Karasjok

Karasjok (Kárášjohka in Sami) is a township and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway.

The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river, and its tributaries Anarjokka and Karasjokka, and includes large tracts of the high plateau of Finnmarksvidda.

At Karigasniemi there is an official border crossing with Finland, and the European route E6 is passing through on its way from Lakselv to Tana. The nearest airport is in Lakselv.

80% of the population is Sami speaking, and Sami and Norwegian have equal status in the municipality.

Most people live in Karasjok village. The village is the seat of the Samediggi, the Sami parliament in Norway, as well as of the Sami broadcasting, and several Sami institutions, public and private, are to be found here.

The attractions include the Sami parliament, Samediggi, the Sami museum and the church, dating from 1807. This is the oldest lutheran church in Finnmark, and the only building to survive the war damage. The church is today too small, so a big, wooden church, inspired by Sami architecture, has been built. Karasjok is also the place to look for duoddji, Sami handicraft.