Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Karasjok, whose Sami name translates as “river current,” thrives in part on
reindeer herding. With its many handicrafts and Sami institutions, Karasjok is
both the cultural and social hub of Samiland.
The town forms the best place to learn about these once nomadic people who
lived on the roof of Europe. The Sami--traditionally called Lapps--have inhab-
ited these inhospitable lands since ancient times. Sami settlements stretch along
the entire Nordic region, including Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Some of
the Sami maintain links to their ancient culture, whereas others have been
assimilated.
The language of the Lapps belongs to the Finno-Ugric group. A large part of
Lapp literature has been published in northern Sami, which is spoken by
approximately 75% of Lapps. As with all Arctic societies, oral literature has
always played a prominent role. Among Lapps, this oral tradition takes the form
of
yoikking,
a type of singing. (Once governments tried to suppress this, but now
yoikking is enjoying a renaissance.) One of the classic works of Lapp literature
is Johan Turi's
Tale of the Lapps,
first published in 1910.
Handicrafts are important in the Lapp economy. Several craft designers have
developed new forms of decorative art, producing a revival in Lapp handicraft
tradition.
Many members of the Sami community feel that the term
Lapp
has negative
connotations; it's gradually being replaced by the indigenous minority's own
name for itself,
sábme,
or other dialect variations. Sami seems to be the most
favored English translation of Lapp, and the word is being used increasingly.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
The town is reached by bus, with most visitors arriving
from Hammerfest. This overland trip takes 4
1
⁄
2
hours and costs 310NOK ($44)
one-way. Motorists can continue east from Hammerfest along E6.
VISITOR INFORMATION
At the junction of E6 and Route 92,
Karasjok
Opplevelser Tourist Office
(
&
78-46-8810;
koas@koas.no) dispenses infor-
mation for the entire area. It is open June to mid-August Monday to Saturday
from 8:30am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 7pm. It's closed the rest of the year.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Sami Park,
Porsangerveien (
&
78-46-88-10
), is a kind of Sami Disneyland. A
family favorite, this park showcases Sami culture and also shows you a good
time. Its multimedia show,
Magic Theater,
will introduce you to the world of the
Sami, showing their myths, traditions, and handicrafts. You can visit a local
campsite and watch reindeer-roping as well. Naturally, there are gift shops, the
most interesting items being handmade silver jewelry. You can also enjoy
regional meals here. The park charges 100NOK ($14) for adults and 75NOK
($11) for children. From June to mid-August, hours are daily 9am to 7pm; 9am
to 4pm daily for the rest of August. In off season it is open Monday to Friday
9am to 4pm.
Sami vourká dávvirat (Sami Museum)
, Museumsgate 17 (
&
78-46-99-
50
), is an open-air museum devoted to the Sami people, their history, and their
culture. There are other Sami exhibitions, but this venue is the only one entitled
to be called a national museum of Sami culture. Most intriguing is the exhibi-
tion of old dwellings and such artifacts as an old hunting trap for wild reindeer,
showing how people earned their living. Of special interest are the examples of
regional dress used in these subfreezing conditions. Also on display are works by
local artists. Admission is 25NOK ($3.55). From June 5 to August 20, hours are
