Vågan

Infobox_Kommune
name=Vågan
idnumber=1865
county=Nordland
landscape=Lofoten
capital=Svolvær
governor=Hugo Bjørnstad (Ap)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=212
area=477
arealand=459
areapercent=0.15
population_as_of=2006
populationrank=115
population=9,021
populationpercent=0.20
populationdensity=20
populationincrease=-3.1
language=Neutral
lat_deg=68| lat_min=16| lat_sec=41| lon_deg=14| lon_min=31| lon_sec=15
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7573946 |utm_easting=0480212| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.vagan.kommune.no

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

Vågan was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Gimsøy (1856) and the town of Svolvær (1919) - but these were both again merged with Vågan January 1, 1964.

Geography

The main population centres are the town of Svolvær and the villages of Kabelvåg and Henningsvær, located on the largest island, Austvågøy (although Svolvær and Henningsvær are partly located on smaller islands adjacent to the main island). All three have a picturesque situation under the rugged Lofoten mountains, facing the rough body of water called Vestfjorden. Vågan municipality also includes the islands of Gimsøy, Skrova, Store Molla, Lille Molla, and numerous islets.

History and economy

Kabelvåg is the oldest fishing village in Lofoten, where King Øystein built the first fishing shacks in the early 12th c. The Lofoten Cathedral, built in 1898, seats 1,200 people, and used to be filled to the last seat during the Lofoten fishing in the Winter. Henningsvær has a picturesque situation on several islands, and is today more important for fishing. Svolvær is the municipal centre, and has an impressive number of artists' studios and galleries. In addition to the cod fisheries, salmon fish farming and tourism is economically important in Vågan.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Vågan (Norse "Vágar"), since the first church was built there. The name is the plural form of "vág" f 'bay'. The island of Austvågøya (Norse "Vág(a)øy") is named after this important site.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1973). It shows a cod.

Twin Towns

* Ancona, Italy

External links

* [http://www.lofoten-golf.no/english.php Lofoten Golf Links] Golf court at Gimsøy in Vågan
* [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1611#4478 Laukvikøyene nature reserve, a wetland area with rich bird life]