Cape Nordkin is a unique natural landmark of Norway and is located in its very north. These places are known to many as the birthplace of the mighty Vikings. In addition, Cape Nordkin, or, as the Norwegians themselves call it, Cape Kinnarudden, is also the northernmost point of the European part of the continent. The cape itself looks like an ordinary rock. It ends the peninsula itself with an identical name.
Coordinates of Cape Nordkin: latitude and longitude
You can find out the location of the famous cape not only with the help of GPS, but also using a regular map. "Where is Cape Nordkin?" - such a question is asked by novice tourists. You should look at the map of the Norwegian coast. In order to better understand where the peninsula and the rock itself are located, and in case you want to visit it, you will need to familiarize yourself with the geographical coordinates of Cape Nordkin.
The peninsula is located in the Arctic Ocean and officially belongs to Norway (the administrative unit (fylke) is Finnmark). If you expect to see abundant vegetation and green mountains on the cape, you will definitelydisappointed. Despite the fact that Norway, as one of the Scandinavian countries, is in itself very rich in coniferous forests and not only, the flora on the peninsula is rather scarce. This is due to the location of the cape and the specific natural zone - the tundra, which is very typical for it. In addition to weather conditions and poor fauna, Finnmark is notable for its area, by the way, the largest in Norway: 48 thousand square meters. km, which is equivalent to 1/2 of the Leningrad region.
The detailed coordinates of Cape Nordkin, namely the latitude and longitude, will be quite useful for novice travelers or experienced tourists. So, Nordkin has the following coordinates: 71°08'02' north latitude and 27°39'00' east longitude.
Landscape
Description of Cape Nordkin should begin with the main characteristics, namely: the climate of the area and its landscape. The cape is located on the territory of the Finnmark county, its relief does not differ from the object under consideration, plus it has an identical level of landscaping.
Precisely due to the lack of comfort enough to want to move to this place, there are few people in Finnmark, even compared to many of our provinces - only 72 thousand people. The inhabitants do not even think about fertile land and harvest, it is not here at all. Dwellings and buildings were erected literally on rocks, ice and tundra swamps.
Climate
Due to the fact that the warm Gulf Stream simply does not bring its heat to the Scandinavian Peninsula, the climate here is extremely unpleasant and very harsh. For example, even in March on the terraina severe blizzard can easily hit, so snowplows have to be on standby even during the spring months. However, thanks to the Gulf Stream, the Norwegian Sea is never covered with ice. It's not even worth talking about the wind - it blows here all the time, and it's very cold.
Description of Cape Nordkin
Why do people want to visit this great place? There are many different reasons, but the most obvious is the truly ancient grandeur of the north. Staying at Cape Nordkin, you clearly realize that Scandinavia is still not at all like the rest of Europe. Looking at the majestic mountains, cliffs, rocks, crystal clear waterfalls, one involuntarily recalls the Vikings, whom many have heard about so often in old fairy tales and legends.
It's no secret that, looking into the endless sea, you can see a whale with your own eyes. Isn't this something unusual? Although the locals themselves were previously very skeptical of such beauties, they say that rocky places are the abode of trolls, and the colorful blue sea is the main enemy, teeming with monsters. Such is the whole Scandinavian culture and myths. Therefore, even the first Vikings tried to choose green plains for living, hiding in the forests.
Magnet for tourists
The nearest town to Cape Nordkin is Mehamn. To get to it, you have to overcome 23 kilometers. However, despite the distance, most tourists prefer to walk instead of driving, enjoying nature. It's a great adventure after all.
For thisabsolutely all conditions have been created, that is, you definitely won’t have to wade through impenetrable rocks. There are hiking trails everywhere. Complex or easy - the traveler chooses. We didn’t forget about safety either, each trail is marked on the GPS, so, left one on one with wildlife, you can not be afraid that you will go missing.
Nordkin pastures
Nordkin's pastures are shared by nine Sámi families (an indigenous people of Northern Europe). Most representatives of the Finno-Ugric people completely assimilated, but they did not forget about their roots, as well as about traditions. There is a great chance that here you will be greeted in Sami, in which case you should not be surprised - this is a common occurrence among connoisseurs of folk culture.
You shouldn't judge the Saami by their perhaps pronounced conservatism, on the contrary, they are a very friendly and hospitable people who are famous for their unique dwellings - lavvu. In them, some travel agencies organize not only a traditional lunch, but even an overnight stay. Their cuisine is simpler than Scandinavian, although it seems that this is impossible, but nevertheless, the basis of the Sami diet is fish and venison, cooked on a hearth located in the middle of the dwelling.
Photographers and Landscape
In addition to those who love adventure and active tourism, this region is often visited by numerous photographers. Still, the northernmost, most severe point of Europe captured in the photograph should definitely be in the collection of every self-respectingphotographer.
Cape Nordkin is loved not only for some of its uniqueness, but also for the most beautiful "cold" landscapes. In addition to the characteristic cold, in the pictures you can also notice the warmth from the sun's rays, brightly illuminating the rocks during sunset. Photos of Cape Nordkin, as you can see, convey a special atmosphere of the severity of the northern slopes, the strongest ice waves and the clearest horizon.
Where to stay
Sami plagues are by no means the only place for tourists to stop. The enterprising government quite quickly felt the opportunity to make good money on the interest of tourists. The locals converted all kinds of premises for renting to travelers. And we are not talking about standard hostels, houses and tent camping. For example, in Nordkin it is quite possible to spend the night at a fish processing factory that once worked, in huts (new and old) located in the mountains, and the most unusual and, perhaps, romantic place to spend the night is the Šlettnes lighthouse. The caretaker is not required for the latter - everything has long been automated, but the house intended for the caretaker himself is also rented out to travelers.
There are only two full-fledged hotels here. One of them is in Mehamn, and the second - in Kulleford. Just the view from the window of the latter will allow you to enjoy another miracle of the area - a group of large rocks of Finnkirka. From a window or on a boat, having considered this miracle, it is easy to confuse it with the ancient ruins of some temple or palace, this is precisely the unusualness of the Finnkirk rocks. There are legends about sailors who settled various evil spirits in the rocks. They sincerelybelieved that this would ensure them good luck on the way. Nowadays, Finnkirk is equipped with powerful illumination, thanks to which passengers of all passing liners are visible.
Nordkin and North Cape
It is easy to confuse Cape Nordkin and Cape North Cape just because of the name, and a huge number of sources call the North Cape the northernmost point in Europe. However, there is still a difference, albeit not so huge in scale, because the North Cape (coordinates: 71°10'21' north latitude) is only 2 units south of Nordkin. Getting to the second one is a little more difficult, don't forget about that too. If the first can be reached by car, ship or on foot, then North Cape can only be approached by sea: by boat. At the same time, the captain of a small vessel will carefully "probe" the water on the treacherous rocky islands.
Scandinavian sun and Nordkin
There is an opinion that only crazy people can go to the northern corners of our planet in summer. This is explained by the fact that it is impossible to spend money on a slightly less cold than winter summer in Scandinavia after an almost six-month winter. But if someone is planning to conquer Nordkyn in winter, experienced tourists do not recommend doing this.
So what is it that draws more and more people north? Norwegian traditions and customs, local colorful holidays that take place in every even the most remote village, legends and myths, or the worldwide fame of the great Vikings? All these things pale in comparison with the greatness of the mostsimple, but such beautiful things as the bright orange Scandinavian sun, which in summer, barely touching the ocean at sunset, suddenly rises again. Big foamy waves crashing against the rocks, cold wind blowing - together they create a unique natural music.
