Karlsøy

Infobox_Kommune
name=Karlsøy
county=Troms
idnumber=1936
landscape=
capital=Hansnes
governor=Thor Tøllefsen (KP)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=97
area=1047
arealand=1009
areapercent=0.32
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=308
population=2,406
populationpercent=0.05
populationdensity=2
populationincrease=-7.5
language=Neutral
demonym=Karlsøyværing
lat_deg=70| lat_min=7| lat_sec=48| lon_deg=19| lon_min=25| lon_sec=51
utm_zone=34W| utm_northing=7781144 |utm_easting=0440488| geo_cat=adm2nd


munwebpage=www.karlsoy.kommune.no

Karlsøy is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.

Karlsøy was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The district of Ullsfjord was transferred from Karlsøy to Lyngen January 1, 1867. Helgøy was separated from Karlsøy as a municipality of its own January 1, 1886 - but it was again merged with Karlsøy January 1, 1964. At the same date was the northern part of Lyngen peninsula transferred from Karlsøy to Lyngen municipality.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the small island Karlsøya (Norse "Karlsøy"), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name "Karl", the last element is "øy" f 'island'.

Until 1909 the name was written "Karlsø".

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1980). It shows the head of a white-tailed eagle.

Export

Karlsøy is among the world's most important exporters of salted cod, with Portugal, Spain and Brazil among the main markets. The population is totally dependent on fishing.

What to see

Karlsøy is full of interesting places:The island of Nord-Fugløy, one of Norway's major bird cliffs, with puffin colonies etc. Curiously, there is a flat high plateau, 600 metres above sea level, where Arctic cloudberries grow. The island can only be reached in the cloudberry season, when picking expeditions are organized from Burøysund.

Geography and nature

The municipality consists of islands only, and Ringvassøya, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest. Vanna (Vannøya), Reinøya and Rebbenesøya are the other major islands. The islands Reinøy, Rebbenesøy and Ringvassøy are all split, with the southern part belonging to neighbouring Tromsø municipality. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the Southermost ends of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the Northernmost to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is awkward. The Norwegian government has decided that all of Island Reinøy shall belong to Karlsøy municipality from January 1 2008 (source: [http://www.regjeringen.no/en/ministries/krd/press/pressemeldinger/2006/Sondre-del-av-Reinoy-i-Troms-overfores-til-Karlsoy-kommune.html?id=437140 Website of the Norwegian Government] , only available in Nowegian).

Karlsøy, the little island after which the municipality is named, has a picturesque village with a stately 19th century church. The inhabitants are an interesting and welcoming mix of the originl inhabitants, hippies and Norwegian Muslims. The flora on the island is also interesting.

Helgøy, the former seat of an independent municipality in the western part of present Karlsøy, is today a more or less abandoned village of picturesque wooden houses and an old church. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.

Lake Skogsfjordvatn, in the centre of Ringvassøy is a beautiful lake with good fishing, surrounded by lush, sub-Arctic forests. This is Norway's largest lake in an island.The island of Vannøya has several picturesque villages, notably Burøysund and Torsvåg, the latter offering a wonderful view of the Atlantic from the lighthouse.

The pretty, nondescript municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through a tunnel from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here ferries depart to Vannøy, Reinøy and Karlsøy. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøy are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøy.