Larvik

Infobox_Kommune
name=Larvik
idnumber=0709
county=Vestfold
landscape=
capital=Larvik
governor=Øyvind Riise Jenssen (H)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=199
area=535
arealand=501
areapercent=0.17
population_as_of=Jan. 1st. 2006
populationrank=17
population=41,211
populationpercent=0.90
populationdensity=82
populationincrease=5.5
language=Bokmål
lat_deg=59| lat_min=4| lat_sec=52| lon_deg=10| lon_min=0| lon_sec=59
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6549532 |utm_easting=0558263| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.larvik.kommune.no

Larvik is a town and municipality in the county of Vestfold, Norway.

The city of Larvik was established as a municipality 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The city of Stavern, and the rural municipalities of Brunlanes, Hedrum and Tjølling, were merged with Larvik 1 January 1988.

The municipality is approximately 105 kilometres (65 miles) southwest of Oslo. The municipality covers an area of 530 square kilometres, and has a population of 41,211 (23,100 of which in the town). The economy of the municipality relies heavily on agriculture, commerce and services, light industry and transportation. The district also includes the town Stavern (Population: 5,000), and the villages Nevlunghavn, Helgeroa, Kvelde, Hvarnes and Tjølling. Notable geographical features include the lake Farris and the river Numedalslågen, locally called Lågen, which terminates in Larvik, east of the town. Larvik is also noted for its natural springs of mineral water, "Farriskildene", which have been commercially exploited under the brand name "Farris". At Kaupang in Tjølling lie the remains of the medieval Skiringssal trading outpost. Larvik is also home to the world's northernmost natural occurrence of beech trees ("Fagus sylvatica") in "Bøkeskogen" (Norwegian for: Beech Tree Forest).

Larvik has a daily ferry connection to Hirtshals in Denmark.

History

The city of Larvik (in contemporaneous Danish spelling: Laurvig) was founded in 1671 by Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve, who became the first count of Laurvig. Today, Larvik houses the Treschow estate which is currently owned by Mille-Marie Treschow. The Treschow estate was created in the 1820s when the last count of Laurvig was declared bankrupt.

The name

The Norse form of the name must have been "*Lagarvík". The first element is the genitive case of "logr" m 'water; river' (here Numedalslågen), the last element is "vík" f 'inlet'. The meaning is 'the inlet at the mouth of (Numedals)lågen'. (See also Lardal.)

Until 1889 the name was written "Laurvik" (or "Laurvig").

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1989). It shows a mast with three sails (to represent the maritime traditions of the municipality).

Notable natives

*Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002), ethnographer and adventurer
*Erling Tambs (1888-1967), author and sailor
*Colin Archer (1832-1921), shipbuilder
*Thomas Archer, Australian pastoralist
*Arne Nordheim (1931), composer
*Carl Nesjar (1920), artist
*Ingvar Ambjørnsen (1956), author
*Bertrand Narvesen (1860-1939), entrepreneur
*Gunnar Thoresen (1920), footballer
*Hallvar Thoresen (1957), professional footballer
*Tom Sundby (1960), professional footballer
*Gunnar Halle (1965), professional footballer
*Anette Bøe (1957), cross-country skier
*Anne Holt (1958), author and former politician (minister of justice)
*Jørn Lier Horst (1970), crime-writer
*Mille-Marie Treschow (1954),
*Bjørg Eva Jensen (1960), speed skater
*Dag Erik Pedersen (1959), TV-personality and former professional cyclist
*Espen Hoff, (1981), footballer
*Herman Wildenvey, (1885-1959), poet. Born in Nedre Eiker, but resided in Stavern, Larvik
*Johan Sverdrup (1816-1892), politician, former prime minister of Norway
*Oscar Wisting (1871-1936), polar explorer
*Roger Strøm (1966), speed skater
*Lasse Gjertsen (1984), animator
*Jarle Andhøy (1977), Sailor and adventurer

Honorary citizens

*Thor Heyerdahl
*Arne Nordheim
*Carl Nesjar
*Antonio Bibalo

Tourist attractions

*Mølen
*Beaches

ee also

*Larvikite
*Stavern

External links

* [http://www.ibrunlanes.no iBrunlanes.no]
* [http://www.larvik.kommune.no/ Municipality web site]
* [http://www.op.no/kamera/kamera2_larvik_torg/ Live Camera - Larvik Square]
* [http://www.op.no/kamera/larvik_havn/ Live Camera - 10 cameras from Larvik]
* [http://www.visitlarvik.no/?sp=GB Visitlarvik.no]