Hidra
Encyclopedia
Hidra is an island
and a former municipality
in Vest-Agder
county
in Norway
. It is located in the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord
. The island has two harbours: Rasvåg
and Kirkehavn
. It is the largest island in Vest-Agder county and it is separated from the mainland by the 350 m (1,148.3 ft) wide Hidrasund fjord.
Hidra was home to the landscape and coastal painter Olav Omland (1909-1998). He was also a poet and songwriter, and composed the song about Hidra "Hidrasangen".
Hidra was also home to the eccentric personality and artist Tatjana Lars Kristian Guldbrandsen.
form of the name was Hitr. The name is probably derived from a word with the meaning "split" or "cleft" (referring to the fact that the island is almost split in two by the Rasvåg fjord
). Prior to 1918, the name was spelled Hitterø.
was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). However, on 1 January 1894, this municipality was split into two municipalities: Hitterø (population: 2,075) and Nes
(population: 1,704).
On 1 January 1965, Hidra (formerly called Hitterø) was merged together with Nes, Gyland
, most of Bakke
, and the town of Flekkefjord to form the new municipality of Flekkefjord
. Prior to the merger, Hidra had a population of 1,277.
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...
and a former municipality
Former municipalities of Norway
This is a list of former municipalities of Norway, i.e. municipalities that no longer exist.When the local council system was introduced in Norway in 1837-38, the country had 392 municipalities. In 1958 the number had grown to a total of 744 rural municipalities, 64 city municipalities as well as a...
in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
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...
in 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 in the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
. The island has two harbours: Rasvåg
Rasvåg
Rasvåg is one of the two harbours on the Norwegian island Hidra. The island is located in Flekkefjord municipality.-See also:*Kirkehamn...
and Kirkehavn
Kirkehavn
Kirkehavn is one of the two harbours on the Norwegian island Hidra. The island is located in Flekkefjord municipality....
. It is the largest island in Vest-Agder county and it is separated from the mainland by the 350 m (1,148.3 ft) wide Hidrasund fjord.
Hidra was home to the landscape and coastal painter Olav Omland (1909-1998). He was also a poet and songwriter, and composed the song about Hidra "Hidrasangen".
Hidra was also home to the eccentric personality and artist Tatjana Lars Kristian Guldbrandsen.
Name
The Old NorseOld 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....
form of the name was Hitr. The name is probably derived from a word with the meaning "split" or "cleft" (referring to the fact that the island is almost split in two by the Rasvåg fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
). Prior to 1918, the name was spelled Hitterø.
History
Nes og HitterøNes og Hidra
Nes og Hitterø is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord encompassing the Nes peninsula and the island of Hidra .-Name:...
was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
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...
). However, on 1 January 1894, this municipality was split into two municipalities: Hitterø (population: 2,075) and Nes
Nes, Vest-Agder
Nes is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord.-Name:...
(population: 1,704).
On 1 January 1965, Hidra (formerly called Hitterø) was merged together with Nes, Gyland
Gyland
Gyland is a village and a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northeastern part of the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord between the municipality of Kvinesdal and the lake, Sirdalsvatnet.-Name:...
, most of Bakke
Bakke, Norway
Bakke is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located along the eastern shore of Lundevatn along the Rogaland county border.-History:...
, and the town of Flekkefjord to form the new municipality of Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
. Prior to the merger, Hidra had a population of 1,277.