Berlevåg Municipality

File:Berlevåg.jpg

The municipality of Berlevåg was established on 1 January 1914 when it was separated from Tana Municipality. Initially, there were 784 residents. The borders have remained unchanged since that time.{{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=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no}}

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.{{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}} On 1 January 2024, the Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part of Finnmark county.{{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}}

There are different opinions of the origin of the name Berlevåg (or historically spelled Berlevaag). The first is that it relates to an old Northern Sami language name that sounded like Berlevaggi or Perlavaggi. The second is that it derives from the name of the first settler or explorer at the bay whose name was Berle or Perle. The last theory of the name Berlevåg (which is less likely) is that the first element derives from the Norwegian word {{wikt-lang|no|perle}} which means "pearl" and the last element is {{wikt-lang|no|våg}} which means "bay".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |author-link=Oluf Rygh |title=Norske gaardnavne: Finmarkens amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1924 |edition=18 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=243 |language=no}}{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Berlevåg |url=http://snl.no/Berlev%C3%A5g |access-date=2013-02-26 |language=no}} On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Berlevaag with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Berlevåg, using the letter å instead.{{Cite journal |year=1917 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381014_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=1000}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.nb.no/items/7c810cb2510e5454433266c698b8808e |title=Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister |publisher=Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri |year=1918 |location=Kristiania, Norge |language=no}}

The coat of arms was granted on 22 July 1988. The official blazon is "Per fess rayonny Or and azure" ({{langx|no|Delt av gult og blått ved flammesnitt}}). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line with a rayonny design with five waves with yellow over blue. The field above the line has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The color below the line has a tincture of azure (blue). The design is meant to symbolize the sun over the waves of the sea that break against the shore. This can represent both the struggle against the sea as well as the dependence on it. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Berlevåg |access-date=2023-01-21 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Berlevag, Finmark |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-20-24.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1988-07-22 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1988-07-22-596?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}

The Church of Norway has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Berlevåg. It is part of the Varanger prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Berlevåg Airport is located just outside the village of Berlevåg. Norwegian County Road 890 runs through Berlevåg, connecting it to the neighboring municipalities, and the rest of Norway.

Facing rough ocean conditions, the four man-made breakwaters that protect the harbor of Berlevåg have been destroyed several times due to bad weather. The current breakwaters include tetrapods that intertwine and have made for a flexible breakwater that can resist the Barents Sea. The port was completely secured with breakwaters in 1973. Since then, the Coastal Ferry has been able to dock in Berlevåg. Prior to that time, a smaller vessel had to unload cargo and passengers from it in the open sea and then ferry them in to the port.

Berlevåg Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.{{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}} The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

The municipal council {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Berlevåg is made up of 13 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

{{div col}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Finnmark Finnmárku |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/finnmark%20finnm%C3%A1rku/berlevåg#seats |access-date=2023-12-30 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/troms%20og%20finnmark/berlevåg#seats |access-date=2019-10-21 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 3

|Senterpartiet = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2015

|end = 2019

|reference = {{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}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/finnmark%20finnm%C3%A1rku/berlevåg#seats |access-date=2019-10-21 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4

|otherparty = Berlevåg Free Voters

|otherparty_no = Berlevåg frie velgere

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Høyre = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|otherparty = Berlevåg Free Voters

|otherparty_no = Berlevåg frie velgere

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1995

|end = 1999

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Høyre = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1991

|end = 1995

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1987

|end = 1991

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|NKP = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Cross-Party List

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk folkeliste

|otherparty_number = 2

|otherparty1 = Berlevåg and Kongsfjord Free Voters' List

|otherparty_no1 = Berlevåg og Kongsfjord Frie Velgeres liste

|otherparty_number1 = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1983

|end = 1987

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Høyre = 3

|NKP = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Youth List

|otherparty_no = Ungdomslista

|otherparty_number = 1

|otherparty1 = Berlevåg and Kongsfjord Free Voters' List

|otherparty_no1 = Berlevåg og Kongsfjord Frie Velgeres liste

|otherparty_number1 = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1979

|end = 1983

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 3

|NKP = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Berlevåg and Kongsfjord Free Voters

|otherparty_no = Berlevåg og Kongsfjord Frie Velger

|otherparty_number = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1975

|end = 1979

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|smallparty = Joint list of the Conservatives, Liberals, and Kongsfjord Free Voters

|smallparty_no = Høyre, Venstre og Kongsfjord Frie Velgeres Liste

|smallparty_number = 5

|smallparty_color = linear-gradient(135deg, {{Party color|Conservative Party (Norway)}} 35%, {{Party color|Liberal Party (Norway)}} 35%, {{Party color|Liberal Party (Norway)}} 65%, white 65%);

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1971

|end = 1975

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 3

|NKP = 1

|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1967

|end = 1971

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |volume=I |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 2

|NKP = 1

|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|start = 1963

|end = 1967

|reference = {{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}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 3

|NKP = 2

|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1959

|end = 1963

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 2

|NKP = 3

|Venstre = 1

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1955

|end = 1959

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 13

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|NKP = 2

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1951

|end = 1955

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 12

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|NKP = 2

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 2

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1947

|end = 1951

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 12

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|NKP = 4

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1945

|end = 1947

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 12

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|NKP = 3

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 1

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Berlevåg

|herad = yes

|start = 1937

|end = 1941*

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 12

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|AFS = 3

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Berlevåg:{{Cite book |last=Andersen |first=Thor M. |url=https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2011021406052 |title=Norges ordførere 1929–1931 |publisher=A.M. Hanches Forlag |year=1931 |location=Kristiania |page=283 |language=no}}{{Cite news |date=1931-12-28 |title=Ordførervalg |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19311228_48_351_1 |work=Arbeiderbladet |page=11 |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1914–1919: Alf Brodtkorb (LL)
• 1920–1925: Christian Olsen Gaare (LL)
• 1926–1931: Anton Grebstad (V)
• 1932–1934: Jørgen Lund (Ap)
• 1934–1953: Jentoft Jensen (Ap)
• 1953–1969: Agaton Larsen (Ap)
• 1970–1975: Finn Jørstad (Ap)
• 1976–1977: Oddrunn Pettersen (Ap)
• 1978–1979: Gullik Bugge Nicolaysen (Ap)
• 1980–1983: Tora Høgestøl (LL)
• 1984–1991: Bjarne Johnsen (Ap)
• 1992–1995: Erik Brøske (Ap)
• 1995–1999: Arne Kristian Arntzen (Ap)
• 1999–2003: Steinar Hansen (Ap)
• 2003–2007: Erik Brøske (SV)
• 2007–2011: Janne Andreassen (Ap)
• 2011–2015: Karsten G. Schanche (H)
• 2015–present: Rolf Laupstad (Ap)

{{div col end}}

File:Tanahorn.jpg

The municipality is situated in the northwestern part of the Varanger Peninsula, facing the open Barents Sea to the north and the Tanafjorden to the west. It is an isolated and barren region with mostly rocks and tundra. There are no native trees in Berlevåg because of the cold and windy summers. The municipality also contains the lakes Geatnjajávri and Skonsvikvatnan. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|619|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Hanglefjellet.

Berlevåg's coastal location serves to moderate temperatures during winter, giving it a marine subarctic climate. Coldest month is February with mean {{convert|-4.6|C|F|0}}, while warmest month is July and August, both with mean {{convert|10.4|C|F|0}}.{{Cite web |title=Weather statistics for Berlevåg as a table - Last 13 months |url=https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-98090/Norway/Troms%20og%20Finnmark/Berlev%C3%A5g/Berlev%C3%A5g}}

The sea and the islands along this part of Finnmark's coastline are home for thousands of seabirds. As well as the large seabird colonies with thousands of nesting birds, there are also areas of unspoiled nature consisting of mountains, moorlands, and marshes. This enables birdwatching in a natural environment. A 17,855 ha area of marine waters along the coast, including supralittoral and neritic habitats, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a population of Steller's eiders.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021 |title=Berlevåg |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/berlev%C3%A5g-iba-norway |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=BirdLife Data Zone |publisher=BirdLife International}}

File:Berlevåg panorama.JPG

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-102-0893-13A, Nordeuropa, Ansicht eines Hafenorts.jpg

Berlevåg, along with the rest of Finnmark, was occupied during World War II. Berlevåg Airport was originally put into use at this time, when German occupying forces constructed it with the help of hundreds of Russian prisoners of war. From 1943 to 1944, there were nearly daily bombing raids from Russia on Berlevåg and the German airfield.

In November 1944, the village was completely burned down and the inhabitants evacuated by force as part of the scorched earth strategy of the Germans. In the aftermath, the Norwegian government wanted to relocate the inhabitants to nearby Kongsfjord because of a better harbour, but they refused, and the village was rebuilt. As there are absolutely no trees in Berlevåg, many of the houses in Berlevåg were built by the help of the wooden planks in the "tarmac" and runway of the previous German airfield.

Berlevåg was brought some fame in Norway when the Norwegian film director Knut Erik Jensen made a documentary film about Berlevåg Mannsangsforening, Berlevåg's men's choir. The movie Heftig og begeistret ({{langx|en|"Cool and Crazy"}}) was a big hit 2001 in Norway, first shown at Tromsø International Film Festival. The choir later went on a tour of the United States and were featured at Ground zero in New York City. The choir's oldest and most famous member, Einar Strand, died at the age of 98 in 2004.

Berlevåg is also the place for the fictional story "Babette's Feast" by the Danish author Karen Blixen / Isak Dinesen published in the anthology Anecdotes of Destiny (1958). (See also the homonym film Babette's Feast.)

• Stig Henrik Hoff (born 1965), a Norwegian actor was born in Vadsø, but grew up in Berlevåg and Fiskum{{IMDb name|0388732|Stig Henrik Hoff}}. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

The following are twin towns of Berlevåg:

• {{flagicon|Russia}} Belomorsk, Russia

{{reflist}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/berlevåg Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|c=y|voy=Finnmark|wikt=Berlevåg}}

{{Finnmark}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berlevaag}}

Category:Municipalities of Finnmark

Category:Populated places of Arctic Norway

Category:1914 establishments in Norway

Category:Populated places established in 1914

Category:Important Bird Areas of Norway

Category:Important Bird Areas of the Arctic

Category:Seabird colonies

Category:Barents Sea