Vikna
Encyclopedia
Vikna is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Namdalen
region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rørvik
. Other villages in Vikna include Austafjord
, Garstad
, and Valøya
.
. Initially, the population of Vikten was 1,749. On 1 January 1881, a small area of Fosnes
(population: 61) was transferred to Vikten. The name of the municipality was later changed to Vikna.
, Mellom-Vikna
, and Ytter-Vikna
(Old Norse
: Víkn). The name is derived from the word vík which means "cove
" or "wick". (The islands are scored by numerous coves and inlets.)
is from modern times; they were granted on 13 May 1988. The arms show three salmon
on a blue background. This was chosen because salmon fishing
and farming
was (and still is) an important source of income in the municipality.
has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vikna. It is part of the Nærøy deanery
in the Diocese of Nidaros
.
The municipality consists of a large island archipelago
with some 6,000 large and small islands going far into the Norwegian Sea
off the northwestern coast of Nord-Trøndelag. Vikna is the largest spawning
area for cod
south of Lofoten
. The three largest islands are: Inner-Vikna
, closest to the mainland, Mellom-Vikna
, and then Ytter-Vikna
as the westernmost island.
The main village is Rørvik
, located on the eastern shore of Inner-Vikna, facing the mainland across the Nærøysundet strait. The many islands in the area means that there are many lighthouses including Gjeslingene Lighthouse
, Grinna Lighthouse
, Nærøysund Lighthouse
, and Nordøyan Lighthouse
.
On 21 October 1962, the coastal steamer (Hurtigruten
) Sanct Svithun run aground on Nordøyan as a result of navigational error. The ship sunk, and there was a tragic loss of 41 lives. A memorial bauta
was raised on Nordøyan in 2002.
, fish farming
, public services
, and agriculture
are the main sources of income. The Norveg museum, devoted to the coastal way of life through the centuries, is located in Rørvik
. The Vikna Wind Farm
is located on Mellom-Vikna
, just west of Garstad
, and it produces power for much of the municipality.
boats stop frequently at Rørvik and Norwegian County Road 770 via the Nærøysund Bridge
connects Vikna to the mainland and European route E6
. There is also the small Rørvik Airport, Ryum
, just south of Rørvik. Vikna and neighbouring Nærøy
form a common work area with nearly 10,000 inhabitants.
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
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...
. It is part of the Namdalen
Namdalen
Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Fosnes, Nærøy, Høylandet, Namdalseid, Flatanger, Lierne, Leka, Namsskogan, and Vikna, all in Nord-Trøndelag county. The district has two towns: Kolvereid and Namsos...
region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rørvik
Rørvik
Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative centre of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population of 2,721. The...
. Other villages in Vikna include Austafjord
Austafjord
Austafjord is a small village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Ytter-Vikna, approximately west of Rørvik. Austafjord sits about half way between the nearby villages of Garstad and Valøya. Austafjord has a population of about 30, as...
, Garstad
Garstad
Garstad is a village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Mellom-Vikna, about west of Rørvik. Garstad Church is located in this village. Just to the west of the village lies the Vikna Wind Farm....
, and Valøya
Valøya
Valøya is a village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Ytter-Vikna, about west of Rørvik. Valøy Chapel is located in this village....
.
General information
The municipality of Vikten was established on 1 July 1869 when it was separated from the municipality of NærøyNærøy
Nærøy is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Nærøy is part of the Namdalen region. Norway's smallest town, Kolvereid, is the administration centre of the municipality...
. Initially, the population of Vikten was 1,749. On 1 January 1881, a small area of Fosnes
Fosnes
Fosnes is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dun on the island of Jøa. Other villages include Salsnes and Nufsfjord.-General information:...
(population: 61) was transferred to Vikten. The name of the municipality was later changed to Vikna.
Name
The municipality is named after the three large islands in the municipality: Inner-ViknaInner-Vikna
Inner-Vikna is the largest of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The island is located in the eastern part of the municipality and it includes Rørvik, the administrative centre of Vikna.Norwegian County Road 770 runs across the island, and also...
, Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna is the smallest of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The island is the site of Vikna Wind Farm near Garstad. The island is the middle island of the three main islands, hence it's name which means "middle-Vikna"....
, and Ytter-Vikna
Ytter-Vikna
Ytter-Vikna is one of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the western part of Vikna. Norwegian County Road 770 crosses the island. The villages of Austafjord and Valøya are located on this 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....
: Víkn). The name is derived from the word vík which means "cove
Cove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
" or "wick". (The islands are scored by numerous coves and inlets.)
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 13 May 1988. The arms show three salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
on a blue background. This was chosen because salmon 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....
and farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
was (and still is) an important source of income in the municipality.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vikna. It is part of the Nærøy deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
in the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Location of the Church | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vikna | Garstad Church Garstad Church Garstad Church is a parish church in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Garstad on the island of Mellom-Vikna. The church is part of the Vikna parish in the Nærøy deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros... |
Garstad Garstad Garstad is a village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Mellom-Vikna, about west of Rørvik. Garstad Church is located in this village. Just to the west of the village lies the Vikna Wind Farm.... |
1856 |
| Rørvik Church Rørvik Church Rørvik Church is a parish church in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Rørvik on the island of Inner-Vikna. The church is part of the Vikna parish in the Nærøy deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros... |
Rørvik Rørvik Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative centre of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population of 2,721. The... |
1896 | |
| Valøy Chapel Valøy Chapel Valøy Church is a parish church in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Valøya on the island of Ytter-Vikna. The church is part of the Vikna parish in the Nærøy deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros. The wooden chapel building is a former... |
Valøya Valøya Valøya is a village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Ytter-Vikna, about west of Rørvik. Valøy Chapel is located in this village.... |
1972 |
Geography
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
with some 6,000 large and small islands going far into the Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
off the northwestern coast of Nord-Trøndelag. Vikna is the largest spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
area for cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
south of Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
. The three largest islands are: Inner-Vikna
Inner-Vikna
Inner-Vikna is the largest of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The island is located in the eastern part of the municipality and it includes Rørvik, the administrative centre of Vikna.Norwegian County Road 770 runs across the island, and also...
, closest to the mainland, Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna is the smallest of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The island is the site of Vikna Wind Farm near Garstad. The island is the middle island of the three main islands, hence it's name which means "middle-Vikna"....
, and then Ytter-Vikna
Ytter-Vikna
Ytter-Vikna is one of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the western part of Vikna. Norwegian County Road 770 crosses the island. The villages of Austafjord and Valøya are located on this island....
as the westernmost island.
The main village is Rørvik
Rørvik
Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative centre of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population of 2,721. The...
, located on the eastern shore of Inner-Vikna, facing the mainland across the Nærøysundet strait. The many islands in the area means that there are many lighthouses including Gjeslingene Lighthouse
Gjeslingene Lighthouse
Gjeslingene Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. It was established in 1877 and automated in 1987....
, Grinna Lighthouse
Grinna Lighthouse
Grinna Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. It was established in 1904 and automated in 1987. Grinna lighthouse stands on the islet of Grinna in the South Gjæslingan island group on the north side of the Foldafjord. The high red tower emits a...
, Nærøysund Lighthouse
Nærøysund Lighthouse
Nærøysund Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. This lighthouse replaced the Prestøy Lighthouse in Nærøy that was in operation from 1841 until 1904...
, and Nordøyan Lighthouse
Nordøyan Lighthouse
Nordøyan Lighthouse is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. It was established in 1890 and automated in 2005. The light is powered on all year except from May 12th until July 25th due to the midnight sun in this region....
.
On 21 October 1962, the coastal steamer (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...
) Sanct Svithun run aground on Nordøyan as a result of navigational error. The ship sunk, and there was a tragic loss of 41 lives. A memorial bauta
Bauta
Bauta may refer to:*Bauta, Cuba, a city and municipality*Bauta, mask, the traditional Venetian mask*Bautasten, the Scandinavian name for menhir, a large upright standing stone...
was raised on Nordøyan in 2002.
Economy
FishingFishing
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....
, fish farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
, public services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
, and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
are the main sources of income. The Norveg museum, devoted to the coastal way of life through the centuries, is located in Rørvik
Rørvik
Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative centre of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population of 2,721. The...
. The Vikna Wind Farm
Vikna Wind Farm
Vikna Wind Farm is located on Husfjellet, just west of Garstad on the island Mellom-Vikna in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The wind farm consists of three wind turbines, with an installed capacity of each, giving a combined average annual production of . The wind...
is located on Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna
Mellom-Vikna is the smallest of the three major islands in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The island is the site of Vikna Wind Farm near Garstad. The island is the middle island of the three main islands, hence it's name which means "middle-Vikna"....
, just west of Garstad
Garstad
Garstad is a village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the island of Mellom-Vikna, about west of Rørvik. Garstad Church is located in this village. Just to the west of the village lies the Vikna Wind Farm....
, and it produces power for much of the municipality.
Transportation
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...
boats stop frequently at Rørvik and Norwegian County Road 770 via the Nærøysund Bridge
Nærøysund Bridge
Nærøysund Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the Nærøysundet strait between the islands of Marøya and Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located about south of the village of Rørvik. Together with Marøysund Bridge, it connects the islands of Vikna to the mainland. ...
connects Vikna to the mainland and European route E6
European route E6
European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
. There is also the small Rørvik Airport, Ryum
Rørvik Airport, Ryum
Rørvik Airport, Ryum is a regional airport operated by Avinor that serves the municipalities of Vikna and Nærøy in the northwestern part of Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located south of the village of Rørvik and about west of the town of Kolvereid in Nærøy...
, just south of Rørvik. Vikna and neighbouring Nærøy
Nærøy
Nærøy is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Nærøy is part of the Namdalen region. Norway's smallest town, Kolvereid, is the administration centre of the municipality...
form a common work area with nearly 10,000 inhabitants.
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...
- Norveg Museum
- Cultural map of Vikna
- The plant cover of Kalvøya island