Tana: River Sámi culture and trails along the river

Deanu Musea offers a distinctive cultural perspective on Tana: the museum documents and presents River Sámi cultural history as well as Sámi past and present. It is located on the Tana River in Buolbmát/Polmak. There is also a connection to finding your way along the river: rest and parking areas have been established along the Tana River to make it easier to access the water. The Tanavassdraget is Norway’s largest unregulated river system.

River Sámi history and cultural heritage

One historical landmark associated with Deanu Musea is its main building. Dating from around 1790, it is connected to the establishment of a trading post in Buolbmát–Polmak. This links the museum’s cultural history with a specific chapter in the history of the local area. Those interested in the region’s history will also find a perspective here that brings together Sámi past and present.

Another cultural site is Gollevárri, a cultural heritage area in Tana. As part of Fotefar mot nord, Gollevárri focuses on wild reindeer trapping. The area contains approximately 960 trapping pits. This approximate figure gives an impression of the scale of the cultural heritage area, while the focus on wild reindeer trapping gives it a clear historical theme.

Nature knowledge and activities

At the Visitor Center Wild Salmon Tana Joddu, visitors can learn about the salmon life cycle and discover traditional Sámi fishing methods used in the Tanavassdraget throughout history. These include stake-net, drift-net, seine-net, and rod-and-handline fishing. The centre offers nature tours for schools and kindergartens, as well as talks on nature and research. There is also a small outdoor exhibition there during the summer months.

There are also different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Tana has illuminated trails, ski trails, and areas for mountain biking and off-road cycling. Areas of water are suitable for kayaking and canoeing. Throughout the municipality, established scooter and summer trails make it easier to access mountain and plateau areas. There is a nature trail in Bonakas and a cultural trail in Sirma.

Tana is estimated to have around 250 kilometres of developed and marked trails and tracks for hiking, skiing, and cycling. This figure provides a useful guide. Together with the range of activities mentioned, it shows that a stay can be tailored to your interests, whether that means culture, activities on land, or time on the water.

Plan your stay in Tana

For cultural history, there are Deanu Musea and Gollevárri, each with a different focus; outdoor activities include trails, ski tracks, and water sports. These interests give you a concrete starting point for searching for hotels in Tana to suit your travel plans. The museum café at Deanu Musea is open seasonally during the summer season and serves coffee, tea, non-alcoholic drinks, and waffles.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Tana, Måsøy, Berlevåg, Lebesby, Hammerfest, Sør-Varanger, Porsanger, Vardø.

Return to the main travel overview: Finnmark.