Karasjok (Kárášjohka in Northern Sami, Kaarasjoki in Finnish) is a township and municipality in the county of Finnmark, Norway. The municipality is situated along the upper river basin of the Deatnu / Tana river, and its tributaries Anárjohka and Kárášjohka, and includes large tracts of the high plateau of Finnmarksvidda. The river valley, unlike the plateau, is covered with pine and birch forest. At Karigasniemi there is an official border crossing with Finland, and the European route E6 is passing through on its way from Lakselv to Tana. The nearest airport is in Lakselv. The attractions include the Sami parliament, Samediggi, the Sami museum and the church, dating from 1807. The Sami parliament was opened in 1989, by King Olav V, the first Samiparliamentpresident was Ole Henrik Magga, from Kautokeino. He was the president for more than eight years. The church in Karasjok is the oldest lutheran church in Finnmark, and the only building to survive the war damage. The church is today too small, so a big, wooden church, inspired by Sami architecture, has been built. Karasjok is also the place to look for duodji, Sami handicraft.
