ALTA (BOSEKOP. BUKTA, ELVEBAKKEN) NORWAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000301590007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 21, 1998
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 22, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

AA''1
P83-00423R000301590007-6
Population t
ITY INFORM.ATMON k' n 4 5 it
en) COUNTRY - NtRITAY
Province- it mark
Date of Observation: 22 Mar- 151
and other dates.
General Description.
Group of 3 settlements each with separate histories, all destroyed completely
by Nazis (except Bosekop church) now being built according to agreed plan.
A farming, fishing, transport, tourist and mining center, potentially regional
capitol for west Finnmark. Educational center.
Geographic Description:
Intermediate location between outer islands and interior plateau, location
at head of large fjord. Strategically situated.
Occupations:
Agricultural Fishing Industrial
Small farming for milk and Locally significant Fish processing, slate
butter production for local mining.
use. Transportation.
Natural Vegetatior-
While biich is common very far north in Finnmark, pine is rare. In the Alta
area was the largest stand of pine in Arctic Norway. Much of the larger timber
was destroyed by Nazis but a great deal of smaller sizes remain. The area is
definitely wooded.
Land Forms and Geology-
Rugged, rocky outcrops locally form small hills. The Alta River has laid down
a large delta and numerous terraces. Glacial bolders widespread and beaches are
bolder type, merging in sand to eastward. RETURN TO CIA
Mining a
LIBRARY
Slate mining south of town, former copper mines in locality. Other possibilities
exist.
Population (racial, cultural, linguistic): Norwegian of mixed backgrounds including
professional people from south, plus large group of settled Lapps at Bosekop,
which was originally Lapp settlement and trading center. Elvebakken higher pro-
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PLACE (conttd): ALTA
Climate and Weather
Temperatures: -100 C probably -18? at night, rising in succeeding days
to _30
Precipitation: Snow on ground some falling.
Clouds: Overcast but clear on succeeding days. Wind north.
Other: Sea open no sign of ice. Note first thaw of Spring April 12,
succeeded by new snow.
electric Power:
Yes
Source: Kaafjord with some local diesel e. g. hotel.
Supplies at present inadequate.
Voltage: 230 Cycle: 50
Extent of Grid: Local, out to be linked with west F'in:unark
Telephone Yes Telegraph Yes Radio Yes TV
16 wire on Rt. #50 -poles at Elvebakken
(Alta is hdq. for Finnmark)
TRANSPORTATION: (From: Alta To: North south and Kautokeino
Railway: None
Station:
Ballast:
Power
:
Gauge
Bridges:
Highways:
Route No's #50 north and south. Route r#905 Kautokeino.
Surface Types Gravel throughout
Width : Two-cars
Seasonal Use; Varied. #905 closed in linter but operated by snowmobile
from Gargia to Kautokeino. Rt. #50 south closed on Kvaenrn;en
Underpass height by snow. Rt. r50 north open. Alta is center of road
engineering for west Finnmark.
Bridges: New suspension bridge across Alta River at Elvebakken.
Poor bridge on #905 south of Alta.
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PLACE (conttd): ALTA
Ferries: None
Location:
Tonnage :
Capacity:
Schedules:
Steamers:
Q07-6
ALL
Routing: From Hamnerfest and 3ksfjord.
Tonnages*- Around 400 tons, modern (1950) diesel passenger freight.
Capacity:150 passengers with sleeping accommodations for 50.
Schedules: See Rutebok.
Bus Routes:
Summer:North and south on route #50 and to Kautokeino on Rt. #905.
daily service. Local half-hour bus circuit of Alta suburbs.
Through route by bus from Narvik to Kirkenes plan for 1952.
Winter:Snocmiobile bus to Kautokeino, three time weekly with connection
planned to Karesuando, Sweden, and Karasjok.
Other Transportation:
Reindeer sledges, horse sledges in interior. Taxis available at Alta. Trucking
at slate quarry. Seaplane and flying boat in Summer season. Regular all year
service planned using airfield at Elvebakken.
MAPS
German Army
Note detailed town plans made of
whole area by Norwegian government
housing dept. 1948.
Scale Date publisher
1:300,000 1944
1 M.
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SECURITY ORMATION
PLACE (cont' d): ALA
Guide and Other Books:
Title Author Date publisher Cost
PERSONAL DATA:
Date of travel to this place: 22 Mar. Arrived: 2300 hrs. 22 Max. '51
Alta
I]
Starting Point: Oksfjord Departed: 25 Mar. '51 9:OOpm
Distance traveled (in kms): Subsequent visit
paid. See also
Ve zicles Used: Ingby notes of 1949 visit
Fjord motor vessel 420 tons.
where stayed: Alta Hotel
25X1 X6 Name
Comments: E cellent &
reasonable
Address Position T.ph. Comment
CON'?-0 IAL
SECU E
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PLACE (cont' d): ALT SECURI? NFURMATION
Photographs:
Purchased locally:
Taken' Color and black and white of town, including highways, coast,
local industries, etc. Conditions from dull to bright.
Sketches Made:
None
Location Description
SU'PPLEIVMNTARY DATA
Industries:
Type No. of Workers Products Power
Slate 1,000 but varies Slate Hand plus trucks
Note slate is exported to South Norway and before 1939 to Scotland.
Fish product-a Electricity
A good deal of miscellaneous automobile and other mechanical repair work done
both privately and at state highway garage and at telephone and telegraph
department.
CONFI TIXL
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General Commentss
There are two main harbors in the area) Bosekop and Bukta. They have different
advaa.ntages depending on wind directions, severnity of icing, etc. There are
excellent anchorages for veiy large vessels to west of Bosekop, e. g. Kaafjord,
hidin -o icing of German Battleship Tiroitz.
Cargo tian~d5:zn
Name: Location Depth
Bosekop - Ste .mship +harf & 2 Town 20 ft. at high tide
fish wharves
Bukta - Steamship Vharf & Fuel oil 15 ft.
wharf
Lighters:
Small
Location
Repair Facilities
Machine Shopss
Foundries:
Dry docks:
Salvage gears
Supplies Available
Small
Very small
None
Minor
Water -Yes
Provisions Yes
Engineering
Tonnage Comments
Coal An
Oil-Fuel At, Rnkt,a
Diesel Fuel +. b31u+.n
See Norwegian Coat Pilot, _)age 94 for det,ils. Beach at Bosekop
Harbor Information is large bolders getting smaller eastward. At Bukta small rounded
stones turning toward the east into Delta sand. Good anchorage on and bottom at 25
meters off Bosekop. Bosekop never ice covered but occasional small drift from Kan.fjor
Bukta may suffer from ice drifting from Alta !-giver areas but is better sheltered.
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