Kvaløya, Tromsø

Infobox Islands
name = Kvaløya


image caption = Kvaløya seen from Tromsøya; the Sandnessund Bridge connects the two islands. March 2006
locator

native name = Sállir
native name link = Sami language
location = North Norway, northern Europe
coordinates = coord|69|37|N|18|33|E|type:isle_region:NO|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area_km2 = 737
highest mount = Store Blåmannen
elevation_m = 1044
country = Norway
country admin divisions title = County
country admin divisions = Troms
country largest city =
country largest city population =
country 1 =
country 1 admin divisions title =
country 1 admin divisions =
country 1 largest city =
country 1 largest city population =
country 2 =
country 2 admin divisions title =
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country 2 largest city =
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population = ca. 10,000
population as of =
density =
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Kvaløya is an island in the Norwegian municipality of Tromsø.It has an area of convert|737|km2, making it the fifth largest island in mainland Norway. It is connected to Tromsøya in the east by Sandnessund Bridge, Ringvassøya in the north by the undersea Kvalsund Tunnel, and Sommarøy in the west by Sommarøy Bridge. Sommarøy, at the southwest coast, is a popular recreation area with great coastal scenery.

Kvaløya is a mountainous island, with at least ten mountains higher than 700 m, and three reaching an elevation of more than 1000 m; of which the highest is Store Blåmann ("big blueman" 1044 m, can be climbed without climbing equipment, last part is steep). There are also several small fjords, almost dividing the island in two or three parts. Rystraumen is a tidal current in the fjord dividing Kvaløya from the mainland. Near this current, on the Kvaløya side, is "Straumhella" (convert|30|km|disp=s from the city), a popular recreation area with good fishing opportunities. Ryøya is an island in the midst of Rystraumen, with a small population of musk oxen grazing in the pine forest, the only such population in North Norway.

Approximately 10,000 people live on Kvaløya, most of them on the eastern side at Kvaløysletta (which constitutes a suburban area of the city Tromsø) near the Sandnessund Bridge.

External links

* [http://www.summitpost.org/show/mountain_link.pl/mountain_id/2321 Climbing Store Blåmann - information and pictures]