Unjárga (Northern Sami) or Nesseby (Norwegian)[3] (also unofficially Uuniemi in Kven) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Varangerbotn. Other villages in Nesseby include Gandvik, Karlebotn, Nesseby, and Nyelv. The European route E06 and European route E75 highways intersect at Varangerbotn in Nesseby.
Nesseby kommune
Unjárgga gielda | |
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Municipality | |
![]() Abelsborg in Nesseby municipality | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Troms og Finnmark within Norway | |
![]() Nesseby within Troms og Finnmark | |
Coordinates: 70°10′24″N 28°33′13″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Troms og Finnmark |
District | Øst-Finnmark |
Established | 1839 |
• Preceded by | Vadsø landdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Varangerbotn |
Government | |
• Mayor (2011) | Knut Inge Store (Ap) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,436.95 km2 (554.81 sq mi) |
• Land | 1,365.93 km2 (527.39 sq mi) |
• Water | 71.02 km2 (27.42 sq mi) 4.9% |
• Rank | #62 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 854 |
• Rank | #343 in Norway |
• Density | 0.6/km2 (2/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Nessebyværing[1] |
Official languages | |
• Norwegian form | Bokmål |
• Sámi form | Northern Sami |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-5442 |
Website | Official website |
The 1,437-square-kilometre (555 sq mi) municipality is the 62nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Nesseby is the 343rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 854. The municipality's population density is 0.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (1.6/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
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.[6]
The official name of the municipality was Nesseby before 1989 when it was changed to Unjárga-Nesseby.[7] It was the second municipality in Norway to get a Sami name. In 2005, the name was again changed, such that either Unjárga or Nesseby can be used.[8]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Nesseby farm, since Nesseby Church was built there (in 1858). The first element is nes which means "headland" and the last element is by which means "town".[9]
The meaning of the first element (u-) in the Sami name is unknown and the last element is njárga which means "headland".[9]
The coat of arms was granted on 27 June 1986. The arms show a cloudberry plant (Rubus chamaemorus), since these plants are commonly found in the municipality and the region. The berries were historically exported to other parts of Norway by the barrel.[10]
Wild reindeer used to cross the isthmus in prehistoric times until the year 1900, causing extensive human activity throughout the millennia. Therefore, the area is full of archeological finds from different periods.
The municipality of Nesseby was originally established in 1839 when the western part of the Vadsø landdistrikt was separated to form Nesseby. Initially, there were 598 residents. This was short-lived, however, since the two were merged back together in 1858. On 1 January 1864, the municipality of Nesseby was again created from the western district of Vadsø landdistrikt. The initial population (this time) was 886. The western part of Nesseby (population: 450) was separated on 1 January 1903 to form the new municipality of Polmak.[11]
In 2013, 26% of jobs of were within the health sector and social sector; 8% were within education; there were 373 jobs in the municipality.[12] The hydroelectric power station, Gandvik kraftverk produces [around] 20.1 gigawatthours (as of 2021).[13]
All municipalities in Norway, including Nesseby, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), 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.[14] The municipality falls under the Indre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Nesseby is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 2 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 3 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Sámi People's Party (Samefolkets Parti) | 2 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 5 | |
Free voters (Frie velgere) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Sámi List (Samefolkets liste) | 3 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Sámi List (Samefolkets liste) | 2 | |
Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Common List for Cross-Party Group and Centre Party (Fellesliste for tverrpolitiskgruppe og Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Sámi List (Samefolkets liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Sámi List (Samefolkets liste) | 3 | |
Cross-Party list for fishermen, farmers, and others (Tverrpolitisk liste for fiskere, småbrukere og andre yrkesgruppe) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Sámi List (Samefolkets liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 12 | |
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |
Most inhabitants are of Sami origin,[citation needed] and today Sami is being taught as the first language in schools. The municipality has its own Sami costume.
The Norwegian Sami Parliament's department of culture and environment is located in Unjárga-Nesseby. The Várjjat Sámi Museum is located in the municipality. The museum is about the sea-sami culture. Unjárga-Nesseby is also the birthplace of Isak Saba the first Sami to be elected into the Norwegian Parliament.
The popular teen-age pop-band The Blacksheeps come from Nesseby.
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Nesseby. It is part of the Indre Finnmark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Nesseby | Nesseby Church | Nesseby | 1858 |
The municipality is situated on the isthmus between the Varangerfjord and the Tana River at the entrance to the Varanger Peninsula. All the people live in small settlements along the fjord. Varangerhalvøya National Park is partially located in the park. The river Jakobselva partially forms the municipal border between Nesseby and Vadsø to the northeast.
The municipality of Unjárga-Nesseby is known for its interesting birding localities and is mentioned in several birding guide books. Other than the Varangerford, the main habitat is tundra with areas of bog and marsh. One species that can usually be seen on small ponds during the summer months is the red-necked phalarope.
Climate data for Varangerbotn | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.9 (10.6) |
−11.0 (12.2) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
10.5 (50.9) |
6.1 (43.0) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27 (1.1) |
22 (0.9) |
21 (0.8) |
21 (0.8) |
24 (0.9) |
37 (1.5) |
55 (2.2) |
53 (2.1) |
44 (1.7) |
41 (1.6) |
34 (1.3) |
31 (1.2) |
410 (16.1) |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[33] |
Troms og Finnmark county, Norway | |||||||||
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