Alta

Known as Nordlysbyen — "The Northern Lights City" — Alta sits at the southern end of Altafjorden in Norway's Finnmark county, where the river Altaelva meets the sea and mountain terrain rises around the town. A compact centre holds cafés and restaurants, and the prehistoric rock carvings just west of town are a UNESCO-recognised site. The Northern Lights Cathedral, completed in 2013, is a more recent landmark worth a visit.

• Population15,094
• Nearest water from center0.2 km
• Nearest mountain from center0.7 km
• UNESCO within 50 km7