From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kirkenes is the centre in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark, Norway. Situated by Bøkfjorden near the border of Russia, the town has about 6000 inhabitants, with about 500 being relatively recent Russian immigrants. Tourist attractions include Grenselandsmuseet (The Border Country Museum), which shows the history of war and peace along the Norwegian-Russian border, Sami art exhibitions by the artist John Savio and a history of the mining industry in the area.
Kirkenes was one of the most bombed towns during WWII (reportedly, second after Malta), with 320 air attacks and more than one thousand alarms. 13 houses were left in October 1944.
The secretariate of the Barents Region is located in Kirkenes. One of its tasks is to create cultural, educational and business relations across the borders in the Barents Region.
Although there is no University in Kirkenes it is possible to take part in such education at Kirkenes kompetansesenter. This institution arranges a wide variety of courses every year. Links:
- Tourist information: http://www.kirkenesinfo.no
- Grenselandsmuseet: http://museumsnett.no/sor-varangermuseum/engelsk.htm
- Local hotel in listed building: http://www.dirboligen.no
- Courses and education: http://www.kirkeneskompetanse.org
