Altafjord

Alta Fjord. Left part Altas is visible. The bay in the background is the Kåfjord.

The Alta Fjord ( Sami: Álaheaivuotna ) is a fjord in the northernmost Northern Norway. It is the westernmost of the five major fjords in Finnmark.

Geography

The Alta Fjord is located between the town of Alta in the south and the Arctic Ocean in the north. In the Alta Altaelv empties into the fjord. The old Fjord has several side arms, one of which Kåfjord and Langfjord are the most prominent.

History

On the south bank of the Altafjordes are located immediately west of the town of Alta Stone and Bronze Age rock carvings that can be seen in the Alta museum. The oldest of these engravings are approximately 6200 years old.

During the Second World War, the Alta Fjord, served as the base of the German Navy. The Kåfjord, was used as a port for the battleship Tirpitz. In Langfjord the battleship Scharnhorst was temporarily stationed.