Bømlo
Encyclopedia
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, 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 also the name of the main island of this archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
, consisting of about 900 islets, located west of Stord
Stord
Stord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Stord is sometimes called "Norway in miniature" - as it has such a variety of landscapes: coastline, fjords, forests, agricultural land, and mountain areas....
.
The old municipality of Finnås
Finnås
Finnås is a former municipality which is now part of the municipality of Bømlo in Hordaland county, Norway.-History:Finnås is located in the traditional district of Vestlandet....
was divided into Bømlo, Bremnes
Bremnes
Bremnes is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Bremnes had a population of 3,411....
, and Moster
Moster
Moster is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Moster had a population of 1.316....
on 1 July 1916. The two latter municipalities were merged back into Bømlo on 1 January 1963.
Bømlo was also involved in the Shetland bus
Shetland bus
The Shetland Bus was the nickname of a clandestine special operations group that made a permanent link between Shetland, Scotland, and German-occupied Norway from 1941 until the German occupation ended on 8 May 1945. From mid-1942 the official name of the group was "Norwegian Naval Independent Unit"...
operation in WWII.
Name
The municipality is named after the main island of Bømlo (Norse Bymbil). The meaning of the name is unknown. Until 1918 the name was written Bømmel.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 29 February 1980. The arms show a water lily
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains eight genera. There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus...
leaf with a trefoil
Trefoil
Trefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
. The trefoil symbolizes the three former municipalities Bremnes
Bremnes
Bremnes is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Bremnes had a population of 3,411....
, Moster
Moster
Moster is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Moster had a population of 1.316....
, and Bømlo, which were united in 1963. The water lily leaf was simply chosen as a decorative element without any further significance.
Locations
Bømlo is commonly distinguished into different areas of where people reside. These areas include Svortland(earlier called Bremnes), MosterMoster
Moster is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created by the split of Finnås on July 1, 1916, which created the new municipalities Moster, Bømlo and Bremnes. At that time Moster had a population of 1.316....
, Søra-Bømlo (South-Bømlo), Rubbestadneset, Finnås
Finnås
Finnås is a former municipality which is now part of the municipality of Bømlo in Hordaland county, Norway.-History:Finnås is located in the traditional district of Vestlandet....
, Gilje, Goddo, and Hiskjo. Svortland is the financial center with stores, a culture house, schools and official buildings and is located a bit north on the island. Moster is on the other hand more to the east with a high percentage of devout Christians residing in three different sects. Bømlos economy is in a large degree sustained by Eidesvik Shipping, Wärtsila, fishindustry, tourism and general offshore related work.
Culture
Bømlo is known in the region for several shows and musicals performed in Moster Amfi. The local community is very active in culture work be it song, dance or the active Christian community. Traditionally Bømlos culture has centered around Christianity with its pinnacle: "Mostraspelet". A play conducted in Moster Amfi surrounding the topic of how Christianity came to Norway via Bømlo late during the first millennium. In Moster , Bømlo Musical Laug has staged several musicals.Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport played by the male population on the island. Notable soccer player like Arne Larsen Økland, Geirmund Brendesæter and Gunnar Meling started their careers in Bremnes IL. The former top player and current coach for Brann IL Mons Ivar Mjelde had a brief stay at Moster IL.Education
There are several schools in the area. The schools Svortland, Gilje, Meling, Folderøy, Våge, Håvik and Espevær only have students from 1st-7th grade. The schools Rubbestadneset, Moster and Hillestveit have students from 1st through 10th grade. Bremnes Ungdomsskule gathers most students from 8th to 10th grade. There are two upper secondary schools, Bømlo Vidaregåande skule and Rubbestadnes Vidaregåande Skule (earlier Rubbestadnes Yrkesskule)There is also a Folk High School
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
, Olavskulen Folkehøgskule
Industry
Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä is a Finnish corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The core products of Wärtsilä include large combustion engines...
, Eidesvik, Brandasund fiskeforedling and Bremnes Seashore are notable employers. As well as tourism.
Transport
An extensive tunnel and bridge system, the Triangle Link, connected Bømlo to the mainland and neighboring island StordStord
Stord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Stord is sometimes called "Norway in miniature" - as it has such a variety of landscapes: coastline, fjords, forests, agricultural land, and mountain areas....
on 30 April 2001.
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...
- Municipality web site
- Map
- Weather radar at Bømlo
- Bømlo tourist information