KVÆNANGEN

Wieloryby, góry, Saamowie, lodowce

BASIC INFORMATION
Kvænangen is a municipality in the Troms region, in the northern part of Norway, and also the name of a fjord located in this area.
Until the early 16th century, the area was exclusively inhabited by indigenous people – the Saami. In the 18th century, they were joined by the Norwegians from the South and the Kvens from the East – people of Finnish origin. Despite being a clear minority, it is from the Kven people that the region takes its name.
The area holds numerous traces of the past and archaeological findings, especially related to Saami culture. On the island of Spildra, places of Saami rituals and their graves, dating back to the Viking Age and early Middle Ages, are concealed. The island is also home to six bear graves out of the 40 discovered across Norway. Saami people regarded these powerful animals almost on par with humans, considering bears sacred – evoking admiration and respect. Often, their bones were part of rituals and were later buried. It was not uncommon for bears and humans to be buried together in the same chest. The Saami chose natural rock crevices for this purpose, covering them with boulders. The ritual seems to have been practiced from the Iron Age until the 19th century.

KINGDOM OF NATURE – WHALES, WHALES, WHALES
The entire region is also exceptionally interesting in terms of natural environment. Traces of the last Ice Age are wonderfully evident – the entire fjord is shaped like the letter U, with enormous polished rocks visible in many places. A clear shoreline can be seen on the rocks, where remains of settlements from the Neolithic era were found. In the vicinity, distinctive nunataks can be observed – sharp peaks that once rose above the surface of glaciers or heavily ice-covered mountains. After the glaciers receded, they still sharply contrast with other more rounded mountains. On the other hand, coral reefs are also present in the area, inviting diving enthusiasts.
In the northern part of the region lies the Jøkelfjorden fjord, boasting the only European glacier calving directly into the sea – Øksfjordjøkelen. Further to the south there is a geologically fascinating island of Skorpa, and 4 km lower there is a town of Sørstraumen, where one of the world’s strongest tidal currents occurs on the Norwegian Sea – Malstrøm.
The abundance of wildlife is the cherry on top. In the sky, you’ll spot white-tailed eagles, falcons, hawks, and cormorants. In the water – catfish, halibut, cod, ling (mainly in summer), as well as humpback whales and orcas, which began appearing here since the winter of 2017/18, following herring.