Måløy

Måløy
Måløy
Coordinates: 61°56′07″N 05°06′49″E / 61.93528°N 5.11361°E / 61.93528; 5.11361Coordinates: 61°56′07″N 05°06′49″E / 61.93528°N 5.11361°E / 61.93528; 5.11361
Country	Norway
Region	Western Norway
County	Sogn og Fjordane
District	Nordfjord
Municipality	Vågsøy
Town status	1997
Area[1]
– Total	2.12 km2 (0.8 sq mi)
Population (2009)[1]
– Total	3,026
– Density	1,427/km2 (3,695.9/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02)
Post Code	6700

 Måløy (help·info) is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Vågsøy in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Måløy is located on the southeastern side of the island of Vågsøy, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northeast of the village of Holvik and about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Raudeberg. The Måløybrua connects the town to the village of Degnepoll on the mainland.

Måløy is one of the most important fishing ports in the region. In 1997, Måløy was allowed by the municipality to call itself a town.^[2] Måløy has a population (2009) of 3,026 and a density of 1,427 people per square kilometre.^[1]

History

View of Måløy town from the harbour

Måløy was originally founded as a trading center on the small island of Moldøen, or Måløya, on the sound of Ulvesundet between Vågsøy and the mainland. As trade flourished, the town gradually moved to the larger island of Vågsøy, while keeping the name of the smaller island. This is the cause of some confusion, although the smaller island is today often known as "Lisje-Måløyna" (literally smaller Måløy) or "Øyna" (literally the island). During World War II, it was used as a German coastal fortress, which led to the eradication of all settlement on the island to make room for the fortress, and as a result of Operation Archery in December 1941.

Townscape

The town square in Måløy has a monument over the denizens of Sør-Vågsøy and Davik municipalities who fell in World War II. Another monument, located elsewhere in the town, is a memorial to Martin Linge, the only Norwegian who died during Operation Archery. Few streets in Måløy are named; most, especially the ones on the hillside, are only numbered.

Panorama of Måløy

Culture

The festival Måløydagene is arranged in the town every year. In 2004, Måløy was awarded the role as a 2008 Tall Ships' Races main port. The town was the host of the participating tall ships from July 28th until August 4th. The event had a budget of NOK 18 million, of which the county government would sponsor NOK 2.5 million. The town offered great hospitality and welcomed crews warmly. The town, with STI had organized much in the way of crew activities.^[3][4]

Education

The only upper secondary school in the municipality, Måløy videregående skole, as well as several lower secondary schools and elementary schools, are located in the vicinity of the town. The closest institutions of higher education are Sogn og Fjordane University College, located in Sogndal, Førde, and Sandane, Ålesund University College in Ålesund, and the University of Bergen in Bergen.

Sports

The association football club Tornado Måløy FK is the result of a merger between the independent clubs Tornado and Måløy in 2002. The club has two stadiums, one of which is located in Måløy, the other is in Refvik. The club's two men's senior teams play in the Norwegian third division and fifth division as of 2008.

International relations

Måløy has a friendship agreement with the following "twin" towns:

• Lerwick, Shetland

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 2009). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality.". http://www.ssb.no/beftett_en/tab-2009-06-16-01-en.html. 
2. ^ "Kommunehistoria i Vågsøy" (in Norwegian). Fylkesleksikon. NRK. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20080521173511/http://www.nrk.no/distrikt/sogn_og_fjordane/fylkesleksikon/1237216.html. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
3. ^ Eldgrim Fossheim (2008). "Ikkje meir til Tall Ships Race - NRK Sogn og Fjordane - NRK Nyhende" (in Norwegian). NRK. http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/1.4910019. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
4. ^ Reksnes, Asgeir; Fagna, Heidi (2008). "Vågsøy tek stor skipsrisiko - NRK Sogn og Fjordane - NRK Nyhende" (in Norwegian). NRK. http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/1.5532208. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 

External links

• Sogn og Fjordane travel guide from Wikitravel
• Tall Ship's Race in Måløy