Editing Porsanger Municipality

{{Short description|Municipality in Finnmark, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Porsanger
|native_name            = {{lang|se|Porsáŋggu gielda}}<br />{{lang|fkv|Porsangin komuuni}} 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|image_skyline          = Repvåg.jpg
|image_caption          = View of Repvåg
|idnumber               = 5622
|county                 = Finnmark
|district               = [[Vest-Finnmark]]
|capital                = [[Lakselv]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|demonyms               = Porsangværing<br />Porsangerværing
|language               = Bokmål
|sami_language          = [[Northern Sami]]
|other_language         = [[Kven language|Kven]]
|coatofarms             = Porsanger komm.svg
|flag                   = Flag of Porsanger.png
|webpage                = www.porsanger.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Jo Inge Hesjevik
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|elevation_max_m        = 1138.9
|highest_point_ref      = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/fakta-om-norge/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref>
|area_rank              = 3
|area_total_km2         = 4874.29
|area_land_km2          = 4640.92
|area_water_km2         = 233.37
|area_water_percent     = 4.8
|population_as_of       = 2024
|population_rank        = 208
|population_total       = 3889
|population_density_km2 = 0.8
|population_increase    = -1.9
|coordinates            = {{coord|70|03|08|N|24|57|21|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 35W |utm_northing = 7769191 |utm_easting = 0424643 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Porsanger''' ({{langx|se|Porsáŋgu}}; {{langx|fkv|Porsanki}}<ref name="sami name" />) is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Finnmark]] [[Counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Lakselv]]. Other villages in the municipality include [[Børselv]], [[Brenna, Finnmark|Brenna]], [[Indre Billefjord]], [[Kistrand]], [[Olderfjord]], and [[Skoganvarre]].

The {{convert|4874|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 3rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Porsanger is the 208th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,889 (many of whom have a Kven (Kainu) or Sami background). The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|0.8|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 1.9% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Herd of reindeer beneath a waterfall.jpg|thumb|left|View of a reindeer herd near a waterfall in Porsanger]]
[[File:Traditional Samí house.jpg|thumb|left|Traditional Sami house, along the fjord]]
[[File:Kistrand-2.jpg|thumb|left|Kistrand in Porsanger on the western shore of Porsanger fjord]]
The municipality of ''Kistrand'' (renamed ''Porsanger'' in 1964) was established on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1851, the southern part of Kistrand (population: 869) was separated to become the new [[Kautokeino Municipality]]. On 1 January 1861, the northern part of Kistrand (population: 345) was separated to become the new [[Nordkapp Municipality|Kjelvik Municipality]]. On 1 January 1866, the southern part of Kistrand (population: 515) was separated to become the new [[Karasjok Municipality]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no}}</ref>

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed [[Troms og Finnmark]] county. Previously, it had been part of the old [[Finnmark]] county.<ref name="snl5">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Troms og Finnmark |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Troms_og_Finnmark |access-date=2019-12-26 |date=2019-12-24 |editor-last=Mæhlum |editor-first=Lars |language=no}}</ref> On 1 January 2024, the [[Troms og Finnmark]] county was divided and the municipality once again became part of [[Finnmark]] county.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024 |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/kommunestruktur/fylkesinndelingen-fra-2024/id2922222/ |publisher=Regjeringen.no |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) was first named after the old ''Kistrand'' farm since the first [[Kistrand Church]] was built there. The first element is possibly derived from the word {{wikt-lang|no|kid}} which means "kid" (as in a young [[goat]]). The last element is {{wikt-lang|no|strand}} which means "[[beach]]" or "shore".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qolBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Finmarkens amt |date=1924 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=18 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=181 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

On 2 November 1962, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the name of the municipality to ''Porsanger''.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1962 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1962. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381019_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=401}}</ref> The new name comes the local [[Porsangerfjorden]] ({{langx|non|Porsangr}}). The first element is probably the name of the plant {{wikt-lang|no|pors}} or ''finnmarkspors'' (''[[Rhododendron tomentosum]]''). Another theory is that the first element is derived from the [[Northern Sami language|Northern Sami]] word {{lang|se|borsi}} which means "[[waterfall]]". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|angr}} which means "[[fjord]]" or "[[bay]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qolBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Finmarkens amt |date=1924 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=18 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=178 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

Since 2004, the municipality has had three co-official, co-equal, interchangeable names: {{native name|no|Porsanger}}, {{native name|se|Porsáŋgu}}, and {{native name|fkv|Porsanki}}, since it has three official languages: [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], [[Northern Sami language|Northern Sami]], and [[Kven language|Kven]].<ref name="snl2">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Porsangen |url=http://snl.no/Porsangen |access-date=2013-03-29 |language=no}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Porsángu |url=http://snl.no/Pors%C3%A1ngu |access-date=2013-03-29 |language=no}}</ref> The spelling of the Sami and Kven language names change depending on how they are used. In Sami, it is called {{lang|se|Porsáŋgu}} when it is spelled alone, but it is {{lang|se|Porsáŋggu gielda}} when using the Sami language equivalent to "Porsanger Municipality". In Kven, it is called {{lang|fkv|Porsanki}} when it is spelled alone, and it is {{lang|se|Porsangin komuuni}} when using the Kven language equivalent to "Porsanger municipality".<ref name="sami name">{{Cite web |title=Stadnamn og rettskriving |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/stadnamn/stadnamn-og-offisielle-sprak-i-noreg |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 16 June 1967. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Gules]], three reindeer [[Salient (heraldry)|salient]] [[argent]]"'' ({{langx|no|På rød bunn tre springende hvite rein}}). This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is three leaping reindeer, two over one. The reindeer have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. Porsanger is one of the largest municipalities in the [[Northern Norway]] that is not dependent on [[fishing]]. Instead, the local people historically farmed [[reindeer]], which is still an importance source of income for the residents. The arms were designed by [[Hallvard Trætteberg]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=porsanger |access-date=2023-01-23 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Porsanger, Finmark (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-20-20.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1967-06-16 |title=Porsanger kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/he10081205031234.tif.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dporsanger |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}</ref> {{See also-text|Coats of arms of [[Eidfjord Municipality#Coat of arms|Eidfjord]], [[Rendalen Municipality#Coat of arms|Rendalen]], [[Tromsø Municipality#Coat of arms|Tromsø]], [[Vadsø Municipality#Coat of arms|Vadsø]], and [[Vågå Municipality#Coat of arms|Vågå]]}}

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Porsanger. It is part of the [[Indre Finnmark prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Porsanger'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="5"|Porsanger||[[Brenna Chapel]]||[[Brenna, Finnmark|Brenna]]||1971
|-
|[[Børselv Church]]||[[Børselv]]||1958
|-
|[[Kistrand Church]]||[[Kistrand]]||1856
|-
|[[Lakselv Church]]||[[Lakselv]]||1963
|-
|[[Skoganvarre Chapel]]||[[Skoganvarre]]||1963
|}

==History==
The area has been settled by [[Norwegians]] and [[Sami people]] since [[time immemorial]]. In the 18th century, people from [[Finland]], escaping [[famine]] and [[war]], settled along the [[Porsangerfjorden]]. These people are today known as [[Kven people|Kven]]. 

==Government==
Porsanger Municipality is responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}}</ref> The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the [[Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court]] and the [[Hålogaland Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Porsanger is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]].
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Finnmark Finnmárku |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/finnmark%20finnm%C3%A1rku/porsanger%20-%20pors%C3%A1%C5%8Bgu%20-%20porsanki#seats |access-date=2024-01-04 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-Party List for Porsanger TLP<br />
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger TLP
|otherparty_number         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/troms%20og%20finnmark/porsanger%20-%20pors%C3%A1%C5%8Bgu%20-%20porsanki#seats |access-date=2019-10-23 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Cross-Party List in Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-Party List in Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste i Porsanger
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/finnmark%20finnm%C3%A1rku/porsanger%20pors%C3%A1ngu%20porsanki#seats |access-date=2019-10-23 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Porsanger List
|otherparty_no             = Porsangerlista
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Porsanger List
|otherparty_no             = Porsangerlista  
|otherparty_number         = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Porsanger List
|otherparty_no             = Porsangerlista  
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Porsanger Cross-Party List<br />
|otherparty_no             = Porsanger tverrpolitiske liste
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 14
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Local list for Indre Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_no             = Kretslista for Indre Porsanger
|otherparty_number         = 3
|otherparty1               = Porsanger Local List<br />
|otherparty_no1            = Porsanger Bygdefolkets liste
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|otherparty                = Local list for Indre Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_no             = Kretslista for Indre Porsanger
|otherparty_number         = 6
|otherparty1               = Common List for Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_no1            = Samlingsliste for Porsanger
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|otherparty2               = Socialist Unity Liste<br />
|otherparty_no2            = Sosialistisk enhetslist
|otherparty_number2        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty_no             = Local list for Indre Porsanger<br />
|otherparty_number         = Kretsliste for Indre Porsanger
|Local_Lists               = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |volume=I |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 15
|Høyre                     = 3
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Porsanger
|start                     = 1963
|end                       = 1967
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 15
|Høyre                     = 3
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1959
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 3
|NKP                       = 1
|AFS                       = 2
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1955
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|NKP                       = 2
|AFS                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 2 
|Local_Lists               = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1951
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|NKP                       = 1
|Local_Lists               = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1947
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|NKP                       = 2
|AFS                       = 3
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|AFS                       = 1
|Local_Lists               = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kistrand
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1941* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 3
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Local_Lists               = 4
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Porsanger:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-30 |title=Ordførere i Porsanger gjennom tiden |url=https://www.porsanger.kommune.no/ordfoerere-i-porsanger-gjennom-tiden.408504.no.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Porsanger kommune |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1839-1841: Søren Von Krogh Zetlitz
*1841-1847: Johan Eirik Greiner
*1847-1849: Peder K. Ulich
*1849-1857: Johan Eirik Greiner
*1857-1861: [[Peter Valeur]]
*1861-1865: Johan Eirik Greiner
*1869-1873: Lorents Jacob Pauli Holmgren
*1873-1876: Lars Anton Moe
*1877-1879: Thorvald Egeberg
*1879-1881: Johan Eirik Greiner
*1881-1885: Peder Larsen
*1885-1894: Jacob A. Nordang
*1894-1895: Anton Bye
*1896-1897: Karl J Smith
*1898-1901: Anton Bye
*1902-1904: Salomon Nilsen
*1905-1907: Nils Christoffersen
*1908-1909: Peder Sætrum
*1909-1911: Johannes Rasmussen
*1911-1913: Anton Bye
*1914-1917: Peder Andreas Olsen
*1917-1919: H. Wilhelmsen
*1920-1922: Peder Andreas Olsen 	
*1923-1925: Georg Bjørkli 
*1926-1931: Olaf Reiersen 
*1932-1941: Peder Sivertsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1945-1945: Hans A. Opstad ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1945-1951: Peder Sivertsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1952-1967: Hans A. Opstad ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1968-1975: [[Helmer Mikkelsen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1976-1983: Hans A. Karlsen ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
*1984-1987: Steinulf Isaksen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1988-1989: Aina Hanssen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1990-1991: Berit Oppegaard ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*1992-1995: Åsla Eriksen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1995-1999: Rolf I. Johansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1999-2007: Bjørn Søderholm ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*2007-2011: Mona Skanke ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2011-2015: Knut Roger Hanssen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*2015-2023: Aina Borch ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2023-present: Jo Inge Hesjevik ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-17 |title=Hesjevik blir ordfører i Porsanger |url=https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/hesjevik-blir-ordforer-i-porsanger-1.16598629 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=NRK Troms og Finnmark |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
[[File:Halkavarre, Porsanger, Finnmark, Norway - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Halkavarre firing range]]
[[File:Stabburselva under-Stabbursfossen.JPG|thumb|right|River in Stabbursdalen, where the world's northernmost [[Scots pine|pine]] forest grow]]
[[Lakselv Airport, Banak]] is located on the [[Banak, Norway|Banak]] peninsula, just north of Lakselv village, along the coast of the fjord. The airport has connections to [[Tromsø Airport|Tromsø]] and [[Kirkenes]] and it is operated by [[Widerøe]]. There are also charter flights in the summer season. The airport is also used by the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]]'s [[Station Group Banak]]. The [[Norwegian Army]] also has a [[garrison]] at Porsangermoen ([[Garrison of Porsanger]]), and so the military presence in Porsanger is quite heavy.

The local newspapers are [[Finnmark Dagblad]] and [[Ságat]]. The northernmost [[winery]] is located here, using [[crowberry|crowberries]] instead of [[grape]]s.

==Geography==
[[File:Trollholmsund.JPG|thumb|Trolls in Porsanger; naturally sculpted [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]].]]
Porsanger Municipality is the third largest municipality in Norway by area, with {{convert|4873|km2|mi2|0}}. The municipality surrounds the inner part of the [[Porsangerfjorden]], the fourth longest fjord in Norway and the longest in [[Northern Norway]]. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|1138.9|m|adj=on}} tall mountain ''Čohkkarášša''.<ref name="elev" />

The Porsangerfjorden is a wide, open body of water with many [[island]]s. The [[Porsanger Peninsula]] lies on the western shore of the fjord and the [[Sværholt Peninsula]] lies on the eastern shore. The biggest village (and municipal centre) is the village of Lakselv at the fjord's southern end. There are many smaller villages spread around the fjord on both sides, notably [[Kistrand]], [[Olderfjord]], [[Børselv]], and [[Indre Billefjord]].

[[Stabbursdalen National Park]], with the world's northernmost [[pine]] [[forest]], lies just west of the fjord and the village of Lakselv. The [[Stabburselva]] river runs through the park. Other notable rivers include the [[Børselva]] and [[Lakselva]], both are well known for their [[salmon]] [[fishing]]. The lakes [[Gákkajávri]] and [[Kjæsvannet]] are both located in the municipality.

In Porsanger, there is [[midnight sun]] from 16 May until 27 July each year and there is [[polar night]] from 25 November to 16 January.

===Birdlife===
Porsanger is an area of rich and varied [[bird]] fauna. Here one can find such species as [[pine grosbeak]]. Away from the [[woodland]]s, it is the surrounding [[wetland]]s that have the greatest diversity. During spring, thousands of [[red knot]]s stop to rest and feed along the shores of Porsangerfjord.

===Climate===
Lakselv has a [[boreal climate]] with modest precipitation and long winters, but still with annual mean well above freezing, ensuring there is no permafrost. The winters are less severe in terms of cold than would be expected for a town at 70 degrees latitude. The all-time high temperature {{convert|34.3|°C}} was recorded on 5 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |date=5 July 2021 |title=01059: Banak (Norway) |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=01059&ano=2021&mes=7&day=6&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=[[OGIMET]]}}</ref> This is the warmest temperature ever recorded north of 70 degrees North in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 July 2021 |title=Lapland Bakes in 33°C Heatwave, Hottest Temperature in a Century |url=https://www.iflscience.com/environment/lapland-bakes-in-33c-heatwave-hottest-temperature-in-a-century/}}</ref> The all-time low {{convert|-33.6|°C}} is from January 1986. The average date for the last overnight freeze (low below {{convert|0|°C|1|abbr=on}}) in spring is 24 May<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2012 |title=Siste frostnatt om våren |url=https://www.yr.no/artikkel/siste-frostnatt-om-varen-1.8119060}}</ref> and average date for first freeze in autumn is 6 September<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2013 |title=Første frostnatt |url=https://www.yr.no/artikkel/forste-frostnatt-1.11261900}}</ref> giving a frost-free season of 105 days. 
The weather station (recording since Aug 1945) is located at Banak Airport, {{convert|1|km}} from the town.
{{Weather box 
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Lakselv Airport, Banak in Porsanger  1991-2020 (5 m, extremes 1979-2025)
|Jan record high C = 9.4 | Jan record low C = -33.6
|Feb record high C = 9.9 | Feb record low C = -33
|Mar record high C = 13 | Mar record low C = -29.9
|Apr record high C = 15.9 | Apr record low C =-24.7
|May record high C = 28.2 | May record low C = -11.4
|Jun record high C = 32.5 | Jun record low C = -1.6
|Jul record high C = 34.3 | Jul record low C = -0.2
|Aug record high C = 32.8 | Aug record low C = -3.1
|Sep record high C = 25 | Sep record low C = -9.2
|Oct record high C = 15.1 | Oct record low C = -21.2
|Nov record high C = 16 | Nov record low C = -26.4
|Dec record high C = 10.1 | Dec record low C = -30
|Jan high C = -4.2
|Feb high C = -4.5
|Mar high C = -0.9
|Apr high C = 3.6
|May high C = 9
|Jun high C = 13.7
|Jul high C = 17.4
|Aug high C = 15.8
|Sep high C = 11.4
|Oct high C = 4.5
|Nov high C = -0.4
|Dec high C = -2.2
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C=-7.9
|Feb mean C=-7.9
|Mar mean C=-4.5
|Apr mean C=0.1
|May mean C=5.3
|Jun mean C=9.6
|Jul mean C=12.9
|Aug mean C=11.6
|Sep mean C=7.8
|Oct mean C=1.9
|Nov mean C=-3.4
|Dec mean C=-5.7
|year mean C=
|Jan low C = -11.8
|Feb low C = -11.8
|Mar low C = -8.5
|Apr low C = -3.7
|May low C = 1.6
|Jun low C = 6.1
|Jul low C = 9.2
|Aug low C = 7.8
|Sep low C = 4.5
|Oct low C = -0.8
|Nov low C = -6.5
|Dec low C = -9.2
|year low C =
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour= green<!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
|Jan precipitation mm=24.7
|Feb precipitation mm=18.5
|Mar precipitation mm=19.9
|Apr precipitation mm=17.1
|May precipitation mm=25.5
|Jun precipitation mm=42.5
|Jul precipitation mm=57.2
|Aug precipitation mm=54.3
|Sep precipitation mm=37.7
|Oct precipitation mm=33.4
|Nov precipitation mm=23.6
|Dec precipitation mm=27.5
|year precipitation mm=
|unit precipitation days = 1.0&nbsp;mm
|Jan precipitation days= 12
|Feb precipitation days= 11
|Mar precipitation days= 12
|Apr precipitation days= 13
|May precipitation days= 14
|Jun precipitation days= 15
|Jul precipitation days= 17
|Aug precipitation days= 16
|Sep precipitation days= 15
|Oct precipitation days= 15
|Nov precipitation days= 12
|Dec precipitation days= 14
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=Last 13 months |url=https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-95350/Norway/Troms%20og%20Finnmark/Porsanger/Banak?q=last-13-months |website=www.yr.no |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
|source 2= NOAA WMO averages 91-2020 Norway <ref>{{Cite web |title=NOAA WMO normals Norway 1991-2020 |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Norway/CSV/?C=D;O=A}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box 
|collapsed=yes
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = [[Lakselv]] (Banak) 1961-1990
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
|Jan high C=-6.5
|Feb high C=-5.5
|Mar high C=-2.2
|Apr high C=2.0
|May high C=7.3
|Jun high C=13.5
|Jul high C=16.9
|Aug high C=14.9
|Sep high C=9.8
|Oct high C=3.4
|Nov high C=-1.3
|Dec high C=-4.3
|year high C=4.0
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C=-10.0
|Feb mean C=-9.1
|Mar mean C=-6.1
|Apr mean C=-1.3
|May mean C=4.2
|Jun mean C=9.4
|Jul mean C=12.7
|Aug mean C=11.3
|Sep mean C=6.7
|Oct mean C=1.1
|Nov mean C=-4.3
|Dec mean C=-8.0
|year mean C=0.6
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
|Jan low C=-14.3
|Feb low C=-13.0
|Mar low C=-9.3
|Apr low C=-4.8
|May low C=0.8
|Jun low C=6.0
|Jul low C=9.2
|Aug low C=7.7
|Sep low C=3.6
|Oct low C=-1.7
|Nov low C=-7.4
|Dec low C=-11.6
|year low C=-2.9
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour= <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
|Jan precipitation mm=21
|Feb precipitation mm=18
|Mar precipitation mm=15
|Apr precipitation mm=16
|May precipitation mm=18
|Jun precipitation mm=35
|Jul precipitation mm=55
|Aug precipitation mm=56
|Sep precipitation mm=36
|Oct precipitation mm=33
|Nov precipitation mm=22
|Dec precipitation mm=20
|year precipitation mm=345
<!-- Average number of precipitation days -->
|unit precipitation days=  1 mm<!-- If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.2 cm, 0.2 mm. -->
|Jan precipitation days=6.3
|Feb precipitation days=5.0
|Mar precipitation days=5.6
|Apr precipitation days=4.7
|May precipitation days=4.7
|Jun precipitation days=6.9
|Jul precipitation days=8.6
|Aug precipitation days=9.7
|Sep precipitation days=8.5
|Oct precipitation days=8.1
|Nov precipitation days=6.3
|Dec precipitation days=6.7
|year precipitation days=81.1
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
}}

== Notable people ==
* [[John Persen]] (1941–2014), a composer who grew up in Ráigeadja 
* [[Synnøve Persen]] (born 1950 in Beavgohpis), a Norwegian/Sámi artist, author and activist
* [[Ivar Thomassen]] (1954 in Russenes – 2016), a folk singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist
* [[Arnljot Elgsæter]] (born 1944 in Kistrand), a physicist and academic
* [[Kåre Olli]] (born 1959), a Sami politician in the Labour Party

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/porsanger-porsangu-porsanki Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.visitporsanger.no Activities & tourism in Porsanger]
*[http://museumsnett.no/stabbursnes/engelsk.htm Stabbursnes nature house and museum]
*[http://www.stabbursdalen.no Angling in Porsanger]

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Finnmark|wikt=Porsanger}}
{{Finnmark}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Porsanger| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Finnmark]]
[[Category:Populated places of Arctic Norway]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]
[[Category:Sámi-language municipalities]]