Other notable villages in the municipality included Komagfjord, Langenes, Langfjordbotn, and Leirbotn.

The municipality's population density was 2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi).

The early Norwegian settlers would have translated that as tåkebukta (meaning "fog bay") and this could have been corrupted from tåke to tal.

It was part of the Talvik prestegjeld and the Alta prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

The highest point was the 1,149-metre (3,770 ft) tall mountain Store Haldi, located on the border with Alta Municipality to the south.