Berlevåg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| County | Finnmark | |
| District | ||
| Municipality | NO-2024 | |
| Administrative centre | Berlevåg | |
| Mayor (2005) | Erik Brøske (SV) | |
| Official language form | Bokmål | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 92 1,120 km² 1,082 km² 0.35 % |
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| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 395 1,158 0.03 % -10.4 % 1/km² |
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| Coordinates | ||
| www.berlevag.kommune.no |
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Berlevåg is a municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.
The municipality is situated on the northern end of the peninsula of Varangerhalvøya, facing the open Barents Sea. There are two settlements in Berlevåg. In addition to Berlevåg there is Kongsfjord with approximately 45 inhabitants.
The port is difficult, and the breakwater was destroyed several times by the weather. However, the use of tetrapods that intertwine, made for a flexible breakwater that could resist the Barents Sea. The port was secured in 1973. Since then, the Hurtigruten has been able to dock its ship in Berlevåg. Earlier a smaller vessel had to unload cargo and passengers from it in the open sea. Today, there is also an airport.This airport was originally taken into use during WWII when the Germans constructed it by the help of hundreds of Russian and prisoners of war. During the period 1943-44 there were nearly daily bombing raids from Russia on Berlevåg and the German airfield.
In World War II, the village was completely burned down and the inhabitants evacuated by force as part of the scorched earth strategy of the Germans. The government wanted to relocate the inhabitants to nearby Kongsfjord because of a better harbour, but they refused, and the village was rebuilt. As there are absolutely no trees in Berlevåg, many of the houses in Berlevåg were built by the help of the wooden planks in the "tarmac" of the previous German airfield.
Berlevåg was brought fame in Norway when the Norwegian film director Knut Erik Jensen made a documentary film about Berlevåg Mannsangsforening, a men's choir. The movie Heftig og begeistret ("Cool and Crazy") was a big hit in Norway, first shown at Tromsø international film festival. The choir later went on a tour of the USA and were featured at Ground Zero in NYC. There oldest and most famous member,Einar Strand, passed away at the age of 98 in 2004.
Enchanting, serene nature. When driving through the village of Berlevåg you pass the airport and come to the valley of Skonsvik. Driving the 15 km to the end of the road you arrive at Molvik which is situated on the Tana fjord. Here are a few chalets and remains of deserted houses. This is an excellent stopover for tenting or fishing. To your north west is also a pleasant area for a long walk - 6-7 hours along the Tana-fjord. There you will pass Muorrigargo and Kvitnes, formerly little fishing villages; yet, today there are only three buildings left.
| Municipalities of Finnmark |  |
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Alta | Berlevåg | Båtsfjord | Gamvik | Hammerfest | Hasvik | Karasjok | Kautokeino | Kvalsund | Lebesby | Loppa | Måsøy | Nesseby | Nordkapp | Porsanger | Sør-Varanger | Tana | Vadsø | Vardø |
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