Deatnu, or Tana, means the Great River, it is the longest and most significant salmon river in Norway and Europe. With regard to the Atlantic salmon, Deatnu/the Tana River is also considered one of the most important rivers in the world. With its large water carrying capacity, Deatnu has more in common with a wide flowing, continental watercourse than a regular river, with more than a 1000 km stretch of salmon bearing waters. The river holds at least 35 distinct subspecies in its tributaries.

The Tana River flows through three major Sámi districts: Deatnu/Tana and Kárášjohka/Karasjok on the Norwegian side, and Ohcejohka/Utsjoki in Finland. The river valley is home to 7000 people, the vast majority of them Sámi. In the larger cultural context, the river is therefore the largest contiguous area of Sámi settlement in the world.

Along the river, fishing for salmon and Sámi culture are closely interwoven, with a wide range of spiritual and material cultural features. Amongst the most significant cultural features are the many Sámi language terms for salmon, important sacred sites (sieidi), where sacrifices were made to secure good luck in fishing, as well as the many local legends and stories that describe the significance of salmon fishing.