Flora, Norway

Infobox_Kommune
name = Flora
idnumber = 1401

---

county = Sogn og Fjordane
landscape = Sunnfjord
capital = Florø
demonym = Floraværing
language = Nynorsk


munwebpage = www.flora.kommune.no
governor = Bente Frøyen Steindal (Ap)
governor_as_of = 2003
arearank = 161
area = 692
arealand = 647
areapercent = 0.21
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 92
population = 11,331
populationpercent = 0.25
populationdensity = 18
populationincrease = 7.7
lat_deg=61 | lat_min=35 | lat_sec=15 | lon_deg=5 | lon_min=16 | lon_sec=38
utm_zone=32V | utm_northing=6833894 | utm_easting=0302467 | geo_cat=adm2nd

Flora is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Florø, which was founded in 1860, has 8,296 inhabitants (2007). The Eikefjord area, which is the second largest place in Flora, has about 1000 inhabitants.

The municipality stretches from inner fjords where the mountains ascend to the glacier Ålfotbreen, to the outermost coast. The town is today both a charming little community, and at the same time a town with busy industries that are developing continuously. Trade and industry in Flora is mainly fishing industry, shipyards, and supply for the oil and gas industry in the North Sea.

General information

Name

The municipality is named after the farm "Flora" (Old Norse "Flóra") since the town of Florø was built on its ground in 1860. The name is probably derived from "flóð" which means '(strong) stream'. The name of the town Florø is the same name, but it has the Danish word "ø" (island) added to the end.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms, originally made for the town of Florø, were granted on 19 February 1960. It's red with three herrings on it. The three herrings are a symbol for the great importance of herring fishing for the local development and economy. [cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/f/flora.htm|author=Norske Kommunevåpen|date=1990|title=Nye kommunevåbener i Norden|accessdaymonth=5 August|accessyear=2008]

Background

"Kinn" was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The original municipality was identical to the Kinn parish "(prestegjeld)" with the sub-parishes "(sokn)" of Svanøy, Kinn, and Bremanger.cite web|url=http://www.sf-f.kommune.no/sff/emigration3.nsf/enduser?readform|title=Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes|date=9 Feb 2005|last=Natvik|first=Oddvar]

On 3 January 1861, Florø (population: 846) was incorporated as a town by royal decree, which removed it from the rural municipality of Kinn. This left Kinn with 6,531 residents.cite web|first=Dag|last=Jukvam|publisher=Statistics Norway|title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen|date=1999|url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf no icon]

In 1864, the sub-parish of Bremanger was separated from the Kinn parish and became a parish of its own. Then, on 1 January 1866, Bremanger (population: 1,852) became a separate municipality. After the split, Kinn was left with 4,679 inhabitants.

On 1 January 1923, the municipality of Kinn was divided into three separate municipalities: Kinn (population: 2,508); Bru (population: 1,560); and Eikefjord (population: 929).

On 1 January 1964, the new municipality of "Flora" was created upon the merger of the following areas:
*the town of Florø (population: 2,040)
*the parts of the municipality of Bru that were north of the Førdefjorden (population: 1,155)
*the municipality of Eikefjord (population: 919)
*the Steindal area of the municipality of Vevring (population: 25)
*the Husefest and Breivik farms in Bremanger (population: 9)
*the municipality of Kinn (population: 3,567)After the merger, the new muncipality of Flora had a total of 7,715 residents. The parish name was not changed and is still "Kinn", and it has the sub-parishes of Kinn, Bru, Eikefjord, and Nordal.

Churches

The Church of Norway has seven churches within the municipality of Flora. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin and the Rural Deanery "(Prosti)" of Sunnfjord.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Flora, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.

Municipal council

The municipal council "(Kommunestyre)" of Flora is made up of 35 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the party breakdown is as follows: [cite web|publisher=Statistics Norway|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/01/20/kommvalgform_en/tab-2008-01-29-15-en.html|title=Members of the local councils|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008|date=2007] Infobox_Kommunestyre
name=Flora
start=2007
end=2011
Total=35
Arbeiderpartiet=12
Fremskrittspartiet=5
Høyre=6
Kristelig_Folkeparti=1
Senterpartiet=2
Sosialistisk_Venstreparti=3
Venstre=5
Rødt=
Local_Lists=1|

Mayor

The mayor "(ordførar)" of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Bente Frøyen Steindal of the Labour Party "(Det Norske Arbeiderpartiet)" was re-elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. [cite web|publisher=Flora Kommune|title=Politisk styring|url=http://www.flora.kommune.no/index.asp?topExpand=1000179&subExpand=&menuid=1000835&strURL=1002648i&context=1|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008 no icon]

Geography

Flora is located in the western central part of Sogn og Fjordane county. To the west, it is bordered by the North Sea, to the north it is bordered by Bremanger, to the east by Gloppen, and to the south by Naustdal and Askvoll.

Attractions

Kinn

Right out in the sea lies the green, grass-covered island of Kinn. The area around Kinn was the central herring area in Norway for the most part of the 19th century. At the height, there lived approximately 15,000 people on Kinn and the surrounding islands in the herring season. Today there are 15 inhabitants on Kinn.

On the island of Kinn, on the very edge of the ocean lies the Kinna kyrkje (church) from the 12th century. The church, built in Roman style, is the oldest in Sunnfjord. The church has long been associated with the legend of St. Sunniva. The church choir is the oldest part of the church, and the lectern is the only preserved example of its kind in Scandinavia.

Every year during the third weekend in June, the Kinna Pageant is an historical play about love, hate, fidelity and loyalty to the church and humankind. About 150 actors take part and audiences of several thousand tourists visit the island to watch this beautiful play.

vanøy

Svanøy is the southernmost and greenest island in the district of Flora. The island was the district's most important trade centre last century, and exports and shipping were major activities. A stone cross memorial commemorating King Olav the Holy and a sacrificial site from the viking era can be found here.

The Svanøy Estate is an old seat of nobility from 1685. It includes 62 acres of cultivated land and 30 acres of woodland. It has an impressive main building and an old garden full of beautiful trees.

Eirikstad Farm

The Saga says that the Viking King "Eirik Blodøks" grew up here, hence the name. Contains a museum with old farming tools. The famous Fjord horses are bred and trained here.

Batalden Boathouse

Norway's westernmost art gallery is housed in a restored fishing building. Regular painting and drawing courses are held.

Troll Cave

"Trollhola," a prehistoric cave, is located on the island of Askrova. The main cavern is the size of a cathedral, has several passages leading from it and it is a fascinating natural phenomenon. The highest point of the island, 233 metres above sea level, provides a sweeping view of the archipelago.

Rock Carvings

In Ausevika, a 30 minute drive from Florø, lies one of the largest rock carving sites in Norway. There are 3000-year old carvings here. The site boasts over 300 carvings depicting both animal and human figures.

Coastal Museum

The Coastal Museum in Sogn og Fjordane county was established in 1980. The aim was to concentrate on coastal nature and culture both past and present. Old boat houses and domestic dwellings were moved from various places in the district and re-erected in Florø near the museum. It includes many beautiful boats. The 250-year old "Holmedalsjekta" (coastal freighter) is Norway's oldest non-viking ship. A large exhibtion on North Sea oil, "Snorreankeret", based on the Snorre platform is located in the museum.

Lighthouses

The waters around Florø are dangerous and exposed. Three lighthouses were built in the fairways to the town at an early date. Two of them, "Stabben" and "Kvanhovden" are now automated and unmanned. The third and largest, "Ytterøyane", is still manned. There is a lot of shallow areas in the waters west of Florø, which makes the coast around Florø ideal for diving most of the year. An abundance of shipwrecks are located beneath these waters, which attract divers from all over.cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/flora/7637a9c4347a120/|title=Flora Municipality in Norway|accessdaymonth=10 August|accessyear=2008]

References