Port
Alta, Norway
Activity Level
Moderate
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$109.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
2 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
Alta is the largest city in the county of Finnmark. Sandwiched between the rough, vast mountain plateau of the interior and Norway's wet and stormy coast, Alta offers tree-clad valleys, milder weather and delightful views of the not-so-distant wilderness.
Take a tour through the three main neighborhoods of Alta. Bossekop is best known for old trading traditions and Northern Lights research. Elvebakken, in the east, was settled by immigrants from Finland called Kvens. Central Alta itself, the newest of the three, offers pedestrian shopping precincts and shopping centers. It is one of northern Norway's largest educational and research centers and is home to Finnmark Municipal University, with approximately 2,000 students.
Alta is perhaps best known for its slate mining industry, harvesting stone for export all around the world. Visit the Pæskatun slate quarry, embedded in the mountainside of the Alta Valley, about 10 miles from the city center. Slate mining represents a long and important tradition in the economic life in Alta. More recently, Pæskatun has developed a modern industry surrounding the production of gifts and souvenirs, which can be purchased at the site. Inside the production hall, learn all about the modern slate industry with the benefit of a historical perspective. Take in the fantastic view over the Alta Valley, all the way down to the fjord.
Notes:
Terrain at Pæskatun is mostly gravel and is uneven in places. Buildings on the site have thresholds at the doors.