The eastern part of Finnmark is known for its high sky and wide horizon, and provides the perfect backdrop for colourful winter lights, the northern lights, and the midnight sun. In the western parts of Finnmark you find the North Cape, beautiful glaciers and the biggest canyon in Northern Europe, Sautso.

The North Cape

The North Cape sea cliff, 307 metres above sea level, has long been a popular and important navigation mark for shipping traffic in the north. In 1553, an English expedition set sail under the helm of commander Richard Chancellor to find the northeastern passage to China. They did not succeed but the old sea charts after this expedition are the first to mention the name North Cape.

The sea cliff dates back 500-600 million years and consists of schist, sandstone, quartzite and mica schist.

National parks

There are five national parks in Finnmark:

• Stabbursdalen National Park - home to the world's northernmost pine forest.
• Øvre Anarjohka National Park - a remote and untouched part of the Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau.
• Øvre Pasvik National Park - situated in Northern Scandinavia's largest area of virgin forest.
• Seiland National Park - two of the northernmost glaciers in Scandinavia.
• Varangerhalvøya National Park - the peninsula is the largest area within the Arctic climate zone on mainland Norway.

Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau

The tundra of Finnmarksvidda offers a glimpse of eternity, but the plateau is also used and is home to both people and animals. The total silence is broken by animals running through the snow and reindeer herders looking for their flocks. The landscape is coloured by the cold and by the sun’s struggle towards the horizon.