Hammerfest

The official flag of Hammerfest

The official coat of arms of Hammerfest

Hammerfest ( pronunciation (info • help); Hámmerfeasta [ˈhaːmmerˌfea̯sːta]) is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Hammerfest. The municipality has an area of 2,693 square kilometres (1,040 sq mi) and a population of 11,274 people. The population density is low, with only 4.4 people per square kilometer (1.7/m²).^[1]^[2] The municipality is made up of three large islands and several small islands. Most of it is not connected to the mainland by road.

Hammerfest was formed as a municipality in 1838.^[3] In 1992, it merged with the neighboring municipality of Sørøysund to form a larger municipality with the same name.^[4] In 2020, it became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county.^[5]

Economy: In regard to having a new power line built: A license has been given (as of August 2025) to build power lines from Skaidi (map), a settlement in Hammerfest, to Lebesby; The power lines will be 420 kilovolt.^[6]

Settlements

Fiskebukta
Forsøl; No people were (still) living there, as of 2024.^[7] However, there is an elementary school and a kindergarten (as of 2025); Together they have 27 students (2025).^[8]
Fuglenes

Hellefjord
Kokelv
Kvalsund (settlement in Hammerfest); 289 inhabitants (as of 2023)
Kårhamn
Rypefjord (picture); 1,802 people live there (as of 2023)
Seiland
Skaidi
Stallogargo

Government

The mayor, Terje Rogde, is elected until late 2027.^[9]

Hammerfest Media

Painting by Konstantin Korovin, inspired by the Aurora Borealis in Hammerfest
Hammerfest in the late 19th century
Aerial view of the centre of Hammerfest taken by Walter Mittelholzer in 1923
German sign in Hammerfest in 1941.
Hauen Chapel, the only building in Hammerfest left standing after the Second World War.