Grønnebakkan is a part of the city of Harstad

Harstad

is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...

 in Troms

Troms

or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...

 county, 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 located about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the city centre, just south of Gangsåsbotn

Gangsås

Gangsås is a part of Harstad city in the county of Troms, Norway – situated southeast of the city center...

, northwest of Kanebogen

Kanebogen

Kanebogen is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located about south of the city center – south of Gangsås, southwest of Stangnes, north of Medkila and southeast of Grønnebakkan....

, east of Harstadbotn and southeast of Seljestad

Seljestad

Seljestad is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located to the south of the city center and north of Harstadbotn.The primary and secondary schools Seljestad barneskole and Seljestad ungdomsskole are located here, just west of the street Seljestadvegen....

.

Development there started during the late 1970s on a large hill overlooking the city. The upper part was originally built to house employees of the local hospital and police, but as development continued other people also bought property and settled there. Development there continued through the 1980s. Grønnebakkan Kindergarten (Grønnebakkan Barnehage) was built in 1990, and is a privately owned kindergarten

Kindergarten

A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...

. It is one of Harstad's biggest and newest kindergartens and it has contributed to more and more family settlements in Grønnebakkan.

Before the development began, this area is the location of paths which led to the nearby lakes Pevatnet and Musvatnet. These were popular paths for hiking

Hiking

Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...

 through the woods and mountains. Most of these paths still exist today but because of deforestation

Deforestation

Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....

these paths are not as popular and used as they once used to be. Grønnebakkan is known for its panoramic view over the city of Harstad.