33 IGC excursion No 40, August 1 – 4,  2008

Practical information

Travel to Kirkenes
Participants should make their own arrangements for travel to and from Kirkenes for the evening of Friday 1.August (Day 0). SAS Braathens is the main carrier, but there are also direct flights from Oslo by Norwegian, and indirect flights by Widerøe. Flight times and prices can change. Prices for a one-way ticket currently range from NOK600-1200 for the cheapest non-flexible rate, to NOK2200-2500 for full flexibility. There are currently two direct flights per day between Oslo and Kirkenes, arriving at c.13:20 and c.19:45. Flight time is just over 2 hours. There are also indirect flights via Tromsø that give better views but take longer (4-6 hours). Participants should buy their own meals en-route, or in Kirkenes on the day of arrival (Friday, 1. August). We plan to meet informally in the hotel in the evening at about 9 - 10 pm on 1. August.

Travel from Kirkenes
The excursion will end in Kirkenes at 18:00 on Monday, 4th August (Day 3). This will allow participants time to take the evening flight to Oslo (c. 20:00) or, alternatively, to stay overnight in Kirkenes and take one of the midday flights to Oslo on Tuesday 5. August (currently scheduled to leave at 11:30, 12:00 and 13:45). The latter option may be preferable for those wanting a more relaxed schedule, or time to visit shops and tourist activities on offer. The extra overnight cost (NOK1030/EUR128 single/incl. breakfast, NOK1280/EUR160 double/incl. breakfast) should be met by the participants. Booking can be made by contacting the excursion leaders in advance. See addresses given below.

Travel to and from the airport in Kirkenes
The airport at Kirkenes is a 15 minute (12 km) drive from the town centre (Rica Arctic Hotel). Prices in 2007 were as follows: airport bus, NOK70; taxi from NOK225 (day) to NOK275 (evening) and NOK305 (weekend), i.e. c. EU10-EU35. We may be able to provide a shuttle service for the main arrival and departure times.  

Local travel
We will travel by minivan or bus depending on the number of participants.

Accommodation
Accommodation is in hotels and guest houses and includes some picturesque settings and local cuisine. A mixture of single and double rooms will be used, depending upon the number of participants. We will stay at::
1-2.August: Rica Arctic Hotel, Kirkenes. Tel:78 99 59 00. Single rooms (double on request).
2-3 August: Polmak Gjestegård. Tel: 78 92 89 90. Single and/or double rooms.
3-4 August: Kongsfjord Gjestehus: Tel: 78 98 10 00. Single and/or double rooms.
(4-5 August, optional extra night): Rica Arctic Hotel, Kirkenes. Tel: 78 99 59 00.

Food
Breakfast is at 08:00. We make our own packed lunch before leaving each day, and eat in the open. Coffee, tea, mineral water, etc. for lunch and coffee breaks will be provided. Dinner is about 19:00.

Shops
There are few shops along the way so bring all necessary items with you. We will nevertheless schedule stops at a petrol station on day 1 (Saturday), possibly day 2 (Sunday), and at a souvenir shop and museum shop on day 3 (Monday).   

Local conditions
The southern part of the area is below the tree line (birch woodland and bog), while the coast and northern part is above or beyond the tree line (heath and bog). There are large areas of exposed bedrock, alternating with glacial gravels, till and other deposits. All localities are relatively easily accessible and dry underfoot, unless it rains. The weather in August is usually fine (between 8 and 20˚C), but occasionally cloudy, rainy or windy. There is twenty-four hour daylight which, with luck, makes for stunning views. Mosquitoes may be troublesome at some localities away from the coast, so pack insect repellent to be on the safe side.

What to bring
Waterproof/windproof clothing. Water-repellent boots or plimsolls. Sit-mat for sitting out at lunch. Insect repellent. 

Contact us:
Geoff Corner: geoff.corner@ig.uit.no
Raymond Eilertsen: raymond.eilertsen@ngu.no

What to read
(see reference list)

Deglaciation and shorelines:
Sollid et al. (1973). Regional overview of deglaciation chronology and shorelines.
Rose and Synge (1979). Terrace and shoreline chronology at S Varangerfjorden.
Fletcher et al. (1993). Shorelines as climate indicators.
Corner et al. (1999). Isolation basin stratigraphy.

Valley-fill and deltaic: 
Corner (2006). Model of fjord-valley fill.
Postma and Cruickshank (1988). Architecture of the Meskelva fan delta, Varangerfjorden.

Physical geography and geomorphology
Corner (2005a, b). Geomorphology of the Norwegian coast and Scandes mountains.

Cultural history
Topics which may be of interest include Stone age settlement following deglaciation, Sami (Lappish) culture, and migration and exploration in the Barents Region. The area was also strategically important during World War II and many wartime remains are still visible.

 

References

Corner, G.D., 2005a, Ch. 12. Atlantic coast and fjords, in Seppälä, M., (ed.), The Physical Geography of Fennoscandia. Oxford University Press, p. 203-228.

Corner, G.D., 2005b. Ch.13. Scandes Mountains. in Seppälä, M. (ed.), The Physical Geography of Fennoscandia. Oxford University Press, p. 229-254.

Corner, G.D., 2006. A transgressive-regressive model of fjord-valley fill: stratigraphy, facies and depositional controls. In Dalrymple, R.W., Leckie, D.A. and Tillman, R.W. (eds), ‘Incised Valleys in Time and Space’, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Special Publication, no. 85, p. 161-178.

Corner, G.D., Yevzerov, V.Y., Kolka, V.V. & Møller J.J. 1999: Isolation basin stratigraphy and Holocene relative sea-level change at the Norwegian-Russian border north of Nikel, northwest Russia. Boreas 28, 146-166.

Fletcher, C.H. III, Fairbridge, R.W., Møller, J.J. & Long, A.J. 1993. Emergence of the Varanger Peninsula, Arctic Norway and climate changes since deglaciation. The Holocene, 3, 116-127.

Postma, G. and Cruickshank, C., 1988. Sedimentology of a late Weichselian to Holocene terrace fan delta, Varangerfjord, northern Norway. In: W. Nemec and R.J. Steel (Eds): Fan deltas: sedimentology and Tectonic Settings, pp. 144-157. Blackie, Glasgow (444 pp.)

Rose, J. & Synge, F.M., 1979: Glaciation and shoreline development between Nydal and Haukdal, south Varangerfjorden, north Norway. Quaestiones Geographicae 5, 125-151.

Sollid, J.L., Andersen, S., Hamre, N. Kjeldsen, O., Salvigsen, O., Sturød, S., Tveitå, T. & Wilhelmsen, A. 1973. Deglaciation of Finnmark, North Norway. Norsk geogr. Tidsskr., 27, 233-325.

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Contents by Geoff Corner, adapted for web by Kjell T Svindland, updated 12 December, 2007 17:11 .