Centre of Norway

The geographical centre of Norway has been identified as a spot in Ogndalsfjella in Steinkjer municipality, Nord-Trøndelag county at coord|63|59|26|N|12|18|28|E|region:NO_type:landmark|display=inline,title. The method used is that of finding the balancing point of mainland Norway with its islands, not including sea area, the overseas areas of Svalbard and Jan Mayen, or considering elevation. The calculation was made by Harald Stavestrand at the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority, who had feared that the centre would turn out to be in Sweden due to the curved shape of Norway. A monument marking the significance of the spot was unveiled in a ceremony on 3 September 2006. It is hoped that it will become a tourist attraction.

Several other places have been claimed to be the centre of Norway, using differing methods. These include Harran in Grong municipality (halving the mainland's latitude "length"), Vilhelmina in Vilhelmina municipality, Sweden (halving the great-circle distance), Grane Church in Grane municipality and Alstahaug Church in Alstahaug municipality (both halving longer great circle distances), and Mosjøen in Vefsn municipality.

Sources

* [http://www.statkart.no/?module=Articles;action=Article.publicShow;ID=9892 Statens kartverk: Norges midtpunkt] no icon
* [http://www.steinkjer.kommune.no/norges-geografiske-midtpunkt-ligger-i-steinkjer.498715-76935.html Steinkjer kommune: Norges geografiske Midtpunkt ligger i Steinkjer] no icon
* [http://www.t-a.no/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060904/NYHETER/109040146 Trønder-Avisa: Folksomt på midtpunktet, 04 September 2006] no icon
* [http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.943208 NRK Trøndelag: Norges midtpunkt åpnet, 04 September 2006] no icon
* [http://www.borgos.nndata.no/Midtpunkt.htm Norges geografiske midtpunkt - hvor er det?] no icon
* [http://www.mosjoen.com/#presentasjon Mosjøen – byen midt i Norge] no icon