the communication junction when travelling to North-West Russia, with 2 flights from Kirkenes Airport to Murmansk a week, buss departures to Russia every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and links between the Norwegian and the Russian and the Finnish road-system.

Kirkenes has an modern harbour, which can receive ships up to 150.000 tons. Kirkenes offers a range of sights, activities and service to tourists, and is the last destination for the Coastal Steamer (Hurtigruten), one of the most famous tourist attractions in Norway.

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

The World´s Most Beautiful Voyage is a voyage like no other. Nothing can compare with it. Nothing about this journey will resemble anything you have ever experienced before. A ticket for the Coastal Express is a ticket to the theatre, an 11-day drama in which new acts constantly unfold all around you.

BUGØYNES

Olden day trading centre in Sør-Varanger.

ANDERSGROTTA CAVE

Underground tunnel in the mountain under Kirkenes town. One of the hiding places used by local civilians during World War II. A 9-minute long super-video on Kirkenes and World War II can be seen here.

THE WOMEN OF WAR MONUMENT

At Kirkenes marketplace. In honour of women's efforts during the war. A symbol of anxiety and uncertainty plus the yearning for peace and hope for a better future.

LØKVIKA

It was here that civilians and partisans fought side by side, against the Germans during World War II. One of the cabins from that period has been restored. Marked trail to Partisan Gap.

STORSKOGEN BORDER STATION

The official border pass to Russia.

SØR-VARANGER MUSEUM

Exhibits depicting Sør-Varanger geography and cultural history.

ØVRE PASVIK NATIONAL PARK

A unique flora and fauna. Part of the Siberian taiga forest. Out-of-the-ordinary pine forest.

GRENSE JACOBSELV

Archaelogical discoveries show that people already lived in the valley 10.000 years ago. The depressions in the ground just by the path to the river are approximately 6.500 year old house sites. Similar settlements can be found in several places in the valley. On the Russian side of the river you can see an electric, barbed wire fence. Such fences were created all along the border of the former Soviet Union. On both side of the river you find watch-towers.

FISHING

Seafishing in Barentshavet for coalfish and zo cod is an overwheling experience for those who have never met the ocean before. Seafishermen who want larger fishes such as halibut have excellent conditions. If you are lucky you can even see seals or small whales.