Alta Museum & Rock Carvings
-
Port
Alta, Norway
-
Activity Level
Moderate
-
Excursion Type
All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At
$159.95
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 3 hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
The modern city of Alta, at the head of Altafjord, sits at the 70th parallel, yet it is surrounded by pine forests and fertile land covering the wide valley. This is the northernmost place on earth where barley will grow.
Wind your way through the city on a short panoramic drive to the Alta Museum, which explores Komsa culture, some 8,000 - 10,000 years old. Exhibits also depict the old marketplace in Bossekop, the river and fjord fishing from the mid-1800s to today, and research on Aurora borealis -- the Northern Lights.
The outdoor area is dedicated to the preservation and documentation of rock art in and around the Finnmark region. It is one of Norway's five rock art sites that comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follow the path down a gentle hill in the rock carving area. Thirteen points give you an up-close look at the 3,000 petroglyphs on display. You'll notice that the markings appear to have themes -- boats and fish, hunters, moose, reindeer, bears and fertility symbols.
A journey through time inside the museum reveals more ancient rock carvings, as well as sacred art from the late Middle Ages, silver treasures, and artifacts of the Sami culture.
Notes:
Tour requires walking about a mile. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, a boardwalk, asphalt, a small unpaved area, and 26 indoor steps (elevator available). Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. The outdoor petroglyph area may be closed October through April due to snow or inclement weather.