Country Norway County Troms Municipality Storfjord Area 94 ha Population 568 (2013) | Region Northern Norway District Nord-Troms Elevation 8 m (26 ft) Local time Thursday 3:01 PM | |
 | ||
Weather 1°C, Wind W at 27 km/h, 64% Humidity | ||
Skibotn (Northern Sami: Ivgubahta, Kven: Markkina or Yykeänperä) is a village in the municipality of Storfjord in Troms county, Norway. It is located on the southeastern shore of the Lyngen fjord in Northern Norway. The village area is located at the crossroads of the European route E6 and European route E8 highways. The distance by road to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost community in the western "arm" of Finland, is approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi). Skibotn Chapel is located in the village.
Contents
Map of 9143 Skibotn, Norway
The 0.94-square-kilometre (230-acre) village has a population (2013) of 568, which gives the village a population density of 604 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,560/sq mi). The modern day residents of Skibotn are mostly either descendant of the Kven people and Sami people, or immigrants—and their descendants—from Southern and Central Norway.
The name
The last element is botn 'bottom' (in the sense 'the innermost part of a fjord'). The first element is probably skip 'ship' - referring to the harbour here.
Geography
Skibotn is located in a valley, surrounded by large mountains including Nallagais, Imagais, Steindalsbreen, Balggesvarr and Storfjellet. The river Skibotnelva empties into the fjord at Skibotn. Skibotnelva river flows from the lakes Rihpojávri and Gálggojávri. Skibotn is known for its dry climate with frequent clear skies in the Skibotn valley, and the calcareous pine forests, with rare orchids. Due to the climate with few clouds, there is an astrophysical observatory located in Skibotn.
Notable residents
The well known Sami writer Nils-Aslak Valkeapää lived in Skibotn for a significant part of his life. Leonhard Seppala, the dog sled racing legend, was born in Skibotn. Astrid Båhl, who designed the first official Sámi flag (based on an unofficial flag by Synnøve Persen), also lived in Skibotn.