The secretariat of the Barents Region is located in Kirkenes. One of its tasks is to create cross-border cultural, educational and business relations in the Barents Region. There is now substantial optimism in the town as a consequence of the increased petroleum-drilling activity in the Barents Sea (including Russian activity). B�kfjorden, an excellent harbour, has attracted interest from several large companies. Norway's and Russia's Foreign Ministers signed an agreement on 2 November 2010 which will make it much easier for 9,000 Norwegians and 45,000 Russians to visit each other.
Tourist attractions include Grenseland smuseet (The Border Country Museum), which shows the history of war and peace along the Norwegian�Russian border, Sami art exhibitions by the artist John Savio (1902�1938) and a history of the mining industry in the area. The museum has a small shop and caf�. Almost every last Thursday of each month the Russian Market takes place on the central square where traders from Murmansk sell their merchandise. Here you can find everything from matryoshkas, linen cloths and handicrafts, to Russian crystal and porcelain dishes.
Just outside of Kirkenes is a military base called H�ybuktmoen. Connected to this base are six border stations along the Russian border. This base and these border stations are there to protect against illegal immigrants as well as other illegal activities across the border.
In the city centre of Kirkenes is Andersgrotta, a vast underground bunker built during WWII which provided shelter to the town's 9,000 residents. Tours of the bunker are available.
Kirkenes is also one end of the route of Hurtigruten, which cruises daily up and down the Norway coast to and from Bergen. Kirkenes is served by Kirkenes Airport, H�ybuktmoen. There are non-stop flights to Oslo and Troms�.
Kirkenes is the terminus of Kirkenes�Bj�rnevatn Line, the world's second-most northerly railway, used to transport iron ore from the
