Finnmark, County in northern Norway
Finnmark extends across wide plateaus, deep fjords and coastal strips in northern Norway. The landscape shifts between treeless expanses, narrow valleys and small settlements scattered along fjord shores and roads.
World War II brought massive destruction when the German army evacuated inhabitants in 1944 and burned nearly all buildings. After the war, returning residents rebuilt their houses and villages, often with simple means and under difficult conditions.
The Sami have lived here for thousands of years and keep their traditions alive through reindeer herding and traditional clothing visible in many villages today. The region carries many place names in both Sami and Norwegian, reflecting cultural diversity in daily life.
Several small airports connect the region to larger cities in the south, and buses run along the few main roads. Winter days are very short and some passes may close, while summer brings long bright evenings.
The midnight sun shines here continuously from mid-May to late July, so you can read or hike at night without needing a light. In winter this reverses: the polar night wraps the landscape in darkness for weeks, interrupted only by twilight and occasional northern lights.
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