( se, Áhkanjárga) is the third-largest
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in
Nordland county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
, by population. The
administrative centre of the municipality is the
town of Narvik. Some of the notable villages in the municipality include
Ankenesstranda
Ankenesstranda or Ankenesstrand (sometimes simply called "Ankenes") is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located just west of the town of Narvik and just east of the village of Håkvik. The village lie ...
,
Ballangen
Ballangen ( sme, Bálák) is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1925 until its dissolution in 2020. The municipality was part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of th ...
,
Beisfjord,
Bjerkvik
Bjerkvik is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of Herjangsfjorden, an arm of Ofotfjorden. Bjerkvik sits less than south of the border of Troms county and about across the fjord from ...
,
Bjørnfjell,
Elvegård
Elvegård is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the Skjomen fjord. Skjomen Church is located in the village on the shore of the fjord. There is a golf course
A golf course is the groun ...
,
Kjøpsvik
or is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern shore of the Tysfjorden, north of the small village of Storå. The island of Hulløya lies off the coast of Kjøpsvik. The village has a ...
,
Skjomen
or is a small fjord that branches off from the main Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Ofoten district in Northern Norway, just south of the town of Narvik. The European route E6 highway cros ...
,
Håkvik
or is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the southern shore of the Ofotfjorden, southwest of the town of Narvik and the village of Ankenesstranda. Håkvik Chapel was built here in 1980. ...
,
Hergot
or is a hamlet in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located by the Rombaken fjord, just north of the Rombak Bridge. Hergot Chapel is located on the south side of the hamlet.
Road 7575 from Narvik crosses Hergot, and links t ...
,
Straumsnes, and
Vidrek
Vidrek is a small village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the Ofotfjorden, just east of the Skjomen fjord. The population of the village is about 70.
On 10 April 1940, in the First Naval Battle o ...
. The
Elvegårdsmoen
Elvegårdsmoen is a military training camp site in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the inner end of Herjangsfjorden, on the southeast side of the village of Bjerkvik. The site was of some importance durin ...
army camp is located near Bjerkvik.
Narvik is located on the shores of the
Ofotfjorden
Ofotfjord ( or ) is a fjord in Nordland county, Norway. It is an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, located about north of the Arctic Circle. The long Ofotfjord is Norway's 12th longest fjord and it is also the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of . ...
. The municipality is part of the
traditional district of
Ofoten of
Northern Norway, inside the
Arctic Circle. The municipality of Narvik borders the municipality of
Hamarøy to the southwest,
Evenes
Evenes ( sme, Evenášši) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bogen. Other villages in Evenes include Liland, Tårst ...
to the northwest,
Bardu
Bardu ( sme, Bearddu suohkan, fkv, Perttulan komuuni) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Setermoen, the largest urban area in the municipality.
The munici ...
,
Gratangen
Gratangen ( sme, Rivttága suohkan) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Central Hålogaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årstein.
The municipal ...
,
Lavangen
Lavangen ( se, Loabák) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tennevoll. Other villages in Lavangen include Fossbakken and Spansdalen (in the inland areas) and ...
and
Tjeldsund
Tjeldsund ( sme, Dielddanuorri) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The southwestern part of the municipality is part of the traditional district of Ofoten and the rest of the municipality is part of Central Hålogaland. The ...
(in
Troms og Finnmark
Troms og Finnmark (; sme, Romsa ja Finnmárku ; fkv, Tromssa ja Finmarkku; fi, Tromssa ja Finnmark, lit. Troms and Finnmark in English), is a county in northern Norway that was established on 1 January 2020 as the result of a regional reform. ...
county) to the north, and
Norrbotten County (
Lapland) in
Sweden to the south and east.
The municipality is the 10th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Narvik is the 57th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 21,530. The municipality's
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
is and its population has decreased by 2% over the previous 10-year period.
General information
The municipality of Narvik was established on 1 January 1902 when the village of Narvik received status as a proper town and was separated from the large municipality of
Ankenes. Initially, the town-municipality of Narvik had 3,705 residents. On 1 January 1974, the municipality of
Ankenes was merged with the town-municipality of Narvik, forming a new, larger municipality of Narvik. After the merger, the new municipality of Narvik had 19,780 residents. On 1 January 1999, a small area of Narvik Municipality (population: 9) was transferred to the neighboring
Evenes Municipality
Evenes ( sme, Evenášši) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bogen. Other villages in Evenes include Liland, Tå ...
.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality of Narvik was merged with the neighboring
Ballangen Municipality
Ballangen ( sme, Bálák) is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1925 until its dissolution in 2020. The municipality was part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of ...
and the eastern half of
Tysfjord Municipality
Tysfjord ( smj, Divtasvuodna) is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1869 until its dissolution in 2020. The municipality was part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of ...
to form a new, larger municipality of Narvik. This occurred because in 2017, the municipal government agreed to the merger and the
Parliament of Norway required Tysfjord to be split up.
Coat of arms
The
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
was adopted on 20 June 2019 for use starting in 2020. The arms are blue with a white image of the mountain
Stetind. The arms were designed by Eirik Djupvik.
The old arms were granted on 1 June 1951. The arms showed a gold-coloured
anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal , used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ''ancora'', which itself comes from the Greek ἄ ...
on a red background. The anchor symbolises Narvik's status as an important
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...
(the largest
harbour in North Norway).
Narvik komm 2020.svg, Current arms since 2020
Narvik komm.svg, Arms (1951-2019)
Name
Narvik is named after the old ''Narvik'' farm ("Narduigh" – 1567), since the town is built on its ground.
The
Old Norse
Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlemen ...
form of the port was probably ''*Knarravík'', The first element is the
genitive pluralis of ''
knarr
A knarr is a type of Norse merchant ship used by the Vikings. The knarr ( non, knǫrr, plural ) was constructed using the same clinker-built method as longships, karves, and faerings.
History
''Knarr'' is the Old Norse term for a type of ...
'' 'merchant ship' – the last element is ''vík'' '
inlet'. The name ''Knarravík'' (modern forms ''Knarvik'' or ''Narvik'') is found several places along the Norwegian coast (and three places in the old Norwegian province of
Bohuslän), and it refers to good,
natural port
A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is a ...
s.
The port was once called ''Victoriahavn'' after
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
of the United Kingdom, however Sweden's
Crown Princess Victoria
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée; born 14 July 1977) is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne, as the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf. If she ascends to the throne as expect ...
was also honoured.
History
The history of Narvik as a settlement began in the
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
. Not very much is known about these people, but the
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
s lived in this area.
![View of Narvik at night](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/View_of_Narvik_at_night.gif)
Narvik was developed as an all-year
ice free port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
for the Swedish Kiruna and
Gällivare
Gällivare (; fi, Jällivaara; se, Jiellevárri or ; smj, Jiellevárre or ; fit, Jellivaara) is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 8,449 inhabitants in 2010. The town wa ...
iron
mines. The history of modern Narvik begins in the 1870s, when the
Swedish government began to understand the potential of the
iron ore mines in
Kiruna, Sweden. Obtaining iron ore from Kiruna had one significant problem in that there was no suitable Swedish port. The nearest Swedish port,
Luleå, had limitations. It was covered with ice all winter, it is far from Kiruna, and it allows only medium-sized bulk freight vessels. Narvik offered a port which is ice-free thanks to the warm
Gulf Stream, and is naturally large, allowing boats of virtually any size to anchor, up to long and deep.
[ The Swedish company ''(Gällivarre Aktiebolag)'' built the ]Iron Ore Line
The Iron Ore Line ( sv, Malmbanan) is a long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden, owned by Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration). The line also contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaar ...
(''Malmbanan'') to Riksgränsen
Riksgränsen, ( no, Riksgrensen), ''The National Border'' in Swedish, is a ski-resort in Kiruna Municipality, Lappland, Sweden, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The skiing season is from February to June. From end of May the lifts operate ...
on the Norway–Sweden border. The Norwegian Ofotbanen
The Ofoten Line ( no, Ofotbanen) is a railway line in Narvik, Norway. It runs from the Port of Narvik to Riksgränsen on the Norway–Sweden border, where the line continues as the Ore Line via Kiruna and Gällivare to Luleå. The Ofoten Line ...
railway line connects Narvik to the Swedish border.
Swedish mining corporation LKAB
Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB) is a government owned Swedish mining company. The company mines iron ore at Kiruna and at Malmberget in northern Sweden. The company was established in 1890, and has been 100% state-owned since the 195 ...
still ships the majority of its ore from Narvik (a total 25 million tons a year). It is an important employer and landowner in Narvik, although its influence is not as prominent as in the past.
World War II
The port of Narvik proved to be strategically valuable in the early years of World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
and the town became a focal point of the Norwegian Campaign. In 1939, Germany's war industry depended upon iron ore mined in Kiruna and Malmberget in Sweden. During the summer season, this ore could be sent by cargo ship to Germany through the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...
via the Swedish port of Luleå on the Gulf of Bothnia. However, when the Gulf of Bothnia froze during the winter, more shipments of the ore needed to be transported through Narvik and, from there, down the west coast of Norway to Germany. The town of Narvik is linked by rail to Sweden, but not to any other towns in Norway. As a result, Narvik serves as a gateway to the ore fields of Sweden that cannot be easily reached from southern Norway via land. Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...
realized that the control of Narvik meant stopping most German imports of iron ore during the winter of 1940. This would be advantageous to the Allies, and it might help shorten the war. Equally as important, later in the war, German submarines and warships based there threatened the allied supply line to the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
.
Churchill proposed laying a naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any ...
field in Norwegian territorial waters around Narvik (referred to as "the Leads"),[ or else occupying the town with Allied troops. The Allies hoped that they might be able to use an occupied Narvik as a base from which to secure the Swedish ore fields and/or to send supplies and reinforcements to ]Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, then fighting the Finnish Winter War
The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...
with the Soviet Union. Plans to lay a minefield around Narvik or to seize the town met with debate within the British government – since both plans would mean a violation of Norway's neutrality and sovereignty.[
Finally, on 8 April 1940, the British Admiralty launched Operation Wilfred, an attempt to lay anti-shipping minefields around Narvik in Norwegian territorial waters. Coincidentally, Germany launched its invasion of Norway (]Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung (german: Unternehmen Weserübung , , 9 April – 10 June 1940) was Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign.
In the early morning of 9 Ap ...
) on the next day. During this invasion, ten German destroyers, each carrying 200 mountain infantry soldiers, were sent to Narvik. The outdated Norwegian coastal defence ship
Coastal defence ships (sometimes called coastal battleships or coast defence ships) were warships built for the purpose of coastal defence, mostly during the period from 1860 to 1920. They were small, often cruiser-sized warships that sacrifi ...
s and attempted to resist the invasion, but both Norwegian warships were sunk after a short and uneven battle. The Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
quickly dispatched several ships to Narvik, including the battleship , and during the Battles of Narvik
The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April to 8 June 1940, as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian town of Narvik, as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War.
...
, the British took control of the coast, destroying the German destroyers that had brought the invasion force to Narvik, as well as other German ships in the area.
On 12 April 1940, the first convoys of Allied soldiers were sent under Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy
Major-General Pierse Joseph Mackesy, (5 April 1883 – 8 June 1956), born in Dublin, Ireland was a British Army officer who, early in the Second World War, led the attempt to recapture Narvik in April–May 1940 in the ill-fated Norwegian cam ...
to Narvik. The Admiralty urged Mackesy to conduct an assault on Narvik from the sea as soon as possible. However, Mackesy believed that the German harbour defences were too strong for such an invasion to take place. The Admiralty argued that a naval bombardment of Norway would enable the troops to land safely, but General Mackesy refused to subject Norwegian citizens to such a bombardment, and instead he chose to land his troops near Narvik and wait until the snow melted to take over the town.[
Coordinated by the Norwegian ]General
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Carl Gustav Fleischer KCB (28 December 1883 – 19 December 1942Fleischer 1947, p. 216) was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War. Having followed the Norwegian gov ...
, Norwegian, French, Polish, and British forces recaptured Narvik on 28 May 1940. This is also considered the first Allied infantry victory in World War II. However, by that time, the Allies were losing the Battle of France and the evacuation from Dunkirk was underway. Since the Nazi German
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
invasion of France had made Scandinavia largely irrelevant, and since the valuable troops assigned to Narvik were badly needed elsewhere, the Allies withdrew from Narvik on 8 June 1940 in Operation Alphabet
Operation Alphabet was an evacuation, authorised on 24 May 1940, of Allied (British, French and Polish) troops from the harbour of Narvik in northern Norway marking the success of Operation Weserübung (the German invasion of 9 April) and the ...
. The same day, while operating in the Narvik area, the German battleships and sank the British aircraft carrier during the withdrawal from this battle. Without support from the Allied naval task force, the Norwegians were outnumbered, and they had to lay down their arms in Norway on 10 June 1940. This was not a complete capitulation, since the Norwegians kept on fighting guerrilla operations inland.
Possession of the Ofotfjord
Ofotfjord ( or ) is a fjord in Nordland county, Norway. It is an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, located about north of the Arctic Circle. The long Ofotfjord is Norway's 12th longest fjord and it is also the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of . ...
was also important to the German Kriegsmarine (navy) since it provided a refuge for warships like the "pocket battleship" and the battleship outside the range (at the time) of air attacks from Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. Also, possibly U-boats
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare rol ...
could be based at Narvik.
Government
The municipality is governed by a municipal council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
. The municipality falls under the Ofoten District Court
Ofoten District Court ( no, Ofoten tingrett) was a district court in Nordland county (and a small part of Troms) in Norway. The court was based in the town of Narvik. The court existed until 2021. The court served the northeastern part of the N ...
and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal
The Hålogaland Court of Appeal ( no, Hålogaland lagmannsrett) is one of six courts of appeal in the Kingdom of Norway. The Court is located in the city of Tromsø. The court has jurisdiction over the counties of Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark as ...
.
The municipal council () of Narvik is made up of 41 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often featur ...
breakdown of the council is as follows:
Geography
The municipality of Narvik covers large areas outside the town itself. Some of the other settlements in the municipality are Bjerkvik
Bjerkvik is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of Herjangsfjorden, an arm of Ofotfjorden. Bjerkvik sits less than south of the border of Troms county and about across the fjord from ...
(located at the head of the Herjangsfjord), Håkvik
or is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the southern shore of the Ofotfjorden, southwest of the town of Narvik and the village of Ankenesstranda. Håkvik Chapel was built here in 1980. ...
, Beisfjord (along the Beisfjorden) and Skjomen
or is a small fjord that branches off from the main Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Ofoten district in Northern Norway, just south of the town of Narvik. The European route E6 highway cros ...
. The eastern part, towards the border with Sweden, is dominated by mountains, and Storsteinfjellet reaches . There are also valleys and lakes, including the lakes Gautelisvatnet, Hartvikvatnet
or is a lake in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The lake is located about east of the village of Bjerkvik and just less than with the border with Sweden. The Elvegårdsmoen military camp lies just west of the lake.
See al ...
, Indre Sildvikvatnet
or (or unofficially: ''Indre Sildvikvatnet'') is a lake in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The lake lies south of the Rombaken fjord. The lake has a dam on the northern end and the water is used for hydroelectric power produ ...
, Iptojávri, Kjårdavatnet, Lossivatnet, Sealggajávri and Unna Guovdelisjávri.
The town itself is situated near the innermost part of the deep Ofotfjorden
Ofotfjord ( or ) is a fjord in Nordland county, Norway. It is an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, located about north of the Arctic Circle. The long Ofotfjord is Norway's 12th longest fjord and it is also the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of . ...
, but even here the mountains, going almost straight up from the blue fjord
In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Förden and East Jutland Fjorde, Germany, ...
, reach as high as in Skjomen
or is a small fjord that branches off from the main Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Ofoten district in Northern Norway, just south of the town of Narvik. The European route E6 highway cros ...
, where the glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as ...
Frostisen
or is a glacier in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northern ...
can be seen. Other fjords in Narvik include Skjomen
or is a small fjord that branches off from the main Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Ofoten district in Northern Norway, just south of the town of Narvik. The European route E6 highway cros ...
, Beisfjorden, Herjangsfjorden
or (or unofficially: ''Herjangen'') is a fjord that branches off of the Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The long fjord is located just north of the Rombaken fjord. The villages along the fjord are Bjerkvik and He ...
, and Rombaken
or (or unofficially: ''Rombaksfjord'') is a fjord that branches off of the main Ofotfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The fjord is about long and is surrounded by steep mountains, and the town of Narvik lies on the sou ...
.
Forests
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
cover the lower parts of the mountains (below 500 metres), but near the summits, the snow
Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes.
It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout ...
can stay most of the summer. Narvik has well prepared slopes for alpine skiing, some of which end almost in the town centre.
Climate
Narvik features a boreal climate
The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of an ocean, ge ...
(Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
: Dfc) with mild winters for this climate type, or a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc), depending on winter threshold ( as used in the US or as in the original classification). It is close to a humid continental climate due to a mild September.
As Narvik is inside the arctic circle, the climate is very mild for the latitude. The mountains surrounding the town give shelter from some of the strong winds typical for coastal areas, but the easterlies can be strong with especially strong wind gusts.
The all-time high was set 9 July 2014. July 2014 is warmest month on record with mean and average daily high . The all-time low was recorded on 1 February 1980. Coldest month on record is February 1966 with mean and average daily low . The average date for the first overnight freeze in autumn when the low goes below is October 13 (1981-2010).
The light varies considerably in Narvik since the sun is below the horizon from late November until mid-January; when there is only a bluish light for a few hours around noon
Noon (or midday) is 12 o'clock in the daytime. It is written as 12 noon, 12:00 m. (for meridiem, literally 12:00 noon), 12 p.m. (for post meridiem, literally "after noon"), 12 pm, or 12:00 (using a 24-hour clock) or 1200 ( military time).
Sola ...
. The mountains surrounding the town in reality extend this period from early November until the end of January. The light is often intense in March and April, with long daylight hours and snow cover since the snow melts in lowland areas in April, but stays in the mountains for several months. The "midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the Sun remains visible at the local midnight. When the midnight sun is seen in the Arctic, ...
" is above the horizon from 25 May to 20 July (57 days), and the period with continuous daylight lasts a bit longer, from approximately 10 May to the end of July, polar night
The polar night is a phenomenon where the nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours that occurs in the northernmost and southernmost regions of Earth. This occurs only inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day, or midni ...
from 5 December to 6 January (33 days). There is also a transitional period with twilight in the night, so it is not possible to see any stars at night from the last days of April until early August.
Economy
The town of Narvik is a commercial centre for some of the neighbouring municipalities. Narvik University College
Narvik University College merged with the University of Tromsø ( no, UiT - Norges arktiske universitet or ) from 1 January 2016 and is now nameUiT - The Arctic University of Norway, campus Narvik It has approximately 2000 students and 220 employee ...
has approximately 1,200 students. There are some high-tech businesses in Narvik (among them Natech
Natech S.A. is a Greek independent software vendor.
History
The company was founded in 2003 following a transformation of a previous legal entity under the trading name Computer Store. It focused on delivering software and IT services mainly t ...
) and the largest research institute in Northern Norway, Norut Narvik.
Narvik was one of the first areas in the world to be affected by the financial crisis of 2007–2008
Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of fi ...
. It lost the equivalent of $18 million in August 2007 after it invested in Citigroup securities. As the Norwegian government refused to bail them out, Narvik was forced to implement severe budget cuts.
Recreation and tourism
Narvik has access to numerous outdoor activities. This is the best known location in northern Norway for alpine skiing.
There are lifts, and several of the slopes are floodlit. There is also a cable car to Fagernesfjellet, with a view and the possibility to walk even higher up in the mountains. Narvik Winter Festival ( no, Vinterfestuka) takes place in early March. Mountain hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
is very popular in the area, and the mountain area near the Swedish border has several places of accommodation. A signed mountain bike route is also available. Wreck diving
Wreck diving is recreational diving where the wreckage of ships, aircraft and other artificial structures are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificia ...
attracts divers to Narvik, as there are a lot of wrecks in or near the harbour, and more spread out in the fjord. Fishing in the fjord or in lakes and streams is a popular leisure activity. There are salmon
Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...
rivers in Skjomen, Beisfjord and Bjerkvik.
Transportation
;Port
The port of Narvik is ice-free and well protected from the weather. The port consists of three waterfront sections: LKAB bulk port, central port area with piers and deep-water harbor at Fagernes with intermodal facilities. Approximately of cargo are annually shipped from the ports of Narvik. By 2015, the port had handled 1.1 billion tonnes of ore. Most of this iron ore. In 2015 the port installed a pier with 18 suction cup
A suction cup, also known as a sucker, is a device or object that uses the negative Pressure#Fluid pressure, fluid pressure of air or water to adhere to Porosity, nonporous surfaces, creating a Vacuum, partial vacuum.
Suction cups are peripher ...
s to moor
Moor or Moors may refer to:
Nature and ecology
* Moorland, a habitat characterized by low-growing vegetation and acidic soils.
Ethnic and religious groups
* Moors, Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and Malta during ...
ships, expected to save 40 minutes of mooring time. Each cup is 2x2 meters.
Port Authorities have initiated an expansion of the container area of approximately , which is more than twice what Norway'ss largest terminal in Oslo today handles. In 2005, the port of Narvik got status as Motorways of the Sea in the EU-system. In Norway, Oslo is the only city which has this status in addition to the town of Narvik.
;Rail
A present and historical key to land transportation to Narvik is the Ofoten Line
The Ofoten Line ( no, Ofotbanen) is a railway line in Narvik, Norway. It runs from the Port of Narvik to Riksgränsen on the Norway–Sweden border, where the line continues as the Ore Line via Kiruna and Gällivare to Luleå. The Ofoten Lin ...
railway from northern Sweden across the mountains to this port town. Goods like iron ore shipped via this railroad make Narvik an important seaport. The railway has stops at Bjørnfjell Station
Bjørnfjell Station ( no, Bjørnfjell stasjon) is a railway station in the village of Bjørnfjell in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland county, Norway. It is located along the Ofotbanen railway line, between Søsterbekk Station and Riksgr ...
, Katterat Station
Katterat Station ( no, Katterat stasjon) is a railway station in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland county, Norway. The station is located along the Ofotbanen
The Ofoten Line ( no, Ofotbanen) is a railway line in Narvik, Norway. It runs ...
, Søsterbekk Station
Søsterbekk Station ( no, Søsterbekk holdeplass) is a railway station in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland county, Norway. It is located along the Ofotbanen railway line, between Katterat Station and Bjørnfjell Station. It has direct r ...
, and Narvik Station
Narvik is a railway station located in Narvik Municipality in Nordland, Norway on the Ofoten Line. The station is located in the town of Narvik, about from the line terminus at the Port of Narvik. It is served by three daily passenger trains f ...
.
Because of the extreme terrain there, there are no railways northwards from Narvik or south to Bodø, Norway, which is at the northern end of the rest of Norway's rail network. However, it is possible to reach Narvik by way of an approximately twenty-hour train journey through the Swedish rail system from Stockholm using the ''Iron Ore Line
The Iron Ore Line ( sv, Malmbanan) is a long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden, owned by Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration). The line also contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaar ...
''.
The activity related to the railway and large port facilities are still important in Narvik, and goods to and from North Norway
Northern Norway ( nb, Nord-Norge, , nn, Nord-Noreg; se, Davvi-Norga) is a geographical region of Norway, consisting of the two northernmost counties Nordland and Troms og Finnmark, in total about 35% of the Norwegian mainland. Some of the larg ...
, Sweden, and Finland are often distributed via Narvik. In the proposed project called the "Northern East West Freight Corridor The Northern East West Freight Corridor, usually referred to as the N.E.W. Corridor, is a project organized by the International Union of Railways UIC and Transportutvikling AS to connect the East Coast of the United States to East Asia by rail ...
" portion of the Eurasian Land Bridge
The Eurasian Land Bridge (), sometimes called the New Silk Road (, ), is the rail transport route for moving freight and passengers overland between Pacific seaports in the Russian Far East and China and seaports in Europe. The route, a transc ...
, there are plans for using Narvik as a port for goods from East Asia
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...
bound for eastern North America. The reason is that the railway and ocean distances using this route are shorter than through central Europe to Western European ports.
;Road
European route E6 crosses through the municipality using three bridges: Skjomen Bridge, Beisfjord Bridge
The Beisfjord Bridge ( no, Beisfjordbrua) is a girder bridge in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (ceme ...
and Hålogaland Bridge
The Hålogaland Bridge ( no, Hålogalandsbrua) is a suspension bridge which crosses the Rombaksfjorden in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is the second-longest bridge span in Norway. The bridge is part of the European Rout ...
. There is also the Rombak Bridge
The Rombak Bridge ( no, Rombaksbrua) is a suspension bridge in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The bridge crosses the Rombaken fjord near the town of Narvik. The bridge was opened in 1964. The main span is and the maximum cl ...
used for E6 until 2018. There are road connections from Narvik across the mountains eastwards to Abisko and Kiruna, Sweden (via European route E10
European route E10 is the second shortest Class A road which is part of the International E-road network. It begins in Å, Norway and ends in Luleå, Sweden. The road is about 850 km (530 mi) in length. The Norwegian part of the ...
). One Narvik citizen lets other citizens use his Tesla cars at will.
;Air
Narvik is served by Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
Harstad/Narvik Airport ( no, Harstad/Narvik lufthavn; ) is an international airport located in Evenes Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The airport serves the towns of Harstad and Narvik. It is co-located with Evenes Air Station of the ...
which is by road from Narvik and has regular flights to Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
, Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...
, Bodø, Tromsø
Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.
Tromsø lies in Northern Norway. The municipality is the ...
and Andenes
is the administrative centre of Andøy Municipality which is located in the Vesterålen district of Nordland county, Norway. The village of Andenes is the northernmost settlement of the island of Andøya (and in Nordland county). To the east ...
.
Culture
The Narvik War Museum (''Narvik Krigsmuseum'') covers the war years 1940–1945. The museum displays the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
awarded posthumously to Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee of the British Royal Navy and a rare German Enigma coding machine.
Museum Nord - Narvik tells of the development of the ice-free harbour of Narvik and the rapid transformation of the town over the past century. The building that houses Museum Nord - Narvik was erected in 1902 as the head office of the Norwegian state railway company, ''Norges statsbaner'' and was designed by architect, Paul Due
Paul Due (13 August 1835 – 26 February 1919) was a Norwegian architect and significant contributor to the stations built by the Norwegian State Railways.
Biography
Paul Due was born in Kristiansand, Norway. He graduated in engineering s ...
.
Churches
The Church of Norway has four parishes () within the municipality of Narvik. It is part of the Ofoten prosti
Ofoten is a traditional district in Nordland county in Northern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Tysfjord, Ballangen, Evenes, Tjeldsund, Narvik, and Lødingen. It is named after the main fjord, Ofotfjorden, which is at the cente ...
( deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland
Sør-Hålogaland is a diocese in the Church of Norway. The Diocese covers the Lutheran Church of Norway churches located within Nordland county in Norway. The diocese is headquartered in the town of Bodø at Bodø Cathedral, the seat of the ...
.
In Popular Culture
Narvik appeared in Battlefield V
''Battlefield V'' is a first-person shooter game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. It is the eleventh main installment in the ''Battlefield'' series and the successor to 2016's ''Battlefield 1'', and was released for Microsoft ...
, a First-person shooter video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
, based on WWII
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The map's setting, in Narvik, specifically depicts the Allied landings at the city on the 28th of May. The setting's location, depicts a snowy, mountainside battlefield, featuring tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engi ...
s, planes, and infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
. the playable area includes the rail yard
A rail yard, railway yard, railroad yard (US) or simply yard, is a series of tracks in a rail network for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading rail vehicles and locomotives. Yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock or u ...
, loading bay, town, and ore deposit.
Notable people
* Theodor Broch
Peter Theodor Broch (27 January 1904 – 26 April 1998) was a Norwegians, Norwegian lawyer and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party, Labour Party.
He was born in Oslo, Kristiania as a son of Colonel Ole Jacob Broch (1875–1963) an ...
(1904–1998) a lawyer and politician, Mayor of Narvik 1934 to 1946, except during WWII
* Helge Mehre
Helge Mehre (1 February 1911 – 17 September 1997) was a Norwegian military officer.
Personal life
Mehre was born in Narvik as son of veterinarian Karl Georg Mehre and Helga Olrik. He married Eva Østgaard in 1952. They resided at Strand. ...
MBE Mbe may refer to:
* Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo
* Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria
* Mbe language, a language of Nigeria
* Mbe' language, language of Cameroon
* ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language
Molal ...
DSO DFC (1911–1997) a Norwegian military officer
* Fredrik Kiil (1921–2015) a Norwegian physician, improved the artificial kidney
Artificial kidney is often a synonym for hemodialysis, but may also refer to the other renal replacement therapies (with exclusion of kidney transplantation) that are in use and/or in development. This article deals mainly with bioengineered ki ...
* Cissi Klein
Cissi Pera Klein (19 April 1929 in Narvik – 3 March 1943 in Auschwitz) was a Norwegian Jewish girl who is commemorated every year as one of the victims of the Holocaust in her home town in Trondheim. Her parents had emigrated to Norway fr ...
(1929 in Narvik – 1943 in Auschwitz) a Norwegian Jewish girl, victim of the Holocaust
* Dr. Jan Paulsen
Dr. Jan Paulsen is a Seventh-day Adventist Church leader. Paulsen has served in Africa, Europe and America. He was president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists from March 1999 to June 2010.
Presidential service
Paulsen was re ...
(born 1935) a Seventh-day Adventist Church leader, past president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its headquarters is located in Silver Spring, Maryland and oversees the church in directing its various divisions and ...
* Jack Berntsen Joakim Jan Aril "Jack" Berntsen (14 October 1940 – 5 October 2010) was a Norwegian philologist, songwriter and folk singer.
He was born in Kjøpsvik, Tysfjord. He grew up in Hamarøy, and resided in Svolvær from 1968.
Berntsen founded ...
(1940–2010) a Norwegian philologist, songwriter and folk singer
* Thorgeir Stubø
Thorgeir Stubø (12 November 1943 – 22 October 1986) was a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and composer. He was the father of Jazz guitarist Håvard, jazz singer Kjersti and theater director Eirik Stubø, and grandfather of electronica musi ...
(1943–1986) a jazz musician and composer, had a family of jazz musicians
* Terje Bjørklund
Terje Bjørklund (born 2 January 1945) is a jazz pianist and composer. He was an active jazz pianist until approximately 1980. From then on he has concentrated on composing.
Early life and career
Bjørklund was born in Narvik. After obtaini ...
(born 1945) a jazz pianist and composer
* Gro Brækken (born 1952) a businessperson, has chaired several public bodies
* Lise Haavik
Lise Haavik (born 23 February 1962) is a Norwegian- Danish singer, best known for representing Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen, Norway in 1986. She is also well-known domestically for her partnership in the duo Trax with Joh ...
(born 1962) a Danish/Norwegian singer, sang at the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest 1986 was the 31st edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Bergen, Norway, following the country's victory at the with the song " La det swinge" by Bobbysocks! Organised by the European Broadcast ...
* Anne Rydning (born 1965) Colonel in the Norwegian army
The Norwegian Army ( no, Hæren) is the land warfare service branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Army is the oldest of the Norwegian service branches, established as a modern military organization under the command of the King of Norway ...
, the first female Army chief in Afghanistan
* Vibeke Larsen (born 1971 in Vassdalen) a Norwegian Sami politician
Sport
* Per Willy Guttormsen
Per Willy Guttormsen (born 11 June 1942) is a former Norwegian speed skater and cyclist. He was among the world's best long distance skaters in the 1960s.
Guttormsen's international breakthrough was his 6th place in the 1964 World Speed Skating C ...
(born 1942) a former speed skater, competed in the 1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...
, 1968
The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide.
Events January–February
* January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.
* Janu ...
and 1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially the and commonly known as Sapporo 1972 ( ja, 札幌1972), was a winter multi-sport event held from February 3 to 13, 1972, in Sapporo, Japan. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to take place outside Euro ...
* Thomas Hafstad (born 1974) a retired Norwegian footballer, 239 games for Tromsø IL
Tromsø Idrettslag is a Norwegian professional football club founded in 1920, based in the city of Tromsø. They play their home games at Alfheim Stadion. Tromsø play in the Eliteserien.
Tromsø have won the Norwegian Cup twice, in 1986 and 19 ...
* Ragnhild Gulbrandsen
Ragnhild Øren Gulbrandsen (born 22 February 1977) is a Norwegian journalist and former football striker from the city of Trondheim who retired from football at the end of 2007. Most of her playing career was spent with Trondheims-Ørn (Trond ...
(born 1977) a journalist and former football striker with 80 caps for Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
* Marit Røsberg Jacobsen (born 1994) a Norwegian handball player
Twin towns – sister cities
Narvik is twinned with:
* Kikinda
Kikinda ( sr-Cyrl, Кикинда, ; hu, Nagykikinda) is a city and the administrative center of the North Banat District in Serbia . The city urban area has 38,069 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 59,453 inhabitants.
The c ...
, Serbia
* Kingisepp, Russia
* Kiruna, Sweden
* Nowy Sącz, Poland
* Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi ( , ; sme, Roavvenjárga ; smn, Ruávinjargâ; sms, Ruäʹvnjargg) is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland, and its southern part Per ...
, Finland
References
External links
Municipal fact sheet
from Statistics Norway
Museum Nord Official Website
Narvik Krigsmuseum Official Website
*
Destination Narvik – tourist information
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Nordland
Ski areas and resorts in Norway
Populated places of Arctic Norway
1902 establishments in Norway