Kirkenes
Kirkenes (Norwegian: [ˈçɪ̂rkəneːs] ⓘ; Northern Sami: Girkonjárga pronounced [ˈkir̥ː.ko.ˌɲaːrːka]; Skolt Sami: Ǩeârkknjargg; Finnish: Kirkkoniemi; Kven: Kirkkoniemi; Russian: Киркенес) is a town in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, in the far northeastern part of Norway. The town lies on a peninsula along the Bøkfjorden, an arm of the large Varangerfjorden, and is located just a few kilometres from the Norway-Russia border.
Kirkenes | |
|---|---|
Town | |
View of the town in June 2013 | |
Kirkenes Location in Norway Kirkenes Kirkenes (Norway) | |
| Coordinates: 69°43′37″N 30°02′44″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Northern Norway |
| County | Finnmark |
| District | Øst-Finnmark |
| Municipality | Sør-Varanger |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.14 km2 (0.83 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
| • Total | 3,529 |
| • Density | 1,649/km2 (4,270/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Post Code | 9900 Kirkenes |
The 2.14-square-kilometre (530-acre) town has a population (2018) of 3,529, which gives the town a population density of 1,649 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,270/sq mi). When the neighbouring suburban villages of Hesseng, Sandnes, and Bjørnevatn are all included with Kirkenes, the urban area reaches a total population of almost 8,000 people.
Although Kirkenes is the Norwegian town closest to the Russian border, Vardø to its north is located further east in Norway.