Lyngen

Infobox_Kommune
name=Lyngen
idnumber=1938
county=Troms
landscape=
capital=Lyngseidet
governor=Werner Kiil (Ap)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=134
area=812
arealand=796
areapercent=0.25
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=262
population=3,167
populationpercent=0.07
populationdensity=4
populationincrease=-9.5
language=Neutral
lat_deg=69| lat_min=41| lat_sec=25| lon_deg=20| lon_min=4| lon_sec=54
utm_zone=34W| utm_northing=7731609 |utm_easting=0464437| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.lyngen.kommune.no

Lyngen ( _se. Ivggu suohkan or "Ivgu", _fk. Yykeän komuuni) is a municipality (and a fjord) in the county of Troms, Norway.

Lyngen was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Three other municipalities were later separated from it: Ullsfjord (1902), Kåfjord (1930) and Storfjord (1930). The northern part of Lyngen peninsula was transferred from Karlsøy to Lyngen January 1, 1964.

Geography

The municipality is situated on the Lyngen Peninsula, with the Lyngen (fjord) to the east and Ullsfjord to the west. The municipal centre is Lyngseidet, a pretty settlement on an isthmus that almost cuts the peninsula in the middle. Other villages include Furuflaten, which has various industries, and Svensby. Nord-Lenangen faces the open sea, and is largely a fishing village. The municipality has its own shipping company, operating the car ferries west to Breivikeidet in Tromsø and east to Olderdalen in Kåfjord meeting the E6. There is also a road going south along the shore of the fjord connecting to the main E6 road, giving ferry free access to the main road network.

The Lyngen peninsula is a very scenic and mountainous area, known as the Lyngen Alps, with the highest peaks in the county of Troms. The highest peak is Jiekkevárri, reaching 1833 metres. Another prominent mountain is Store Lenangstind. The Lyngen Alps are presently being discovered by off-piste skiers from around the world.

ClimateWinters in Lyngen are long and snow-rich, but not very cold considering the very northerly latitude. Average 24-hr temperatures are below freezing from November to early April, with a January average of -4.5°C. May is cool, with an average of 5.5°C; summer temperatures usually arrives in June. July is the warmest month with 24-hr average of 12.5°C; August average 11.6°C and October 3.5°C. Average annual precipitation varies from 500 mm in Lyngseidet (half that of Tromsø) to 950 mm in the northern part of the peninsula (Nord-Lenangen).Spring often sees much sunshine and is the driest season; average monthly precipitation is approximately 30 mm from March to June, while October is the wettest month. [ [http://met.no/observasjoner/troms/normaler_for_kommune_1938.html?kommuner Climate Lyngen] ] .In the mountains of the Lyngen Alps, average temperatures typically remain below freezing from October to May, and snow accumulation can exceed 5 m.

History

The Lyngen church was built at Karnes in 1731, and was moved to its present location at Lyngseidet in 1740. Other interesting buildings include the large wooden school Solhov, which was built in 1924 to strengthen the Norwegian influence in this area which was largely populated by the Sami and Kven people.

The name

The municipality is named after the fjord Lyngen (Norse "*Lygnir"). The name of the fjord is derived from the word "logn" 'quiet, still, calm'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987). It shows a horse of the local breed (lyngshest).

References