Hamarøy

Infobox_Kommune
name=Hamarøy
county=Nordland
idnumber=1849
landscape=Salten
capital=Oppeid
governor=Jan-Folke Sandnes (H)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=103
area=1031
arealand=921
areapercent=0.32
population_as_of=2006
populationrank=342
population=1,821
populationpercent=0.04
populationdensity=2
populationincrease=-15.4
demonym=Hamarøying or Hamarøyværing
language=Neutral
lat_deg=68| lat_min=4| lat_sec=33| lon_deg=15| lon_min=46| lon_sec=56
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7551543 |utm_easting=0532597| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.hamaroy.kommune.no

Hamarøy is a municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway.

Hamarøy was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt).

The municipality was the childhood home of novelist Knut Hamsun, winner of the 1920 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Geography and nature

Hamarøy borders Tysfjord in the north, Steigen in the west, Sørfold in the south, Vestfjord in the northwest and Sweden to the southeast. The population is mostly located on a peninsula. Hamarøy is dominated by small fjords, pine, birch and aspen woodland and forest, and coastal mountains. There are several nature reserves, such as Trollpollen nature reserve dominated by pine and birch ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1695#4562 ] ) located a few km north of Innhavet, Lilandsvatnet wetland area ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1614#4481 ] ), Steinslandsosen estuary ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1670#4537 ] ) and Kvannskogen with old aspen trees with rich lichen flora ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1605#9150 ] ). The mountain "Hamarøyskaftet" has long been regarded as nature's own phallic symbol ( [http://www.jonjonassen.net/hamaroy/hamaroy_bilder/020hamaroy.jpg] , [http://www.cavinguk.co.uk/holidays/NorthNorway2005/steigen/normal/HamaroeyskaftetDistant.jpg] ). The warmest temperature ever recorded in Nordland county was 33.1°C on July 3, 1972 in Finnøya, Hamarøy.

Communication and economy

The municipal administration and other public services are located in Oppeid. There is a hotel in the municipality, as well as a scenic situated lighthouse which can be rented ( [http://en.tranoyfyr.no/ ] ).While Hamarøy has a low population density, it sees some traffic during the summer months as the main road connection to Svolvær and the Lofoten islands runs through Hamarøy and its administrative centre Oppeid. The ferry ride to Skrova and Svolvær is approximately 2 hours and departs Skutvik (approx 15 minutes from Oppeid) at regular intervals. From 2008, the ferry schedule was considerably reduced due to the new Lofast road.Skutvik is a small residential and marina area concentrated around the ferry dock. In the high season the number of cars and motor homes in line for the ferry can be significant, and while there a few sights to see in Skutvik, there is a small bar/cafè and a Statoil gas station nearby.

The Hamsun literature festival takes place the first week of August every second year. The authors childhood home is now a museum - the Hamsun Museum.

The name

The municipality is named after the former island (now peninsula) Hamarøya (Norse "Hamarøy"), since the first church was built there. The first element is the gentive case of "*Höm", the former uncompounded name of the island. The last element is "øy" f 'island'. The former name of the island is probably identical with the word "höm" f 'thigh/leg (of an animal)' - and the island (or a part of it) is then compared in form with an animal's leg.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1982). It shows a lynx (which is common in the forests of the municipality).

(See also the coat-of-arms of Bygland and Hemsedal.)

References