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Narvik
KNOWLEDGE OF Narvik
Narvik is a town in the county of Nordland, Norway, in the Ofoten landscape in Northern Norway, inside the arctic circle. Narvik borders Evenes to the northwest, Bardu and Gratangen in Troms county to the north, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the south and east and Ballangen to the southwest.
The municipality of Narvik covers large areas outside the town itself. Some of the other settlements in the municipality are Bjerkvik (ca 1000 inh., located in the northern part, at the head of Herjangsfjorden), Beisfjord and Skjomen.
The eastern part, towards the border with Sweden, is all mountains, and Storsteinfjellet reaches 1894 m. The city itself is situated near the innermost part of the deep Ofotfjord, but even here the mountains, going almost straight up from the blue fjord, reaches 1500 m, even 1700 m in Skjomen, where the glacier Frostisen can be seen. Forest cover the lower parts of the mountains (below 500 m), but near the summits, the snow can stay most of the summer. Narvik has well prepared slopes for alpine skiing, some of which ends almost in the city center.
Situated 220 km inside the arctic circle, Narvik is one of the most northernly towns in the world. However, the North Atlantic drift (extension of the Gulfstream) gives Narvik a much milder climate than one might expect for a town at this latitude. In addition, the mountains surrounding the town gives shelter from the strong winds typical for coastal areas. Mean annual temperature is 3.7°C, January average is -4°C, July 24-hr average is 13°C, and the growing season is approximately 155 days, allowing inhabitants with an interest for gardening to grow imported trees like ash (Fraxinus excelsior), sycamore maple and with luck even oak (Quercus robur), although they will not grow quite as big as they would further south.
The average temperature is below freezing from mid-November until ca April 1. Thaws can occur any time in winter, but rarely in the higher elevations. Average 24-hr temperatures is above 5°C from early May until ca October 10. Summer lasts from beginning of June until the first days in September, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 26°C, with 31°C as a rare maximum (usually 12 - 20°C). The wettest month is October, with 110 mm precipitation, the driest month is May with 40 mm, and the year average precipitation is 830 mm.
The light varies a lot in Narvik: The sun is below the horizon from late November until mid-January; when there is only a bluish light for a few hours around noon. The mountains surrounding the town in reality extends this period from early November until the end of January. The light is often intense in March and April, with long daylight hours and snow cover - the snow melts in lowland areas in April, but stays in the mountains for several months. The (midnight) sun is above the horizon from May 25 to July 18, and the periode with continuous daylight lasts a bit longer, from approximately May 10 to the end of July. There is also a transitional period with twilight in the night, so you will not be able to see any stars at night from the last days of April until approximately August 10.
Narvik is all about great outdoor adventures. This is the best known location in northern Norway when it comes to alpine skiing. There are lifts, and several of the slopes are floodlit. There is also a cable car to Fagernesfjellet, with a stunning view and the possibility to walk even higher up in the mountains. Mountain hiking is, understandably, very popular in this area, and the mountain area near the Swedish border has several accommodation possibilities. Wreck diving attracts divers to Narvik, as there are a lot of wrecks in or near the harbor, and more spread out in the fjord. Fishing in the fjord or in lakes and streams is a popular leisure activity. There are salmon rivers in Skjomen, Beisfjord and Bjerkvik. The 18 hole Golf Course in Skjomen is situated in a very scenic landscape, and is one of the most northern in the world. Narvik was destroyed by the fighting in 1940 and hastily rebuild, hence the architecture is rather functional, but private homes are often painted in bright colours.
The municipality of Narvik covers large areas outside the town itself. Some of the other settlements in the municipality are Bjerkvik (ca 1000 inh., located in the northern part, at the head of Herjangsfjorden), Beisfjord and Skjomen.
The eastern part, towards the border with Sweden, is all mountains, and Storsteinfjellet reaches 1894 m. The city itself is situated near the innermost part of the deep Ofotfjord, but even here the mountains, going almost straight up from the blue fjord, reaches 1500 m, even 1700 m in Skjomen, where the glacier Frostisen can be seen. Forest cover the lower parts of the mountains (below 500 m), but near the summits, the snow can stay most of the summer. Narvik has well prepared slopes for alpine skiing, some of which ends almost in the city center.
Situated 220 km inside the arctic circle, Narvik is one of the most northernly towns in the world. However, the North Atlantic drift (extension of the Gulfstream) gives Narvik a much milder climate than one might expect for a town at this latitude. In addition, the mountains surrounding the town gives shelter from the strong winds typical for coastal areas. Mean annual temperature is 3.7°C, January average is -4°C, July 24-hr average is 13°C, and the growing season is approximately 155 days, allowing inhabitants with an interest for gardening to grow imported trees like ash (Fraxinus excelsior), sycamore maple and with luck even oak (Quercus robur), although they will not grow quite as big as they would further south.
The average temperature is below freezing from mid-November until ca April 1. Thaws can occur any time in winter, but rarely in the higher elevations. Average 24-hr temperatures is above 5°C from early May until ca October 10. Summer lasts from beginning of June until the first days in September, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 26°C, with 31°C as a rare maximum (usually 12 - 20°C). The wettest month is October, with 110 mm precipitation, the driest month is May with 40 mm, and the year average precipitation is 830 mm.
The light varies a lot in Narvik: The sun is below the horizon from late November until mid-January; when there is only a bluish light for a few hours around noon. The mountains surrounding the town in reality extends this period from early November until the end of January. The light is often intense in March and April, with long daylight hours and snow cover - the snow melts in lowland areas in April, but stays in the mountains for several months. The (midnight) sun is above the horizon from May 25 to July 18, and the periode with continuous daylight lasts a bit longer, from approximately May 10 to the end of July. There is also a transitional period with twilight in the night, so you will not be able to see any stars at night from the last days of April until approximately August 10.
Narvik is all about great outdoor adventures. This is the best known location in northern Norway when it comes to alpine skiing. There are lifts, and several of the slopes are floodlit. There is also a cable car to Fagernesfjellet, with a stunning view and the possibility to walk even higher up in the mountains. Mountain hiking is, understandably, very popular in this area, and the mountain area near the Swedish border has several accommodation possibilities. Wreck diving attracts divers to Narvik, as there are a lot of wrecks in or near the harbor, and more spread out in the fjord. Fishing in the fjord or in lakes and streams is a popular leisure activity. There are salmon rivers in Skjomen, Beisfjord and Bjerkvik. The 18 hole Golf Course in Skjomen is situated in a very scenic landscape, and is one of the most northern in the world. Narvik was destroyed by the fighting in 1940 and hastily rebuild, hence the architecture is rather functional, but private homes are often painted in bright colours.
Chapi