Situation and characteristics
Alta, the largest town in the thinly populated county of Finnmark, lies at the head of the Altafjord on the banks of the Alta, the best known salmon river in Norway. It has direct air connections with Oslo and is on the main coast road (E 6). Its economic importance lies in the educational field
, with two technical colleges (fishing and fish-processing; mining).
Although the town lies in latitude 70° north it has a mild inland climate which offers excellent conditions for agriculture and forestry. The midnight sun can be seen here from May 16 to July 26, and between November 24 and January 18 the sun is not visible at all. The clear skies around Alta make it an ideal location for studying the aurora borealis.
Alta is served by the coastal ships of the Hurtigrute. There are bus services from here to the North Cape and Hammerfest and to the Lapp towns of Karasjok and Kautokeino.
Alta is also the site of rock carvings circa 4200 BC to 500 BC that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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