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Revision as of 16:05, 23 September 2019
Nuorgam is in Finnish Lapland and is situated at the top of Finland and the EU, 510 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, in the municipality Utsjoki. It is very central while on route to the Arctic Ocean and the Finnmark area in Norway. The close proximity of the Norwegian border crossing gives the village with its 200 inhabitants an international atmosphere, with many tourists visiting during the summer season.
Understand
Summer in this salmon valley is dominated by the king of fish and sports fishermen from all over Europe come to try their luck. The winter passes slowly, just like the water under the icy cover of the Teno River (Norwegian: Tana, Sámi: Deatnu. This is when Norwegian traders and European snowmobiling tourists arrive. When the sun rises over the horizon the village fills with people on snowmobiles and ice-fishermen and their families here to catch the giant Arctic Char. Nuorgam is also a place to visit during the period of winter twilight (26.11–16.1). At this time you have the possibility to experience the blue light and peacefulness of midwinter. It is not pitch-dark throughout the day, the snow gives us some light and softens the moment. And you may also experience the Northern Lights in early afternoon.
Get in
Distances by road are:
- Utsjoki 47 km
- Ivalo (airport) 210 km
- Rovaniemi (airport and train station) 510 km
- Saariselkä 250 km
To Norway:
- The border (Polmak) 3 km
- Tana Bru 23 km
- Vadsø 85 km
- Vardø 160 km
- Båtsfjord 160 km
- Kirkenes (airport) 165 km
- Lakselv (airport) 270 km
Airlines
The closest airport in Finland is in Ivalo, to which Finnair [1] flies daily from Helsinki.
SAS and Wideroe fly to the airport in Kirkenes in Norway.
Get around
Car rental
All the airports in close proximity offer car rentals:
Ivalo, Kirkenes airport and also Vadsø have Hertz, Europcar and Avis car rental companies.
See
Sights in the Nuorgam village and nearby areas:
- The midnight sun is shining from May 16th to July 27th.
- The period of winter twilight from November 26th to January 16th when the Sun doesn't rise at all.
- 1 EU's northernmost point. The official monument is next to the road just few meters from the Norwegian border. The actual northernmost point is about 400 meters north in the middle of river Teno. free.
- 2 The Museum Road and Alaköngäs rapids (Museageaidnu/Museotie). A 5 km long historic road is included to the list of nationally significant built cultural environments. The road is centuries old as Alaköngäs rapids make the Teno river unsuitable for boating. Nowadays, the Alaköngäs rapids are among the most popular places for salmon fishing. free.
- 3 The Sitting Stone (Čohkkangeađgi/Istumakivi). A large, flat stone (or actually two of them) on top of Isonkivenvaara fell. For centuries, when the reindeer herdsmen left the village the stone was used as a resting place. Awesome views to the fells in Norway and the vast Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. free.
- 4 Lake Pulmanki and the Pulmanki river valley (Buolbmatjávri/Pulmankijärvi). Lake Pulmanki was once a bottom of a fjord. This can still be seen from the extraordinary nature in and around the lake. The only place in Finland where you can find Myricaria germanica bushes. The river Pulmanki south from the lake is notable for its meandering. The 70 km long hiking trail from Sevettijärvi ends to the road by the lake. free.
- 5 Nuorgam chapel (Njuorggáma rohkosviessu/Nuorgamin rukoushuone), Seuraniementie 11. The EU's northernmost chapel was established in 1880's. Modernized in 1960's and 1970's. The service is held six times a year. free.
- 6 The Tana Museum in Polmak (in Norway, 5 km from Nuorgam), ☏ +47 952 62 162. A small museum about life in Teno river valley and Sami people. adult €6/NOK50, child €4/NOK30.
- The EU’s northernmost school. Nuorgam lower elementary school had 16 pupils in 2018.
- 7 The King's Stone (Gonagasgeađgi/Kuninkaankivi) (in Vetsikko). Two stones with a border marks from 1766 indicating Strömstad border between kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark. The stones carry king Adolf Fredrik of Sweden's monogram. Strömstad treaty (1751) created the first time an exact border between these countries this far north. free.
- The Sami museum in Varangerbotn
- Norway and the Arctic Ocean, take photographs of the fisher villages and towns
- Rastigaissa: East-Finnmark’s highest fell (1065 m.a.sl), which can be seen from the top of the treeless fells in Nuorgam
Do
The vast majority of tourists in Nuorgam are Norwegians coming here to buy cheap booze from the Alko store.
The rest are mostly fishing enthusiasts as Teno is the most important wild salmon river in the Europe. To protect the river and its stock fishing in Teno is strictly regulated; you need to buy a licence and all your fishing equipment must be disinfected (see fishing in Finland). The arctic char is common in many lakes around and during the winter it is the main catch for ice fishing.
South from Nuorgam there is vast backcountry, the Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. This makes Nuorgam an awesome place for hiking. The 70 km long, marked hiking trail from lake Pulmanki to Sevettijärvi village in Inari is recommended only for experienced trekkers. Near the lake Ylä-Pulmanki, deep within the wilderness area, there is wreck of a German Junkers-52 airplane shot down by Russians in 1944. The wreck is relatively well preserved due to its extremely remote location, it lies over 20 km off the nearest marked trail.
The Arctic Sea is just 35 km away. Small town Varangerbotn has a large Sami museum.
REMEMBER: Even though it is allowed to cross the Finland-Norway border anywhere it is an outer border of EU and customs regulations apply. If you aren't a citizen of a Nordic Country you also need to carry all necessary documents with you. The corresponding border station is in Polmak, Norway.
Buy
- 1 K-Market Rajamarket, Nuorgamintie 4298, ☏ +358 20 786 1130, [email protected]. Mon-Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-16:00, Sun 11:00-16:00. A large grocery store with Alko. Fishing gear and licences. Fishing guide service. Gasoline.
- 2 K-Market Auralan Säästö, Nuorgamintie 4379a, ☏ +358 16 678 342, [email protected]. Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00, Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-16:00, Sun 11:00-16:00. A smaller grocery store. Mail service.
Eat and drink
- 1 Scanburger Nuorgam, Nuorgamintie 4298. Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00. The northernmost fast food in EU.
- 2 Café-Restaurant Suvanto, Nuorgamintie. mid-June to mid-August: Mon-Sat 09:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-19:00, otherwise by request. The northernmost restaurant in EU.
- 3 Pub Staalonpesä, Nuorgamintie 4281. The northernmost pub in EU closed in 2016 and is now (2019) in renovation. Opens again some day, hopely.
Sleep
- 1 [formerly dead link] Nuorgam Holiday Resort (Nuorgamin lomakeskus), Nuorgamintie 4401, A99990 Nuorgam, ☏ +358 400-294-669, [email protected]. Offers accommodation in apartments and cottages and camping facilities.
Connect
Go next
You may take a drive along the Teno River (i.e. the border to Norway); the drive between Nuorgam and Karigasniemi has been chosen as the most beautiful road in Finland. The road passes by the famous Alaköngäs rapids, where it is possible to observe the fishermen toiling.