Jump to content

Skibotn

Coordinates: 69°23′27″N 20°16′02″E / 69.39083°N 20.26722°E / 69.39083; 20.26722
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Markkina (Kven)
Village
View of the village harbor
View of the village harbor
Map
Skibotn is located in Troms
Skibotn
Skibotn
Skibotn is located in Norway
Skibotn
Skibotn
Coordinates: 69°23′27″N 20°16′02″E / 69.39083°N 20.26722°E / 69.39083; 20.26722
CountryNorway
RegionNorthern Norway
CountyTroms
DistrictNord-Troms
MunicipalityStorfjord Municipality
Area
 • Total1.05 km2 (0.41 sq mi)
Elevation8 m (26 ft)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total539
 • Density513/km2 (1,330/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
9143 Skibotn

Skibotn (Norwegian), Ivgubahta (Northern Sami), or Yykeänperä (Kven)[3] is a village in Storfjord Municipality 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.[4]

The 1.05-square-kilometre (260-acre) village has a population (2023) of 539 and a population density of 513 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,330/sq mi).[1] The modern day residents of Skibotn are mostly either descendants of the Kven people and Sami people, or immigrants—and their descendants—from Southern and Central Norway.

Name

[edit]

The village is named after the old Skibotn farm. The first element probably comes from the word skip which means "ship", likely referring to the old harbor in the village. The last element is botn which means "bottom", in the sense of the "bottom" or "innermost" part of the fjord.[5] The other official names Ivgubahta (Northern Sami) and Yykeänperä (Kven) both refer to the bottom of the fjord off of the main Lyngen fjord. An alternate Kven name is Markkina, but that one is not an official name. Markkina refer to the market located at Skibotn.[4]

Geography

[edit]

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.[6]

Notable people

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Statistisk sentralbyrå (2023-12-23). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  2. ^ "Skibotn" (in Norwegian). yr.no. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  3. ^ "Informasjon om stadnamn". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  4. ^ a b Berg-Nordlie, Mikkel, ed. (2018-06-11). "Skibotn". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  5. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 154.
  6. ^ "Skibotn Telescope". University of Tromsø. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
[edit]