Hammerfest

29 July 2002, 05:15 - 06:45

Between 1940 and 1944 the harbour was a base for the German fleet. In 1944 Hammerfest was destroyed by the retreating Germans. The only remaining building was apparently the chapel in the graveyard.

Today Hammerfest have about 7,000 inhabitants, and the municipality has a total of 10,000 inhabitants.

Beside the industries related with fishing and shipping, tourism and commerce are becoming  important.

The Hurtigruten has made Hammerfest its port of call since 1893, when Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskap established the first year-round express service between Hammerfest and Trondheim.

If you follow the degree of latitude where Hammerfest is situated, around the globe clockwise, you will pass the centre of Greenland, the islands north of Canada, the northernmost point in Alaska and the northern parts of Siberia.

Known as the most northerly town of the planet, the harbour is ice-free around the year - thanks to the Gulf Stream.

Visitors to Hammerfest can become members of the 'Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society'. Other places to visit are the Meridian Column, erected by King Oskar II to commemorate the first international measurement of the earth (made by Russia, Sweden and Norway together), and the Midday Pole. When the shadow from this pole points directly to the Meridian Column the time is 12 noon precisely.

The midnight sun shines in Hammerfest from mid May to late July.

The Hurtigruten arrive into Hammerfest while the town's people are still sleeping (5:15am). Therefore the streets were desserted.

1	2 Hammerfest at 5:55 am!	3
4 Leaving Hammerfest.