Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For panoramic views over the town, coast and mountains (there's a free pair of binoculars
for you to sweep the bay), climb Salen Hill (86m), topped by the Turistua restaurant , a
couple of Sami turf huts and a lookout point. The 15-minute uphill walking trail begins at
the small park behind the Rådhus (town hall).
Meridian Monument HISTORIC SITE
(Meridianstøtta; GOOGLE MAP )
On the Fuglenes peninsula, just across the harbour, there's the Meridianstøtta , a marble
column commemorating the first survey (1816-52) by Russian scientist Friedrich Georg
Wilhelm Struve to determine the arc of the global meridian and thereby calculate the size
and shape of the earth. It forms part of a Unesco World Heritage-listed site known as the
Struve Geodetic Arc.
Nearby are the rather thin foundations of the Skansen Fortress , which dates from the
Napoleonic Wars, when the British briefly held and plundered the town.
WHAT'S WITH THE POLAR BEARS?
A wild polar bear hasn't been seen in Hammerfest for thousands of years, and yet polar
bears adorn the city's coat of arms, statues of polar bears guard various public buildings
and there's even the Royal & Ancient Polar Bear Society . Cashing in without cause? Well,
not quite. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Hammerfest was a major base for Arctic hunt-
ing expeditions to the Norwegian territory of Svalbard (or Spitsbergen as it was better
known). Returning expeditions brought back numerous captive polar bears (particularly
cubs) and from Hammerfest they were shipped to zoos around the world.
Tours
The tourist office runs one-hour tours of the city at 11am daily for Nkr250 per person. It
coincides with the arrival of the Hurtigruten ferry and its exact starting time depends on
when the boat docks. Book ahead.
Sleeping
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