Bjørnskinn
Encyclopedia
Bjørnskinn is a former municipality in the Andøy
municipality of Nordland
county, Norway.
, a few km northwest of the village of Risøyhamn
. Andenes
and Bjørnskinn were separated from Dverberg
on January 1, 1924. At that point Bjørnskinn had a population of 1,410. On January 1, 1964 the three municipalities were reunited to form the new municipality of Andøy
. Before the merger Bjørnskinn had 1,835 inhabitants.
Bjørnskinn Church (Bjørnskinn Kirke) was inaugurated on 29 April 1885. The church was built of wood and has 250 seats. The design was by local architect, Johan Kunig. The current church replaced an earlier church on the site which was built around 1740. Previously an even older church located closer to the mountains was destroyed in an avalanche in the 1700s. The organ in Bjørnskinn church was built in 1860 and has been at the church since 1936.
Andøy
Andøy is the northernmost municipality in Nordland county, Norway, and it belongs to the Vesterålen archipelago. The largest island in the municipality is Andøya. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Andenes....
municipality of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county, Norway.
History
Bjørnskinn is located on AndøyaAndøya
Andøya is the northernmost island in the archipelago of Vesterålen. Andøya is located in the Andøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway.The island has an area of 489 km², making it the tenth largest island in Norway. The island is connected to the neighboring island of Hinnøya using the...
, a few km northwest of the village of Risøyhamn
Risøyhamn
Risøyhamn is a village on the island of Andøya in the municipality of Andøy, Norway.Shipping company Hurtigruten has a service from and to Risøyhamn twice a day.The island of Andøya is connected to the island of Hinnøya by bridge in Risøyhamn....
. Andenes
Andenes
is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county, Norway.Andenes was separated from Dverberg January 1, 1924. It was merged with Dverberg and Bjørnskinn to create the new municipality of Andøy January 1, 1964....
and Bjørnskinn were separated from Dverberg
Dverberg
Dverberg is a small village in Andøya municipality in Nordland county, Norway.Dverberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Andenes and Bjørnskinn were separated from Dverberg January 1, 1924...
on January 1, 1924. At that point Bjørnskinn had a population of 1,410. On January 1, 1964 the three municipalities were reunited to form the new municipality of Andøy
Andøy
Andøy is the northernmost municipality in Nordland county, Norway, and it belongs to the Vesterålen archipelago. The largest island in the municipality is Andøya. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Andenes....
. Before the merger Bjørnskinn had 1,835 inhabitants.
Bjørnskinn Church (Bjørnskinn Kirke) was inaugurated on 29 April 1885. The church was built of wood and has 250 seats. The design was by local architect, Johan Kunig. The current church replaced an earlier church on the site which was built around 1740. Previously an even older church located closer to the mountains was destroyed in an avalanche in the 1700s. The organ in Bjørnskinn church was built in 1860 and has been at the church since 1936.
Notable residents
- Helmer HanssenHelmer HanssenHelmer Julius Hanssen was a Norwegian polar explorer, and one of the first five to reach the South Pole on the expedition of Roald Amundsen.- His life :Helmer Hanssen was born in Bjørnskinn, on the island of Andøya in the northern part of Norway...
(1870-1956), Polar explorer who was on the expedition of Roald AmundsenRoald AmundsenRoald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
to the South PoleSouth PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole... - Johan KleppeJohan KleppeJohan Kleppe is a Norwegian veterinarian and politician for the Liberal Party.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Nordland in 1969, but was not re-elected in 1973...
, Member of Norwegian Parliament from NordlandNordlandis a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
(1969-1973) and defense minister in Korvald's Cabinet (1972-1973) - Augustinus Johannessøn Sellevold (1803-1893), Fisherman-farmer who was twice elected as member of the Norwegian Parliament from NordlandNordlandis a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
(1845-1848).