Hammerfest

Hammerfest, the most northern town of Europe, is situated in 70° 40' N. lat. and 23° 30' E. long., on the island of Kvalö, in the Norwegian province of Finnmark. It is the rendezvous of the fishing fleets of the Kara Sea and the waters along the Spitzbergen coasts. It imports coal, salt, hemp, flour, &c. in exchange for fish and fish-oil, with some reindeer hides, eider-down, and fox-skins. During the two summer months the sun is continually above the horizon. The winter is mild enough to allow of the fisheries being carried on. The town was burnt, 21st July 1890. Pop. 2289.