Tromsø Municipality

"Not to be confused with the city of Tromsø"
Tromsø is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway, with an area and a population of 77,544. The city center of Tromsø (settlement) is located on the island of Tromsøya, but the urban area also encompasses part of the nearby mainland and part of the island Kvaløya. Tromsø is known for its mild climate, due to the effect of the westerlies reaching this far north, as well as the North Atlantic Drift, a branch of the Gulf Stream. Tromsø's latitude of just below 70°N renders annual midnight sun and polar night depending on the season. The city has a rich Norse and Sámi heritage, with evidence of habitation since the end of the ice age. The name Tromsø is believed to derive from the Old Norse name of the island Trums, which means "(strong) current." However, the first element of the name's etymology is uncertain. Tromsø is a cultural hub for the region, with several festivals taking place in the summer. Many countries used to have consulates
or missions in Tromsø in the 1990s.