Skånland

Infobox_Kommune
name=Skånland
idnumber=1913
county=Troms
landscape=Hålogaland
capital=Evenskjer
governor=Svein Berg (Ap)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=209
area=495
arealand=465
areapercent=0.15
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=271
population=3,005
populationpercent=0.07
populationdensity=6
populationincrease=-11.5
language=Bokmål
lat_deg=68| lat_min=38| lat_sec=24| lon_deg=16| lon_min=57| lon_sec=26
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7615501 |utm_easting=0579555| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.skanland.kommune.no

Skånland (saami "Skánit") is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.

Skånland was separated from Trondenes July 1, 1926. Astafjord was merged with Skånland January 1, 1964.

Geography

The municipality includes the western and northern part of the Ofoten peninsula, which is bordered by Ofotfjord in the south, Tjeldsundet in the west and Astafjord (Vågsfjord) in the north.

Neighbouring municipalities are Evenes in Nordland to the southeast, Tjeldsund in Nordland to the southwest. Harstad in the northwest, across Tjeldsundet, and Gratangen in the northeast, are located in Troms.

Evenskjer, located in the lowland bordering Tjeldsundet, is the largest village. In the northern part is the smaller village of Grov. Other villages are Tovik and Sandstrand.

The name

The municipality, and the parish, is named after the old farm Skånland (Norse "Skánøyjarland"), since the first church was built there (in 1870). The first element is the genitive case of an old name "*Skánøy" (but the meaning of this is uncertain), the last element is "land" n 'land, farm' it may be of saami origin.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1988). It shows an auger. (The production of augers, and their use in construction of boats, has long roots in the municipality.)

(See also the coat-of-arms of Meland.)

Economy

Agriculture is important in Skånland, and there are also many people working in Harstad or at the Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes.

Nature

The largest lake is Skoddebergvatnet, and the highest mountain is Skittendalstinden (1306 m) in the mountainous center of the peninsula. There are calcarous pine forests near Skoddebergvatnet.