Måsøy
Encyclopedia
Måsøy is a municipality
in Finnmark
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Havøysund
.
Måsøy was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The western part of the island of Magerøya
was transferred from Måsøy to the municipality of Nordkapp
on 1 January 1984.
The municipality is located on the coast of Western Finnmark
, comprising parts of the mainland and many islands of various sizes. Most people live in the village of Havøysund, but there are also small hamlets spread around the islands and in the fjord
areas, notably Snefjord, Kokelv, Ingøy
, Rolvsøy
, and Måsøy. The Fruholmen lighthouse
is the northernmost in Norway.
The hurtigruten
boat stops at Havøysund daily, and there is a road connection, albeit often blocked by snow
in the winter.
At Måsøy, there is the tallest construction of Scandinavia
, the 362 metres (1,188 ft) tall Ingoy radio transmitter.
". Previously, the village of Måsøy was the administratice centre, hence the name of the municipality. Prior to 1918, the name was written Maasø.
is from modern times. They were granted on 7 September 1984. The arms show a fishing gaff which has been used for many centuries in the municipality to haul in large fish
into the boat. The devise is made of a large piece of wood with a bone or metal hook. The tool was chosen as a symbol for the importance of fishing
to the municipality.
s and a varied birdlife. Once again, some of the counties largest seabird
colonies can be found in the municipality with the island of Hjelmsøy being one of the more interesting. White-tailed Eagle
s can be seen as well as both Arctic Skua
s and Great Skua
s.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
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 Havøysund
Havøysund
Havøysund is the administrative centre of the Måsøy municipality, Norway. Its population in 2006 was 1,125. Located on Havøya, but is connected to the mainland through the Havøysund Bridge....
.
Måsøy 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...
). The western part of the island of Magerøya
Magerøya
Magerøya is an island in Finnmark county in the extreme north of Norway, in the community of Nordkapp. The island features a bleak, barren tundra-landscape devoid of any trees , with steep cliff faces on the coast and dramatic mountainscapes in the interior. It has an area of...
was transferred from Måsøy to the municipality of Nordkapp
Nordkapp
Nordkapp is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Honningsvåg.Nordkapp was separated from Porsanger on 1 July 1861...
on 1 January 1984.
The municipality is located on the coast of Western Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
, comprising parts of the mainland and many islands of various sizes. Most people live in the village of Havøysund, but there are also small hamlets spread around the islands and in the 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...
areas, notably Snefjord, Kokelv, Ingøy
Ingøy
Ingøy is a small island in Måsøy municipality, Finnmark county in North Norway. It lies 60 kilometres west of North Cape. At Ingøy, there is Longwave transmitter Ingøy, whose mast is the tallest structure in Scandinavia.- External links :* * *...
, Rolvsøy
Rolvsøy (Finnmark)
Rolvsøy is an island in Måsøy municipality in Finnmark county, Norway It has an area of 89 km2 and a population of 72....
, and Måsøy. The Fruholmen 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....
is the northernmost in Norway.
The hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
boat stops at Havøysund daily, and there is a road connection, albeit often blocked by snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
in the winter.
At Måsøy, there is the tallest construction of Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the 362 metres (1,188 ft) tall Ingoy radio transmitter.
Name
The first element is måse which means "seagull" and the last element is øy which means "islandIsland
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...
". Previously, the village of Måsøy was the administratice centre, hence the name of the municipality. Prior to 1918, the name was written Maasø.
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 7 September 1984. The arms show a fishing gaff which has been used for many centuries in the municipality to haul in large fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
into the boat. The devise is made of a large piece of wood with a bone or metal hook. The tool was chosen as a symbol for 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....
to the municipality.
Birdlife
Lying northwest in the county, Måsøy has a selection of habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s and a varied birdlife. Once again, some of the counties largest 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...
colonies can be found in the municipality with the island of Hjelmsøy being one of the more interesting. 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...
s can be seen as well as both Arctic Skua
Arctic Skua
The Parasitic Jaeger, also known as the Arctic Skua or Parasitic Skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae....
s and Great Skua
Great Skua
The Great Skua, Stercorarius skua, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. In Britain, it is sometimes known by the name Bonxie, a Shetland name of unknown origin.-Description:...
s.