Skjervøy
Encyclopedia
Skjervøy is a municipality
in Troms
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Skjervøy on the island of Skjervøya, where most of the inhabitants live. The main industries are fishing and ship building.
). In 1863, the new municipality of Kvænangen
(population: 1,677) was separated from part of Skjervøy, leaving 2,785 people in Skjervøy. Then on 1 January 1886, another new municipality, Nordreisa
(population: 1,057), was separated from Skjervøy, leaving 2,096 inhabitants in Skjervøy. On 1 January 1890, the Trætten and Loppevolden farms (population: 32) were transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa. On 1 January 1965, the Meilands area (population: 12) was transferred to Kvænangen. On 1 January 1972, the parts of Skjervøy lying on the mainland (population: 1,556) were transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa, and the uninhabited Mannskarvik farm was transferred to Kvænangen. Then on 1 January 1982, the southern part of Uløya
(population: 128) was transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa.
) is named after the small island
of Skjervøya (Old Norse
: Skerføy), since the first church was built there. The first element is skerf which means "rocky ground" and the last element is øy which means "island". Prior to 1909, the name was written Skjervø.
is from modern times. It was granted on 27 March 1987. The arms show the black head of a cormorant
on a silver background, partly canting
since skarf means cormorant. The cormorant also symbolizes the coastal municipality, which, as the bird, is dependent on fishing
for its living. The cormorant is also a common bird
in the area.
, with the villages of Årviksand, Akkarvik
and Arnøyhamn. Most people, however, live on the relatively small island of Skjervøya, where more than 2,324 people live in the central town with its sheltered harbour. The other islands include Kågen
, Laukøy, and the northern half of Uløya
. Kågen and Skjervøya are connected by the Skjervøy Bridge
.
(coastal express ferry) stops at Skjervøy. There is also a speedboat
connection with Tromsø
. An undersea tunnel
connects this island with the mainland. There is also a ferry connection to Arnøya and Laukøy.
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 Skjervøy on the island of Skjervøya, where most of the inhabitants live. The main industries are fishing and ship building.
General information
Skjervøy 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...
). In 1863, the new municipality of Kvænangen
Kvænangen
Kvænangen is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Burfjord. The European route E6 highway goes through the municipality and over the Sørstraumen Bridge, and most people stop at the mountain pass of Kvænangsfjellet to view the...
(population: 1,677) was separated from part of Skjervøy, leaving 2,785 people in Skjervøy. Then on 1 January 1886, another new municipality, Nordreisa
Nordreisa
Nordreisa is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storslett.The municipality consists of the valley of Reisadalen, with the Reisa river and deep pine forests, surrounded by mountains and high plateaus. Most people live in...
(population: 1,057), was separated from Skjervøy, leaving 2,096 inhabitants in Skjervøy. On 1 January 1890, the Trætten and Loppevolden farms (population: 32) were transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa. On 1 January 1965, the Meilands area (population: 12) was transferred to Kvænangen. On 1 January 1972, the parts of Skjervøy lying on the mainland (population: 1,556) were transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa, and the uninhabited Mannskarvik farm was transferred to Kvænangen. Then on 1 January 1982, the southern part of Uløya
Uløya
Uløya is an island in Skjervøy and Nordreisa municipalities, Troms county, Norway. The island is situated on the east side of the Lyngen fjord. The island has an area of , and the highest point is Blåtinden at . The population on the Skjervøy part of the island is 29, and the population on the...
(population: 128) was transferred from Skjervøy to Nordreisa.
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 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...
of Skjervøya (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....
: Skerføy), since the first church was built there. The first element is skerf which means "rocky ground" and the last element is øy which means "island". Prior to 1909, the name was written Skjervø.
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. It was granted on 27 March 1987. The arms show the black head of a cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
on a silver background, partly canting
Canting arms
Canting arms are heraldic bearings that represent the bearer's name in a visual pun or rebus. The term cant came into the English language from Anglo-Norman cant, meaning song or singing, from Latin cantāre, and English cognates include canticle, chant, accent, incantation and recant.Canting arms –...
since skarf means cormorant. The cormorant also symbolizes the coastal municipality, which, as the bird, is dependent on 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 its living. The cormorant is also a common bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the area.
Geography
The municipality consists of several islands, the major one being ArnøyaArnøya
Arnøya is an island in the municipality of Skjervøy in Troms county, Norway. Its area is . The highest peak is Arnøyhøgda, at . It is the 15th largest island in Norway....
, with the villages of Årviksand, Akkarvik
Akkarvik
Akkarvik is a small village along the Langfjord in the municipality of Skjervøy, in the northern part of Troms county, Norway. It is located about south of Årviksand on the south side of Arnøya island. It has been populated since the 17th century. At its peak during the 1950s, about 400 people...
and Arnøyhamn. Most people, however, live on the relatively small island of Skjervøya, where more than 2,324 people live in the central town with its sheltered harbour. The other islands include Kågen
Kågen
Kågen is an island in the municipality of Skjervøy in Troms county, Norway. It has an area of . The island is home to 27 inhabitants . The island is mountainous with several peaks over above sea level. The highest point is Store Kågtind at...
, Laukøy, and the northern half of Uløya
Uløya
Uløya is an island in Skjervøy and Nordreisa municipalities, Troms county, Norway. The island is situated on the east side of the Lyngen fjord. The island has an area of , and the highest point is Blåtinden at . The population on the Skjervøy part of the island is 29, and the population on the...
. Kågen and Skjervøya are connected by the Skjervøy Bridge
Skjervøy Bridge
Skjervøy Bridge , also known as Skattørsundet Bridge, is a beam bridge in the municipality of Skjervøy that crosses the Skattørsundet between the islands of Kågen and Skjervøya in Troms county, Norway. The bridge is long. Skjervøy Bridge was opened in 1971. Together with Maursund Tunnel, it...
.
History
The church of Skjervøy dates back to 1721 and it is the oldest wooden church in Troms county. Maursund is an old trading post with well preserved 19th century houses.Transportation
The HurtigrutenHurtigruten
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...
(coastal express ferry) stops at Skjervøy. There is also a speedboat
Motorboat
A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...
connection with 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...
. 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...
connects this island with the mainland. There is also a ferry connection to Arnøya and Laukøy.
External links
- 41 kg cod caught on fishing rod, April 2010 (with pictures)
- 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...