Brønnøy
Encyclopedia
Brønnøy is a municipality in Nordland
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Helgeland
region
. The administrative and commercial centre is the town of Brønnøysund
. A secondary centre is the village of Hommelstø
. Other villages include Tosbotn
, Lande, Trælnes
, and Indreskomo
.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre
is an important employer in Brønnøy. Also, one of the largest limestone
mines in Northern Europe
is located in the municipality. Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
is located near the town of Brønnøysund.
). On 1 October 1875 the eastern district (population: 1,162) was separated to become the new municipality of Velfjord
. This left Brønnøy with 4,156 residents.
Then on 1 January 1901, the southwestern district (population: 2,731) was separated to become the new muncipality of Vik
(which later changed its name to Sømna). Brønnøy was then left with 3,440 inhabitants. On 1 January 1923 the large village of Brønnøysund
(population: 948) was separated from Brønnøy to become a town (ladested).
On 1 January 1964, a major municipal merger took place. The municipalities of Sømna
, Velfjord
, Brønnøy]], the town of Brønnøysund
, and the Lande area of Bindal
were all merged together to form a new, larger municipality of Brønnøy. Just thirteen years later on 1 January 1977, the former municipality of Sømna
was separated from Brønnøy once again to become its own municipality.
) is named after the small island Brønnøya (Old Norse
: Brunnøy), since the first church was built there. The first element is brunnr which means "well
" and the last element is øy which means "island
". Islands with freshwater wells were important for seafarers.
is from modern times; they were granted on 20 May 1988. The arms have a yellow background with a black direction-sign
used in the harbor
to guide the ships. It symbolizes the importance of the harbor for the municipality.
has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Brønnøy. It is part of the Sør-Helgeland deanery
in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland
.
s, lakes (such as Eidevatnet
, Sausvatnet
, and Fjellvatnet), mountains, and some fertile agricultural areas. Torget island is connected to the mainland via the Brønnøysund Bridge
.
Brønnøy borders the municipalities of Vega
and Vevelstad
to the north, Vefsn
and Grane to the east, and Bindal
and Sømna
to the south. The large fjord Velfjorden
runs into the heart of the municipality.
, is famous for a cavity that goes straight through the structure. Lomsdal–Visten National Park
is located in the northeastern part of Brønnøy.
The world's most northerly naturally occurring small-leaved lime (linden) forests grows in Brønnøy, and there are patches of boreal rainforests in Grønlidalen nature reserve and Storhaugen nature reserve. Strompdalen nature reserve and Horsvær nature reserve, a nesting place for a rich variety of seabird
s, are also located in the municipality.
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
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is part of the Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. The district covers an area of about , with nearly 79,000 inhabitants...
region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
. The administrative and commercial centre is the town of Brønnøysund
Brønnøysund
is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Brønnøy, Norway. It is also a former municipality in Nordland county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund...
. A secondary centre is the village of Hommelstø
Hommelstø
Hommelstø is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located on the shore of an arm of the Velfjorden about southeast of the town of Brønnøysund and about north of the village of Lande....
. Other villages include Tosbotn
Tosbotn
Tosbotn or Tosbotnet is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Tosenfjord arm of the Bindalsfjorden. The village is mostly a tourist center. It is located along Norwegian County Road 76, just east of the long Tosentunnelen...
, Lande, Trælnes
Trælnes
Trælnes is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the Torgfjorden, just north of the village of Berg and east of the mountain Torghatten. The Trælnes Chapel is located in this village....
, and Indreskomo
Indreskomo
Indreskomo is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located near the end of the Skillbotnfjorden, about east of the town of Brønnøysund. The Skogmo Chapel is located in this village....
.
The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Brønnøysund Register Centre
Brønnøysund Register Centre is a Norwegian government agency that is responsible for the management of numerous public registers for Norway...
is an important employer in Brønnøy. Also, one of the largest limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mines in Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
is located in the municipality. Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy is the airport serving the town of Brønnøysund in the Brønnøy municipality in Nordland, Norway. The airport is located southeast of the town centre and opened in 1968. Brønnøy is operated by Avinor...
is located near the town of Brønnøysund.
General information
The municipality of Brønnøy was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). On 1 October 1875 the eastern district (population: 1,162) was separated to become the new municipality of Velfjord
Velfjord
Velfjord is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Velfjord is located in the present-day municipality of Brønnøy. The administrative centre was the village of Hommelstø. The municipality surrounded the large fjord, Velfjorden, after which the municipality is named...
. This left Brønnøy with 4,156 residents.
Then on 1 January 1901, the southwestern district (population: 2,731) was separated to become the new muncipality of Vik
Sømna
Sømna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative center of Sømna is the village of Vik i Helgeland...
(which later changed its name to Sømna). Brønnøy was then left with 3,440 inhabitants. On 1 January 1923 the large village of Brønnøysund
Brønnøysund
is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Brønnøy, Norway. It is also a former municipality in Nordland county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund...
(population: 948) was separated from Brønnøy to become a town (ladested).
On 1 January 1964, a major municipal merger took place. The municipalities of Sømna
Sømna
Sømna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative center of Sømna is the village of Vik i Helgeland...
, Velfjord
Velfjord
Velfjord is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Velfjord is located in the present-day municipality of Brønnøy. The administrative centre was the village of Hommelstø. The municipality surrounded the large fjord, Velfjorden, after which the municipality is named...
, Brønnøy]], the town of Brønnøysund
Brønnøysund
is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Brønnøy, Norway. It is also a former municipality in Nordland county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund...
, and the Lande area of Bindal
Bindal
Bindal is a municipality in the Helgeland region in the extreme southwest part of Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Terråk...
were all merged together to form a new, larger municipality of Brønnøy. Just thirteen years later on 1 January 1977, the former municipality of Sømna
Sømna
Sømna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative center of Sømna is the village of Vik i Helgeland...
was separated from Brønnøy once again to become its own municipality.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the small island Brønnøya (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Brunnøy), since the first church was built there. The first element is brunnr which means "well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
" and the last element is øy which means "island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
". Islands with freshwater wells were important for seafarers.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times; they were granted on 20 May 1988. The arms have a yellow background with a black direction-sign
Sea mark
A sea mark, also seamark and navigation mark, is a form of aid to navigation and pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a maritime channel, hazard and administrative area to allow boats, ships and seaplanes to navigate safely....
used in the harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
to guide the ships. It symbolizes the importance of the harbor for the municipality.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Brønnøy. It is part of the Sør-Helgeland deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland
Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland
Sør-Hålogaland is a diocese in the Church of Norway. The Diocese covers the Lutheran Church of Norway churches located within Nordland county in Norway...
.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Location of the Church | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brønnøy | Brønnøy Church Brønnøy Church Brønnøy Church is a parish church in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the town of Brønnøysund. The church is part of the Brønnøy parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The stone church building was built in 1870 on the... |
Brønnøysund Brønnøysund is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Brønnøy, Norway. It is also a former municipality in Nordland county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund... |
1870 |
| Skogmo Chapel Skogmo Chapel Skogmo Chapel is a chapel in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Indreskomo. The church is part of the Brønnøy parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The chapel was built in 1979.... |
Indreskomo Indreskomo Indreskomo is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located near the end of the Skillbotnfjorden, about east of the town of Brønnøysund. The Skogmo Chapel is located in this village.... |
1979 | |
| Trælnes Chapel Trælnes Chapel Trælnes Chapel is a chapel in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Trælnes. The church is part of the Brønnøy parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The chapel was constructed in 1980.... |
Trælnes Trælnes Trælnes is a village in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the Torgfjorden, just north of the village of Berg and east of the mountain Torghatten. The Trælnes Chapel is located in this village.... |
1980 | |
| Velfjord og Tosen | Nøstvik Church Nøstvik Church Nøstvik Church is a parish church in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the west side of Hommelstø in Velfjord. The church is part of the Velfjord og Tosen parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The red, wooden church was... |
Velfjord Velfjord Velfjord is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Velfjord is located in the present-day municipality of Brønnøy. The administrative centre was the village of Hommelstø. The municipality surrounded the large fjord, Velfjorden, after which the municipality is named... |
1674 |
| Tosen Chapel Tosen Chapel Tosen Chapel or Lande Chapel is a chapel in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Lande. The church is part of the Velfjord og Tosen parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland... |
Lande | 1734 |
Geography
The municipality has great scenic variety with numerous isletIslet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
s, lakes (such as Eidevatnet
Eidevatnet
Eidevatnet or Eidvatnet is a lake that is located in the municipality of Bindal in Nordland county, Norway. The lake lies in the northern part of Bindal that is very sparsely populated. The lake Fjellvatnet flows to the southwest into this lake....
, Sausvatnet
Sausvatnet
Sausvatnet is a lake that is located in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. There is also a small village on the eastern shore called Sausvatn. The lake is located about south of Hommelstø and about northwest of Lande....
, and Fjellvatnet), mountains, and some fertile agricultural areas. Torget island is connected to the mainland via the Brønnøysund Bridge
Brønnøysund Bridge
Brønnøysund Bridge is a cantilevered road bridge near the town of Brønnøysund in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The bridge was constructed in 1979 and it connects the small island of Torget with the mainland just south of Brønnøysund. The long bridge has a maximum clearance to...
.
Brønnøy borders the municipalities of Vega
Vega, Norway
Vega is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Gladstad. Other villages include Holand and Ylvingen....
and Vevelstad
Vevelstad
Vevelstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Forvika. -General information:...
to the north, Vefsn
Vefsn
Vefsn is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mosjøen....
and Grane to the east, and Bindal
Bindal
Bindal is a municipality in the Helgeland region in the extreme southwest part of Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Terråk...
and Sømna
Sømna
Sømna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative center of Sømna is the village of Vik i Helgeland...
to the south. The large fjord Velfjorden
Velfjorden
Velfjorden is a fjord in Nordland county, Norway. The fjord is located in the municipalities of Brønnøy and Vevelstad. The fjord stretches from northwest to southeast with many side-arms branching off the main fjord. Two of the main side branches are the Sørfjorden and Langfjorden. The...
runs into the heart of the municipality.
Nature
In the southwest is the island of Torget, with the mountain TorghattenTorghatten
Torghatten is a mountain on Torget island in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center...
, is famous for a cavity that goes straight through the structure. Lomsdal–Visten National Park
Lomsdal–Visten National Park
Lomsdal–Visten National Park is a Norwegian national park that was established on 26 June 2009. The park consists of a total protected area of . It is located in Nordland county, Norway, and covers parts of the municipalities of Brønnøy, Vevelstad, Grane, and Vefsn.The landscape is dominated by...
is located in the northeastern part of Brønnøy.
The world's most northerly naturally occurring small-leaved lime (linden) forests grows in Brønnøy, and there are patches of boreal rainforests in Grønlidalen nature reserve and Storhaugen nature reserve. Strompdalen nature reserve and Horsvær nature reserve, a nesting place for a rich variety of seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s, are also located in the municipality.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...