The municipality is located along the Tysfjorden. The Tysfjorden is the second deepest fjord in Norway, with a maximum depth of . Tysfjord borders
Ballangen Municipality in the north, Hamarøy Municipality in the south,
Sweden in the east, and the
Vestfjorden in the northwest. The island of
Hulløya lies in the middle of the Tysfjorden. The municipality is dominated by grey
granite mountains;
pine,
birch, and
aspen woodlands and
forests; and the many fjord branches. Tysfjord's most dominant mountain,
Stetinden, is famous in Norway. This high natural granite
obelisk, rising straight out of the fjord, is an awe-inspiring sight. In Norwegian, it is called which means the 'anvil of the gods', partly because the summit forms a
plateau. This was selected to be the national mountain of Norway in the autumn of 2002. The famous
British climber
William C. Slingsby described it as "the ugliest mountain I ever saw"; he did not reach the summit. The mountains near the border with Sweden have peaks up to above sea level, and a large glacier,
Gihtsejiegŋa is located in this area. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Bjørntoppen. From
Hellemobotn, at the head of Hellemofjorden, the distance to the border with Sweden is only ; this is also a scenic hiking terrain with a
canyon opening up in Hellemobotn. There are also caves, such as the very deep
Raggejavreraige. Lakes in the region include
Baugevatnet,
Båvrojávrre,
Kilvatnet,
Langvatnet, and
Skilvatnet.
Silver birch occurs in Tysfjord, as one of few areas in
North Norway (silver birch need more summer warmth than the more common
downy birch).
Nature For many years since 1990, a large part of the stock of Norwegian
herring has stayed in the fjord in winter, one of the largest gatherings of
biomass in the world. Large number of
whales,
orcas in particular, have followed to feed on the herring. This has attracted winter tourists from far away, but not in huge numbers. Since 2008, less herring and fewer orca have arrived in Tysfjord.
Harbor porpoises,
lobsters,
white-tailed eagles,
common ravens,
European otters, and
moose are all common in the Tysfjord area. The coastal municipality of Tysfjord is better known for its
whale watching than its
birdwatching but the region has still a lot to offer. Thanks to a range of
habitats the area has a varied birdlife. Though the area has no large
seabird colonies, there is a small
nature reserve at Ramnholmen with breeding populations of
Arctic tern and
common tern.
Climate The climate is surprisingly temperate considering the location north of the
Arctic Circle. Mean annual temperature in Kjøpsvik is and mean annual precipitation is . Summer is usually pleasant, although there might be persistent
rain. Average monthly 24-hr temperature in June, July, and August is , , and , with average daily high about . The average temperatures are below freezing for slightly more than 4 months, statistically from 17 November to 30 March, with January average of . October is the wettest month with on average precipitation, May is the driest with . The
midnight sun can be seen from the end of May to mid-July, and the sun is below the horizon from the beginning of December to mid-January. The
aurora borealis is commonly seen in winter and late autumn.
Villages ==Transport==