Gjesværstappan: Difference between revisions

| name = Gjesværstappan

|native_name native name =

| sobriquet =

|image_name image name = Gjesv%C3%A6rstappan.JPG

|image_size image size =

|image_caption image caption = Gjesværstappan taken from the south: the two peaks of Storstappen are on the left (with the peak of the Stauren peninsula on the extreme left) and Kjerkestappen on the right

|image_alt image alt =

|map_image locator map = Map of the main Gjesvaerstappan islands.jpg

|location area km2 = 1.7[[Finnmark]], [[Norway]]

|archipelago length km =

|total_islands width km =

|major_islands coastline km = 3

|area_km2 elevation m = 2831.7

|coastline_km country admin divisions = [[Finnmark]]

|highest_mount country admin divisions 1 = [[Nordkapp]]

|country population = Norway

|country_admin_divisions density km2 = [[Finnmark]]

'''Gjesværstappan''' is a group of high, steep-sided, grass-covered islands which are located north of the island village of [[Gjesvær]] in [[Nordkapp Municipality]] in [[Finnmark]] county, [[Norway]]. The three main islands are ''Storstappen'', ''Kjerkestappen'', and ''Bukkstappen''.

Storstappan rises to a height of {{convert|283|m}} above sea level and has a peninsula called ''Stauren'' that rises to {{convert|165|m}}. Kjerkestappen rises to an elevation of {{convert|166|m}} above sea level and Bukkstappen rises to {{convert|92|m}} above sea level. Historically, there were people that lived on the islands and there was a church on Kjerkestappen.

The islands contain a large colony of [[seabird]]s and have been designated a nature reserve since 1983, as well as being an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA). The land area of the reserve is {{convert|1.7|km2}}, but the reserve also includes {{convert|5.5|km2}} of the sea surrounding the islands.

The largest colonies of cliff-breeding seabirds are mainly located on the [[bird cliff]]s of the biggest island, Storstappen, and between June 15 and August 15 visitors are not allowed to set foot on this island.<ref name="Grimmett">{{cite book|first1=R. F. A.|last1=Grimmett|first2=T. A.|last2=Jones|url=httphttps://books.google.co.ukcom/books?id=dsrwAAAAMAAJ|title=Important bird areas in Europe|date=1989 |isbn=0946888175|page=476|publisher=International Council for Bird Preservation }}</ref><ref>[{{cite web|url=http://www.birdsafari.com/100_gb/106_00_Gjesvaerstappan.htm |title=The Gjesværstappan nature reserve]}}</ref>

The colony is regarded as important because of the large numbers of birds. A 1988 survey found 70 pairs of [[Phalacrocoraxgreat carbocormorant]];s, around 50 pairs of [[PhalacrocoraxEuropean aristotelisshag]];s, 5000 to 10,000 pairs of [[Rissablack-legged tridactylakittiwake]];s, about 600 pairs of [[Uriacommon aalgemurre]];s, 25 pairs of [[Uriathick-billed lomviamurre]];s, about 2500 pairs of [[Alca tordarazorbill]];s and about 50,000 pairs of [[FraterculaAtlantic arcticapuffin]]s. The 1988 survey also found [[Sulanorthern bassanagannet]] nests.<ref name="Grimmett" />

==ImageMedia gallery==

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Stauren-Storstappen-Gjesværstappan.jpg|Stauren

File:Gjesvaerstappan fuglefjell.jpg|Nesting on Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesvaertappan 1.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan viewed from Gjesvær

File:Gjesvaertappan.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan viewed from Gjesvær

File:Gjesvær.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan viewed from Gjesvær

File:Gjesværstappan (2).jpg|Gjesvaerstappan viewed from the south

File:Gjesværstappan natural reserve-2.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan natural reserve-3.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan natural reserve-4.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan natural reserve-5.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan natural reserve.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesv%C3%A6rstappan-1.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan.JPG|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Gjesværstappan.jpg|Gjesvaerstappan

File:Morus bassanus-Gjesværstappan.jpg|[[Morus bassanus]] on Gjesvaerstappan