Cradled within the majestic Altafjord, Alta is a modestly sized city yet boasts a wealth of natural, historic and architectural treasures. In the Rock Art of Alta UNESCO World Heritage site, bewitching rock carvings, some created up to 6,000 years ago, depict everyday activities of the Stone Age such as hunting and fishing. The 19th-century Alta Church enchants with its austere beauty, while the strikingly futuristic Northern Lights Cathedral, clad in titanium, spirals upward like a mysterious sea creature. As in most of Norway, breathtaking scenery abounds, so both locals and visitors take advantage of the area’s ample natural gifts by kayaking the fjord or hiking in awe-inspiring Alta Canyon, one of the largest in Europe.
