Skibotn
{{Short description|Village in Storfjord Municipality, Norway}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = {{native name list|tag1=no|name1=Skibotn|tag2=se|name2=Ivgobahta|tag3=fkv|name3=Yykeänperä}}
|other_name = {{native name|fkv|Markkina}}
|native_name =
|nickname =
|settlement_type = Village
|image_skyline = Skibotn harbor July2008.jpg
|image_caption = View of the village harbor
|image_map = {{Infobox mapframe|zoom=11|marker=village}}
|pushpin_map = Troms#Norway
|pushpin_label_position = left
|pushpin_label = Skibotn
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Norway
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Northern Norway
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Troms
|subdivision_type3 = District
|subdivision_name3 = Nord-Troms
|subdivision_type4 = Municipality
|subdivision_name4 = Storfjord Municipality
|timezone1 = CET
|utc_offset1 = +01:00
|timezone1_DST = CEST
|utc_offset1_DST = +02:00
|area_total_km2 = 1.05
|population_as_of = 2023
|population_total = 539
|population_density_km2 = 513
|postal_code_type = Post Code
|postal_code = 9143 Skibotn
|coordinates = {{coord|69|23|27|N|20|16|02|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m = 8
|elevation_footnotes = {{cite web|url=http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Troms/Storfjord/Skibotn/|title=Skibotn|publisher=yr.no|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2012-12-18}}}}
{{native name|no|Skibotn}}, {{native name|se|Ivgubahta}}, or {{native name|fkv|Yykeänperä}}{{cite web|url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/443485|title=Informasjon om stadnamn|website=Norgeskart|publisher=Kartverket|language=no|accessdate=2024-07-08}} is a village in Storfjord Municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is located on the southeastern shore of the Lyngen fjord in Northern Norway. The village area is located at the crossroads of the European route E6 and European route E8 highways. The distance by road to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost community in the western "arm" of Finland, is approximately {{convert|50|km}}. Skibotn Chapel is located in the village.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://snl.no/Skibotn|title=Skibotn|editor-first=Mikkel|editor-last=Berg-Nordlie|accessdate=2018-08-06|date=2018-06-11|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|language=Norwegian}}
The {{convert|1.05|km2|acre|adj=on}} village has a population (2023) of 539 and a population density of {{convert|513|PD/km2}}.{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |authorlink=Statistics Norway |date=2023-12-23|title=Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/folketall/statistikk/tettsteders-befolkning-og-areal}} The modern day residents of Skibotn are mostly either descendants of the Kven people and Sami people, or immigrants—and their descendants—from Southern and Central Norway.
Name
The village is named after the old Skibotn farm. The first element probably comes from the word {{wikt-lang|no|skip}} which means "ship", likely referring to the old harbor in the village. The last element is {{wikt-lang|no|botn}} which means "bottom", in the sense of the "bottom" or "innermost" part of the fjord.{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=py5MAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt |date=1911|publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=17 |location=Kristiania, Norge |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh |page=154 }} The other official names {{native name|se|Ivgubahta}} and {{native name|fkv|Yykeänperä}} both refer to the bottom of the fjord off of the main Lyngen fjord. An alternate Kven name is Markkina, but that one is not an official name. Markkina refer to the market located at Skibotn.
Geography
Skibotn is located in a valley, surrounded by large mountains including Nallagais, Imagais, Steindalsbreen, Balggesvarr, and Storfjellet. The river Skibotnelva empties into the fjord at Skibotn. Skibotnelva river flows from the lakes Rihpojávri and Gálggojávri. Skibotn is known for its dry climate with frequent clear skies in the Skibotn valley, and the calcareous pine forests, with rare orchids. Due to the climate with few clouds, there is an astrophysical observatory located in Skibotn.{{cite web|url=http://www.phys.uit.no/fysikk/astro/skibotn_main.htm|title=Skibotn Telescope|publisher=University of Tromsø|accessdate=2010-04-11}}
Notable people
{{main article|Storfjord Municipality#Notable_people}}
- Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, the well known Sami writer lived in Skibotn for a significant part of his life
- Leonhard Seppala, the dog sled racing legend was grew up in Skibotn
- Astrid Båhl, the designer of the first official Sámi flag (based on an unofficial flag by Synnøve Persen) lived in Skibotn
Media gallery
Seppala Monument.JPG|Seppala Monument in Skibotn
Skibotn Church 2010.JPG|Skibotn Chapel
Seppala plaque.JPG|Seppala plaque
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928185449/http://www.nordiclichensociety.org/Excursions/NLF2003/NLF2003_opdateret_2006.htm Nordiclichensociety: About Skibotn valley]
- [http://www.mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/elvebakk-v96-checklist.pdf University of Tromsø: The rich lichen flora of Skibotn]
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