# Porsanger Municipality

Porsanger (Northern Sami: Porsáŋgu; Kven: Porsanki) is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lakselv. Other villages in the municipality include Børselv, Brenna, Indre Billefjord, Kistrand, Olderfjord, and Skoganvarre.
The 4,874-square-kilometre (1,882 sq mi) municipality is the 3rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Porsanger is the 208th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,889 (many of whom have a Kven (Kainu) or Sami background). The municipality's population density is 0.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 1.9% over the previous 10-year period.

## General information

The municipality of Kistrand (renamed Porsanger in 1964) was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1851, the southern part of Kistrand (population: 869) was separated to become the new Kautokeino Municipality. On 1 January 1861, the northern part of Kistrand (population: 345) was separated to become the new Kjelvik Municipality. On 1 January 1866, the southern part of Kistrand (population: 515) was separated to become the new Karasjok Municipality.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Finnmark county. On 1 January 2024, the Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part of Finnmark county.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) was first named after the old Kistrand farm since the first Kistrand Church was built there. The first element is possibly derived from the word kid which means "kid" (as in a young goat). The last element is strand which means "beach" or "shore".
On 2 November 1962, a royal resolution changed the name of the municipality to Porsanger. The new name comes the local Porsangerfjorden (Old Norse: Porsangr). The first element is probably the name of the plant pors or finnmarkspors (Rhododendron tomentosum). Another theory is that the first element is derived from the Northern Sami word borsi which means "waterfall". The last element is angr which means "fjord" or "bay".
Since 2004, the municipality has had three co-official, co-equal, interchangeable names: Porsanger (Norwegian), Porsáŋgu (Northern Sami), and Porsanki (Kven), since it has three official languages: Norwegian, Northern Sami, and Kven. The spelling of the Sami and Kven language names change depending on how they are used. In Sami, it is called Porsáŋgu when it is spelled alone, but it is Porsáŋggu gielda when using the Sami language equivalent to "Porsanger Municipality". In Kven, it is called Porsanki when it is spelled alone, and it is Porsangin komuuni when using the Kven language equivalent to "Porsanger municipality".

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 June 1967. The official blazon is "Gules, three reindeer salient argent" (Norwegian: På rød bunn tre springende hvite rein). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is three leaping reindeer, two over one. The reindeer have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. Porsanger is one of the largest municipalities in the Northern Norway that is not dependent on fishing. Instead, the local people historically farmed reindeer, which is still an importance source of income for the residents. The arms were designed by Hallvard Trætteberg.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Porsanger. It is part of the Indre Finnmark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Churches in Porsanger :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Porsanger | Brenna Chapel | Brenna | 1971 |
| Porsanger | Børselv Church | Børselv | 1958 |
| Porsanger | Kistrand Church | Kistrand | 1856 |
| Porsanger | Lakselv Church | Lakselv | 1963 |
| Porsanger | Skoganvarre Chapel | Skoganvarre | 1963 |

## History

The area has been settled by Norwegians and Sami people since time immemorial. In the 18th century, people from Finland, escaping famine and war, settled along the Porsangerfjorden. These people are today known as Kven.

## Government

Porsanger Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Porsanger is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Porsanger kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Cross-Party List for Porsanger TLP (Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger TLP) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Cross-Party List in Porsanger (Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Cross-Party List in Porsanger (Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Porsanger List (Porsangerlista) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Porsanger List (Porsangerlista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Porsanger List (Porsangerlista) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Porsanger Cross-Party List (Porsanger tverrpolitiske liste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Local list for Indre Porsanger (Kretslista for Indre Porsanger) | 3 |
| | Porsanger Local List (Porsanger Bygdefolkets liste) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Local list for Indre Porsanger (Kretslista for Indre Porsanger) | 6 |
| | Common List for Porsanger (Samlingsliste for Porsanger) | 1 |
| | Socialist Unity Liste (Sosialistisk enhetslist) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 20 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Porsanger kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 19 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kistrand herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
| Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |||

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Porsanger:
* 1839-1841: Søren Von Krogh Zetlitz
* 1841-1847: Johan Eirik Greiner
* 1847-1849: Peder K. Ulich
* 1849-1857: Johan Eirik Greiner
* 1857-1861: Peter Valeur
* 1861-1865: Johan Eirik Greiner
* 1869-1873: Lorents Jacob Pauli Holmgren
* 1873-1876: Lars Anton Moe
* 1877-1879: Thorvald Egeberg
* 1879-1881: Johan Eirik Greiner
* 1881-1885: Peder Larsen
* 1885-1894: Jacob A. Nordang
* 1894-1895: Anton Bye
* 1896-1897: Karl J Smith
* 1898-1901: Anton Bye
* 1902-1904: Salomon Nilsen
* 1905-1907: Nils Christoffersen
* 1908-1909: Peder Sætrum
* 1909-1911: Johannes Rasmussen
* 1911-1913: Anton Bye
* 1914-1917: Peder Andreas Olsen
* 1917-1919: H. Wilhelmsen
* 1920-1922: Peder Andreas Olsen
* 1923-1925: Georg Bjørkli
* 1926-1931: Olaf Reiersen
* 1932-1941: Peder Sivertsen (Ap)
* 1945-1945: Hans A. Opstad (Ap)
* 1945-1951: Peder Sivertsen (Ap)
* 1952-1967: Hans A. Opstad (Ap)
* 1968-1975: Helmer Mikkelsen (Ap)
* 1976-1983: Hans A. Karlsen (LL)
* 1984-1987: Steinulf Isaksen (Ap)
* 1988-1989: Aina Hanssen (Ap)
* 1990-1991: Berit Oppegaard (H)
* 1992-1995: Åsla Eriksen (Ap)
* 1995-1999: Rolf I. Johansen (Ap)
* 1999-2007: Bjørn Søderholm (H)
* 2007-2011: Mona Skanke (Ap)
* 2011-2015: Knut Roger Hanssen (H)
* 2015-2023: Aina Borch (Ap)
* 2023-present: Jo Inge Hesjevik (H)

## Economy

Lakselv Airport, Banak is located on the Banak peninsula, just north of Lakselv village, along the coast of the fjord. The airport has connections to Tromsø and Kirkenes and it is operated by Widerøe. There are also charter flights in the summer season. The airport is also used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force's Station Group Banak. The Norwegian Army also has a garrison at Porsangermoen (Garrison of Porsanger), and so the military presence in Porsanger is quite heavy.
The local newspapers are Finnmark Dagblad and Ságat. The northernmost winery is located here, using crowberries instead of grapes.

## Geography

Porsanger Municipality is the third largest municipality in Norway by area, with 4,873 square kilometres (1,881 sq mi). The municipality surrounds the inner part of the Porsangerfjorden, the fourth longest fjord in Norway and the longest in Northern Norway. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,138.9-metre (3,737 ft) tall mountain Čohkkarášša.
The Porsangerfjorden is a wide, open body of water with many islands. The Porsanger Peninsula lies on the western shore of the fjord and the Sværholt Peninsula lies on the eastern shore. The biggest village (and municipal centre) is the village of Lakselv at the fjord's southern end. There are many smaller villages spread around the fjord on both sides, notably Kistrand, Olderfjord, Børselv, and Indre Billefjord.
Stabbursdalen National Park, with the world's northernmost pine forest, lies just west of the fjord and the village of Lakselv. The Stabburselva river runs through the park. Other notable rivers include the Børselva and Lakselva, both are well known for their salmon fishing. The lakes Gákkajávri and Kjæsvannet are both located in the municipality.
In Porsanger, there is midnight sun from 16 May until 27 July each year and there is polar night from 25 November to 16 January.

### Birdlife

Porsanger is an area of rich and varied bird fauna. Here one can find such species as pine grosbeak. Away from the woodlands, it is the surrounding wetlands that have the greatest diversity. During spring, thousands of red knots stop to rest and feed along the shores of Porsangerfjord.

### Climate

Lakselv has a boreal climate with modest precipitation and long winters, but still with annual mean well above freezing, ensuring there is no permafrost. The winters are less severe in terms of cold than would be expected for a town at 70 degrees latitude. The all-time high temperature 34.3 °C (93.7 °F) was recorded on 5 July 2021. This is the warmest temperature ever recorded north of 70 degrees North in Europe. The all-time low −33.6 °C (−28.5 °F) is from January 1986. The average date for the last overnight freeze (low below 0 °C (32.0 °F)) in spring is 24 May and average date for first freeze in autumn is 6 September giving a frost-free season of 105 days. The weather station (recording since Aug 1945) is located at Banak Airport, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the town.
Climate data for Lakselv Airport, Banak in Porsanger 1991-2020 (5 m, extremes 1979-2024) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) | 9.4 (48.9) | 13 (55) | 15.9 (60.6) | 28.2 (82.8) | 32.5 (90.5) | 34.3 (93.7) | 32.8 (91.0) | 25 (77) | 15.1 (59.2) | 16 (61) | 10.1 (50.2) | 34.3 (93.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −4.2 (24.4) | −4.5 (23.9) | −0.9 (30.4) | 3.6 (38.5) | 9 (48) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.4 (63.3) | 15.8 (60.4) | 11.4 (52.5) | 4.5 (40.1) | −0.4 (31.3) | −2.2 (28.0) | 5.3 (41.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −7.9 (17.8) | −4.5 (23.9) | 0.1 (32.2) | 5.3 (41.5) | 9.6 (49.3) | 12.9 (55.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 1.9 (35.4) | −3.4 (25.9) | −5.7 (21.7) | 1.7 (35.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) | −11.8 (10.8) | −8.5 (16.7) | −3.7 (25.3) | 1.6 (34.9) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.2 (48.6) | 7.8 (46.0) | 4.5 (40.1) | −0.8 (30.6) | −6.5 (20.3) | −9.2 (15.4) | −1.9 (28.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −33.6 (−28.5) | −33 (−27) | −29.9 (−21.8) | −24.7 (−12.5) | −11.4 (11.5) | −1.6 (29.1) | −0.2 (31.6) | −3.1 (26.4) | −9.2 (15.4) | −21.2 (−6.2) | −26.4 (−15.5) | −30 (−22) | −33.6 (−28.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.7 (0.97) | 18.5 (0.73) | 19.9 (0.78) | 17.1 (0.67) | 25.5 (1.00) | 42.5 (1.67) | 57.2 (2.25) | 54.3 (2.14) | 37.7 (1.48) | 33.4 (1.31) | 23.6 (0.93) | 27.5 (1.08) | 381.9 (15.01) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 166 |
| Source 1: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA WMO averages 91-2020 Norway ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Lakselv (Banak) 1961-1990 :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −6.5 (20.3) | −5.5 (22.1) | −2.2 (28.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 13.5 (56.3) | 16.9 (62.4) | 14.9 (58.8) | 9.8 (49.6) | 3.4 (38.1) | −1.3 (29.7) | −4.3 (24.3) | 4.0 (39.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −10.0 (14.0) | −9.1 (15.6) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.3 (29.7) | 4.2 (39.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 12.7 (54.9) | 11.3 (52.3) | 6.7 (44.1) | 1.1 (34.0) | −4.3 (24.3) | −8.0 (17.6) | 0.6 (33.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −14.3 (6.3) | −13.0 (8.6) | −9.3 (15.3) | −4.8 (23.4) | 0.8 (33.4) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.2 (48.6) | 7.7 (45.9) | 3.6 (38.5) | −1.7 (28.9) | −7.4 (18.7) | −11.6 (11.1) | −2.9 (26.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21 (0.8) | 18 (0.7) | 15 (0.6) | 16 (0.6) | 18 (0.7) | 35 (1.4) | 55 (2.2) | 56 (2.2) | 36 (1.4) | 33 (1.3) | 22 (0.9) | 20 (0.8) | 345 (13.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 6.3 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 81.1 |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute ||||||||||||||

## Notable people

* John Persen (1941–2014), a composer who grew up in Ráigeadja
* Synnøve Persen (born 1950 in Beavgohpis), a Norwegian/Sámi artist, author and activist
* Ivar Thomassen (1954 in Russenes – 2016), a folk singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist
* Arnljot Elgsæter (born 1944 in Kistrand), a physicist and academic
* Kåre Olli (born 1959), a Sami politician in the Labour Party