Hammerfest is a city and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.

Located at 70° 39' 48" N, it claims to be the northernmost town in the world, although the title is disputed by Honningsvåg, Norway and Barrow, Alaska. The validity of the claim depends upon one's definition of a city; Hammerfest is the northernmost settlement of more than 5,000 inhabitants in the world. It is also the oldest city in northern Norway.

The city offers sport and commercial fishing, both sea and freshwater, including scuba diving. The northernmost glacier on the Norwegian mainland is a popular hiking destination. The town is a popular starting point for northern tours. There is a daily boat to the spectacular North Cape (Nordkapp), northernmost point on the continent of Europe.

Hammerfest is also a center of Sami culture.

Many gravesites dating back to the Stone Age can be found here. It had already been an important fishing and Arctic hunting settlement for a long time before it was recognized as a town in 1789. It was struck by a fire in 1890.

Hammerfest was forcibly evacuated by occupying German troops in World War II and then burned to the ground by them when they retreated. The Museum of Reconstruction in Hammerfest tells the story of these events and the recovery of the city. Hammerfest is also home to the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society (Isbjørnklubbe), and a museum displaying the history of Arctic hunting.

See also Northernmost settlements.

External link

• Hammerfest Municipality