Nuorgam () is a traditional Sámi village in the northern periphery of Finland. Administratively, it is part of the municipality of Utsjoki, within the region of Lapland.
The 2022 Finnish action film Sisu was filmed primarily in Nuorgam.
Etymology
Nuorgam is a Finnish adaptation of the Northern Sámi name Njuorggán, which is of unknown meaning and origin. The Finnish name was Niorgaisoando in 1740, became Niorkam in the 1770s when it started to be used as a
surname, and became Njorkama in 1804.
The first family to use the surname Nuorgam arrived in the village sometime in the late 18th century from the nearby village of Pulmangi on the Norwegian side.
Geography
Nuorgam is located in the municipality of
Utsjoki, situated on the Teno (Tana) river, opposite of the Njuorggánvárri
estuary in
Norway.
Located above the
Arctic Circle, it is the northernmost settlement of Finland and the European Union.
Climate
Demographics
, the population of Nuorgam was approximately 200 people. Northern Sámi,
Finnish language, and Norwegian are spoken among the local populace.
Economy
The local economy is a mix of traditional jobs like hunting, fishing, and cattle farming, and modern initiatives like cross-border trade and tourism. The village is reportedly fully employed, with many residents having jobs in Norway.
Transport
Ivalo Airport and
Kirkenes Airport (in Norway) have flights to and from Nuorgam. The village can also be accessed by road, and a number of Finnish accommodation companies offer transport there.
In popular culture
The Finnish action film
Sisu, directed by
Jalmari Helander, was filmed mainly in Nuorgam in 2021. Set during the
Lapland War of World War II, producer Petri Jokiranta commented that the remoteness of the village in the Finnish
tundra provided an ideal setting, as was the abandoned Kaamanen Airport for some scenes in particular.
Locals were involved in the film's production and gave permission for film sets to be built in the village.
See also
External links
