Karasjok


or or is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Karasjok. Other villages include Dorvonjárga, Šuoššjávri, and Váljohka.
The municipality is the second largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Karasjok is the 245th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,628. The municipality's population density is and its population has decreased by 5.8% over the last decade.

General information

The municipality of Karasjok was established on 1 January 1866 when it was separated from the old Kistrand municipality. Initially, the population of Karasjok was 515. The municipal borders have not changed since that time.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Finnmark county.

Name

Karasjok is a Norwegianized form of the Northern Sami language name Kárášjohka. The meaning of the first element could be káráš from Northern Sami which could mean "food plate of wood", or from Finnish, kara, "something that sticks". The last element is johka which means "river", whose equivalent in Finnish is joki.
The name of the municipality was Karasjok until 1990 when it was changed to Kárášjohka-Karasjok. It was the third municipality in Norway to get a Sami name. In 2005, the name was again changed, such that either Kárášjohka or Karasjok can be used.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times; they were granted on 27 June 1986. The three gold-colored flames on a red background. The flames were chosen as a symbol for the importance of fire to the local Sami people. The fire brings both heat and thus survival during the harsh winters, but it is also a major threat, both in the tents as well as in the large pine forests. The fire is also the point around which people gather and it is a guard against dangers. The flag contains three flames also because Kárásjoga-Karasjok is a place where three peoples live: the Sami, Norwegians, and Kvens.

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish ' within the municipality of Karasjok. It is part of the Indre Finnmark prosti in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Parish 'Church NameLocation of the ChurchYear Built
KarasjokKarasjok ChurchKarasjok1974
KarasjokOld Karasjok ChurchKarasjok1807
KarasjokSuosjavrre ChapelŠuoššjávri1968
KarasjokValjok ChurchVáljohka1932

Transportation

There is an official border crossing between Dorvonjárga and Karigasniemi, over the Anarjohka river. The European route E6 highway passes through the municipality from Lakselv to Tana bru and Kirkenes in the east. The nearest airport is Lakselv Airport, about from Karasjok village.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Karasjok, are responsible for primary education, outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Indre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council of Karasjok is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Geography

The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river and its tributaries: Anárjohka and Kárášjohka. It includes large tracts of the high Finnmarksvidda plateau. Lakes in the region include Čorotjávri, Gásadatjávri, Iešjávri, and Idjajávri. The river valley, unlike the plateau, is covered with pine and birch forests. The southern part of the municipality is part of the Øvre Anárjohka National Park.

Climate

In this far northeastern part of Norway, the climate is much more continental and dry compared to the typical coastal climate in Norway.
Situated in a river valley on this plateau, Karasjok has recorded the coldest official temperature ever in Norway: on 1 January 1886. The warmest temperature ever recorded in the summer is. In January 1999, there was also a cold shock, the "official" temperature recording was, but unofficially a temperature of was recorded. The warmest month on record was July 1941, with a mean temperature of ; the coldest month was February 1966 with a mean of.

Birdlife

The birdlife to be found in this municipality is characteristic for the region. The inland habitats of Finnmarksvidda are known for their rich bird life with species like Bluethroat preferring areas with scrub. The Tana river also flows through Karasjok and many of the species found in higher areas use it as a migration route.

Economy

Most people live in the village of Karasjok. The village is the seat of the Sámediggi, the Sami Parliament of Norway, as well as of the Sami broadcasting, and several Sami institutions are found here, including Davvi Girji, the largest Sámi publisher. About 80% of the population is Sami speaking, and Sami and Norwegian have equal status in the municipality.

Tourism

The attractions include the Sami parliament, Samediggi, the Sami museum, and the Old Karasjok Church, dating from 1807. The Sami parliament was opened in 1989, by King Olav V, the first Sami parliament president was Ole Henrik Magga, from Kautokeino. He was the president for more than eight years. The Old Karasjok Church is the oldest Lutheran church in Finnmark county. The church is today too small, so a new, larger, wooden Karasjok Church, inspired by Sami architecture, has been built. Karasjok is also the place to look for duodji, Sami handicraft.

Notable people