The busy Norwegian port of Hammerfest lies on the west side of the island of Kvaløy (area 339sq.km/130sq.mi) in latitude 70°39'48" north and longitude 23°40' east. The sun never sets here between May 17 and July 28 and never rises between November 21 and January 23.
History
Long an important commercial and fishing port in virtue of its sheltered and ice-free harbor, Hammerfest received its municipal charter in 1789. The town was bombarded by a British fleet in 1809, almost totally destroyed by fire in 1890 and razed to the ground by German forces in October 1944 after the compulsory evacuation of the population, only the cemetery chapel being left standing.
The people of Hammerfest, however, soon rebuilt their town on the narrow strip of land between the hill ridge of Salen and the sea. The rebuilt town is notable for its colorful house-fronts.
Economy
Hammerfest is the base of Norway's Arctic fishing fleet; it has a large fish-processing industry and a fishery college. It also caters to increasing numbers of visitors.
The town of Hammerfest offers sea and freshwater sport fishing, scuba diving, and hiking opportunities. It is the ideal base for tourists to begin northern tours.
On the south side of Hammerfest, to the left of the road, is an open-air swimming pool, the Jansvatn. 1km/0.75mi beyond this is the most northerly stretch of woodland in the world.
To the west of the Hammerfest market square, in Kirkegata, is the Lutheran church (1961), a striking example of modern architecture. In the tent-shaped gable can be seen a large stained glass window (by Jardar Lunde, 1962), 8m/26ft square. Concerts are given in the church every evening in summer. Close by is a little wooden chapel which survived the Second World War.
In the Market Square is the Hammerfest Town Hall (1957). There is also a small museum (open only in summer) displaying relics of the days when Hammerfest was the metropolis of the Arctic and the whalers' capital.
In the square is a bust of the composer Ole Olsen (1850-1927), a native of Hammerfest.
From here Storgata runs north to the quay used by the vessels of the Hurtigrute and by local shipping.
Tips: In Hammerfest Town Hall, on payment of a single subscription, visitors can become members of the Royal and Ancient Society of Polar Bears.
From the Hammerfest market square Strandgata runs northeast, passing on the right the little Roman Catholic church (1958), mostly built by German volunteers. The cross was carved by an Austrian who had been a prisoner of war in Narvik. Farther along, also on the right, is the school (1961).
From the Hammerfest market square a footpath runs up Salen (the "Saddle"; 86m/282ft), the ridge of hills on the south side of the town; the climb to the top takes 20minutes. It can also be reached on a road running to the east of the town past a small lake, the Storvatn. From the west end of the hill there is a extensive view of the open sea.
The road south of Hammerfest runs to Skaidi. To the left is a view of Tyven (the "Thief"; 419m/1,375ft), which can be climbed from Hammerfest in 1.5 hours. From the summit there are views to the east over the barren island with its many lakes, to the south and west of the mountains with their snowfields and glaciers, and to the north over the infinite expanse of the Arctic Ocean.
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