Editing Kirkenes (section)

==Economy and tourism==
[[File:Barentssekretariatets hovedkontor.jpg|thumb|right|The headquarters of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes, Norway in August 2019<br/><small>Photo: Kimberli Mäkäräinen</small>]]
[[File:Kirkenes Hafen.jpg|thumb|left|Kirkenes seaport.]]
[[File:Kirkenes Fußgängerzone im Februar 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Pedestrian street in the centre.]]
[[File:Entrance to Kirkenes Hospital.jpg|thumb|left|A hospital in Kirkenes.]]
Kirkenes is close to Norway's border with Russia, and this location influences the local economy. The [[Norwegian Barents Secretariat]], which works to promote Norwegian-Russian collaboration, is located in Kirkenes.

In 2010, Norway's and Russia's Foreign Ministers signed an agreement that made it easier for 9,000 Norwegians and 45,000 Russians living near the common border to visit each other.<ref name="nordiclabourjournal">{{Cite journal |last=Lindahl |first=Björn |date=3 November 2010 |title=FMs Lavrov and Støre call border agreement small yet important – Nordic Labour Journal |url=http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/nyheter/news-2010/article.2010-11-02.5541810025 |journal=Nordic Labour Journal |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

[[Tourist attraction]]s include ''Grenselandmuseet'' (The Border Area Museum), which shows the history of war and peace along the Norwegian–Russian border, Sami art exhibitions by the artist [[John Savio]] (1902–1938), and a history of the [[mining]] industry in the area. The museum has a small shop and café. Almost every last Thursday of each month the Russian Market takes place on the central square where traders from Murmansk sell their merchandise. Here you can find everything from [[matryoshka doll|matryoshkas]], linen cloths, and handicrafts, to Russian crystal and porcelain dishes.

Just outside Kirkenes is a military base that is home to the [[Garrison of Sør-Varanger]] at [[Høybuktmoen]]. Connected to this base are the six border stations along the Russian border. This base and these border stations are there to protect against illegal immigrants as well as other illegal activities across the border. The only public border crossing is at [[Storskog]], southeast of Kirkenes. In October 2023, Norway banned the entry of Russian vehicles with less than 10 seats. In May 2024, Norway closed the entire border for Russian tourists.<ref>https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/if-this-route-is-closed-families-would-be-torn-apart/110608</ref> After this, only a Mercedes van is allowed to cross the border, driving from Norway's Kirkenes to the Russian town of Murmansk once a day.<ref>https://www.dw.com/en/last-bus-to-russia-norway-europe-border-crossing-cold-war-v2/video-71212802</ref>

In the city centre of Kirkenes is ''Andersgrotta'', a vast underground bunker built during [[World War II]] that provided shelter to the town's residents. Tours of the bunker are available.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Tarquin |date=6 Dec 2007 |title=From Desk Till Dawn, How Far Can you Go |work=Financial Times Special Insert Article |page=29}}</ref>

A [[pride parade]] held in 2017 in Kirkenes attracted participants from neighbouring Russia, who were unwilling to participate in LGBT events in Russia due to hostility from the government and police. In addition, the parade saw participants from [[Amnesty International]] and the [[Norwegian Helsinki Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nilsen |first=Thomas |date=23 September 2017 |title=Russians cross border to Norway for Pride Parade |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2017/09/pride-parade-near-border-russia |access-date=10 December 2019 |website=The Barents Observer}}</ref>

Kirkenes's location on the [[Northeast Passage]] and the effect of climate change on sea ice have led to expressions of interest to develop port and transport infrastructure in the town, including from [[state-owned enterprises of China]]. Public reception to such projects in Kirkenes is mixed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borshoff |first=Isabella |date=20 November 2019 |title=Norway's 'northernmost Chinatown' eyes Arctic opportunity |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/norway-kirkenes-china-influence-arctic-shipping-opportunity/ |access-date=10 December 2019 |website=Politico EU}}</ref>