Karlsøy
Encyclopedia
Karlsøy is a municipality
in Troms
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes
. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya
island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population (2001) of 70.
). On 1 January 1867, the district of Ullsfjord
(population: 862) was transferred from Karlsøy to the neighboring municipality of Lyngen
. On 1 September 1886, Helgøy
was separated from Karlsøy to become a municipality of its own. This left Karlsøy with 1,334 inhabitants. Then on 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged back into the municipality of Karlsøy. At the same time, all of the mainland areas of Karlsøy (the northern part of the Lyngen peninsula
, with 1,001 inhabitants) was transferred from Karlsøy to neighboring Lyngen municipality. After all the changes, the new Karlsøy had 3,414 residents. On 1 January 2008, the southern part of the island of Reinøya
was transferred from Tromsø
to Karlsøy.
) is named after the small Karlsøya
island (Old Norse
: Kalsøe), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
of the male name Karl and the last element is øy which means "island
". Prior to 1909, the name was spelled Karlsø.
is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1980. The arms show the head of a White-tailed Eagle
on a blue background, since one of Europe
's largest colonies of these birds is found at Nord-Fugløy in the municipality. Furthermore the eagle symbolizes the importance of fishing
for the municipality.
ers of dried and salted cod
, with Portugal
, Spain
, and Brazil
among the main markets. The population is almost totally dependent on fishing. There are also goat herding businesses and some music professionals that live on the island community. There is an increasing amount of tourism, mostly as a result of the festival that runs in the Summer promoting the isle and the alternative history there. As a result there are plans for 50 holiday homes to be built on the isle.
The municipality consists of islands only. Ringvassøy
a, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest island in the municipality. Nord-Kvaløya
, Vanna
(Vannøya), Reinøya
, and Rebbenesøya
are the other major islands.
The islands of Rebbenesøy and Ringvassøy are split (as was Reinøya before 2008), with the southern part belonging to neighboring Tromsø
municipality. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the southern parts of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the northern parts belonged to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is awkward, which is why the Norwegian government transferred all of Reinøy to the municipality of Karlsøy on 1 January 2008. Soltindan
is the highest mountain on the island of Ringvassøy at 1051 m (3,448.2 ft) above sea level.
Karlsøy, the little island after which the municipality is named, has a picturesque village with a stately 19th century church. The inhabitants are an interesting and welcoming mix of the original inhabitants, hippie
s, and Norwegian Muslims
. The flora
on the island is also interesting.
Helgøy
, the former seat of an independent municipality in the western part of present Karlsøy, is today a more or less abandoned village of picturesque wooden houses and an old church. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.
Lake Skogsfjordvatn, in the centre of Ringvassøy
, is a beautiful lake with good fishing, surrounded by lush, sub-Arctic forest
s. This is Norway's largest lake in an island. The island of Vannøya has several picturesque villages, notably Burøysund and Torsvåg, the latter offering a wonderful view of the Atlantic from the lighthouse
.
The pretty, nondescript municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through an undersea tunnel
from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here ferries
depart to Vannøy, Reinøy, and Karlsøy. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøy are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøy.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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
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...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes
Hansnes
Hansnes is a village and the administrative centre of Karlsøy municipality in Troms county, Norway. Its population is 305. The village is located on the northeast side of the island of Ringvassøy, along the Langsundet strait...
. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya
Karlsøya (Troms)
Karlsøya is an island in Karlsøy, Troms, Norway. The name Karlsøy comes from the man's name Kalfr which comes from Kalven, formerly meaning "the little island which lies next to the bigger one", referring to Vanna. Karlsøya lies directly south of Vanna and north-east of Reinøya...
island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population (2001) of 70.
General information
Karlsøy was established as a municipality 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 January 1867, the district of Ullsfjord
Ullsfjord
Ullsfjord is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Tromsø and also the southwestern part of Lyngen. It is also the name of a fjord east of Tromsø and west of Lyngen.-Name:...
(population: 862) was transferred from Karlsøy to the neighboring municipality of Lyngen
Lyngen
Lyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
. On 1 September 1886, Helgøy
Helgøy
Helgøy is an island and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the western part of the present-day municipality of Karlsøy...
was separated from Karlsøy to become a municipality of its own. This left Karlsøy with 1,334 inhabitants. Then on 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged back into the municipality of Karlsøy. At the same time, all of the mainland areas of Karlsøy (the northern part of the Lyngen peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
, with 1,001 inhabitants) was transferred from Karlsøy to neighboring Lyngen municipality. After all the changes, the new Karlsøy had 3,414 residents. On 1 January 2008, the southern part of the island of Reinøya
Reinøya
Reinøya is an island in the municipality of Karlsøy in Troms county, Norway. Its area is . The southern part of the island was part of the municipality of Tromsø until 2008 when it was transferred to Karlsøy....
was transferred from Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
to Karlsøy.
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 Karlsøya
Karlsøya (Troms)
Karlsøya is an island in Karlsøy, Troms, Norway. The name Karlsøy comes from the man's name Kalfr which comes from Kalven, formerly meaning "the little island which lies next to the bigger one", referring to Vanna. Karlsøya lies directly south of Vanna and north-east of Reinøya...
island (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....
: Kalsøe), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of the male name Karl 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...
". Prior to 1909, the name was spelled Karlsø.
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 12 December 1980. The arms show the head of a White-tailed Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
The White-tailed Eagle , also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne , or White-tailed Sea-eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers...
on a blue background, since one of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's largest colonies of these birds is found at Nord-Fugløy in the municipality. Furthermore the eagle symbolizes the importance of fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
for the municipality.
Economy
Karlsøy is among the world's most important exportExport
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
ers of dried and salted cod
Dried and salted cod
Dried and salted cod, often called salt cod or clipfish , is cod which has been preserved by drying after salting. Cod which has been dried without the addition of salt is called stockfish....
, with Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
among the main markets. The population is almost totally dependent on fishing. There are also goat herding businesses and some music professionals that live on the island community. There is an increasing amount of tourism, mostly as a result of the festival that runs in the Summer promoting the isle and the alternative history there. As a result there are plans for 50 holiday homes to be built on the isle.
Geography and nature
Ringvassøy
Ringvassøya is a large island in Troms county, Norway. It is divided between the municipalities of Tromsø and Karlsøy.With an area of , Ringvassøy is the sixth largest island in mainland Norway. The island's highest point, Soltindan, has a height of above sea level. The long Skogsfjordvatnet...
a, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest island in the municipality. Nord-Kvaløya
Nord-Kvaløya
Nordkvaløya is an uninhabited island in Karlsøy municipality, Troms county, Norway. The island is situated north of Ringvassøya and west of Helgøy. Nord-Kvaløya has an area of . The highest point is Storalangen at ....
, Vanna
Vanna (Troms)
Vanna is a rocky island in Karlsøy municipality, Troms county, Norway. Its area is . The highest peak is Vanntinden at a height of above sea level. The population of the island is 973. Vanna is the 17th largest island in Norway by area...
(Vannøya), Reinøya
Reinøya
Reinøya is an island in the municipality of Karlsøy in Troms county, Norway. Its area is . The southern part of the island was part of the municipality of Tromsø until 2008 when it was transferred to Karlsøy....
, and Rebbenesøya
Rebbenesøya
Rebbenesøya is an island in Troms county, Norway. Its area is . It is situated in Karlsøy and Tromsø municipalities. The highest point on the island is Geittinden at a height of .-References:...
are the other major islands.
The islands of Rebbenesøy and Ringvassøy are split (as was Reinøya before 2008), with the southern part belonging to neighboring Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
municipality. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the southern parts of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the northern parts belonged to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is awkward, which is why the Norwegian government transferred all of Reinøy to the municipality of Karlsøy on 1 January 2008. Soltindan
Soltindan
Soltindan is the highest mountain on the island of Ringvassøya, in the municipality of Karlsøy in Troms county, Norway. It is located just north of the municipal border with Tromsø, about southwest of the municipal center of Hansnes. Just to the north of the peak is the small glacial lake,...
is the highest mountain on the island of Ringvassøy at 1051 m (3,448.2 ft) above sea level.
Karlsøy, the little island after which the municipality is named, has a picturesque village with a stately 19th century church. The inhabitants are an interesting and welcoming mix of the original inhabitants, hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
s, and Norwegian Muslims
Islam in Norway
Islam is the largest minority religion in Norway, which consist between 2.0% and 3.4% of the population. In 2007, government statistics registered 79,068 members of Islamic congregations in Norway, about 10% more than in 2006. 56% lived in the counties of Oslo and Akershus...
. The flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
on the island is also interesting.
Helgøy
Helgøy
Helgøy is an island and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the western part of the present-day municipality of Karlsøy...
, the former seat of an independent municipality in the western part of present Karlsøy, is today a more or less abandoned village of picturesque wooden houses and an old church. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.
Lake Skogsfjordvatn, in the centre of Ringvassøy
Ringvassøy
Ringvassøya is a large island in Troms county, Norway. It is divided between the municipalities of Tromsø and Karlsøy.With an area of , Ringvassøy is the sixth largest island in mainland Norway. The island's highest point, Soltindan, has a height of above sea level. The long Skogsfjordvatnet...
, is a beautiful lake with good fishing, surrounded by lush, sub-Arctic forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s. This is Norway's largest lake in an island. The island of Vannøya has several picturesque villages, notably Burøysund and Torsvåg, the latter offering a wonderful view of the Atlantic from the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
.
The pretty, nondescript municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through an undersea tunnel
Undersea tunnel
An undersea tunnel is a tunnel which is partly or wholly constructed under a body of water. They are often used where building a bridge or operating a ferry link is impossible, or to provide competition for existing bridges or ferry links...
from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
depart to Vannøy, Reinøy, and Karlsøy. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøy are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøy.
Attractions
Karlsøy is full of interesting places:- The island of Nord-Fugløy, one of Norway's major bird cliffBird cliffBird cliffs are steep cliffs with numerous small shelves which serve as nesting locations for bird colonies. Bird cliffs are found on islands in the North Atlantic and Arctic, such as the Faroe Islands, the Svalbard archipelago and on islands off Northern Norway...
s, including puffinPuffinPuffins are any of three small species of auk in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among...
colonies. - There is a flat high plateauPlateauIn geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
, 600 m (1,968.5 ft) above sea level, where ArcticArcticThe Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
cloudberries grow. The island can only be reached in the cloudberry season, when picking expeditions are organized from Burøysund.
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...
- http://karlsoyfestival.com/