Bømlo
| Bømlo kommune | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: 59°46′46″N 5°13′6″E / 59.77944°N 5.21833°ECoordinates: 59°46′46″N 5°13′6″E / 59.77944°N 5.21833°E | |||
| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Hordaland | ||
| District | Sunnhordland | ||
| Administrative centre | Svortland | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor (2011) | Odd Harald Hovland (AP) (Ap) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 246 km2 (95 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 235 km2 (91 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 307 in Norway | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 11 189 | ||
| • Density | 46/km2 (120/sq mi) | ||
| • Change (10 years) | 5.7 % | ||
| Demonym | Bømling[1] | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1219 | ||
| Official language form | Nynorsk | ||
| Website | www.bomlo.kommune.no | ||
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| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1951 | 7,745 | — |
| 1961 | 8,104 | +4.6% |
| 1971 | 8,276 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 9,258 | +11.9% |
| 1991 | 9,727 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 10,839 | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 11,421 | +5.4% |
| Source: Statistics Norway. | ||
Bømlo is a municipality in Sunnhordland, in the southern part of the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is also the name of the main island of this archipelago, consisting of about 900 islets, located west of Stord.
The old municipality of Finnås was divided into Bømlo, Bremnes, and Moster on 1 July 1916. The two latter municipalities were merged back into Bømlo on 1 January 1963.
Bømlo was also involved in the Shetland bus operation in WWII.
Contents |
[edit] General information
[edit] Name
The municipality is named after the main island of Bømlo (Norse Bymbil). The meaning of the name is unknown (for a possible interpretation see under Bamble). Until 1918 the name was written Bømmel.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 29 February 1980. The arms show a water lily leaf with a trefoil. The trefoil symbolizes the three former municipalities Bremnes, Moster, and Bømlo, which were united in 1963. The water lily leaf was simply chosen as a decorative element without any further significance.[2]
[edit] Locations
Bømlo is commonly distinguished into different areas of where people reside. These areas include Svortland(earlier called Bremnes), Moster, Søra-Bømlo (South-Bømlo), Rubbestadneset, Finnås, Gilje, Goddo, and Hiskjo. Svortland is the financial center with stores, a culture house, schools and official buildings and is located a bit north on the island. Moster is on the other hand more to the east with a high percentage of devout Christians residing in three different sects. Bømlos economy is in a large degree sustained by Eidesvik Shipping, Wärtsila, fishindustry, tourism and general offshore related work.
Siggjo (474 meters) is the highest mountain on Bømlo. The rocks on Siggjo contains large amounts of rhyolite, which was used in the Stone Age to create weapons and tools. They have found rhyolite from Siggjo as far north as Trøndelag.[3]
[edit] Culture
Bømlo is known in the region for several shows and musicals performed in Moster Amfi. The local community is very active in culture work be it song, dance or the active Christian community. Traditionally Bømlos culture has centered around Christianity with its pinnacle: "Mostraspelet". A play conducted in Moster Amfi surrounding the topic of how Christianity came to Norway via Bømlo late during the first millennium. In Moster , Bømlo Musical Laug has staged several musicals.
In 1975 Espevær became known for it's famous 'UFO-Ring' that is still visible as of 2012 [4][5]
[edit] Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport played by the male population on the island. Notable soccer player like Arne Larsen Økland, Geirmund Brendesæter and Gunnar Meling started their careers in Bremnes IL. The former top player and current coach for Brann IL Mons Ivar Mjelde had a brief stay at Moster IL.
[edit] Education
There are several schools in the area. The schools Svortland, Gilje, Meling, Folderøy, Våge, Håvik and Espevær only have students from 1st-7th grade. The schools Rubbestadneset, Moster and Hillestveit have students from 1st through 10th grade. Bremnes Ungdomsskule gathers most students from 8th to 10th grade. There are two upper secondary schools, Bømlo Vidaregåande skule and Rubbestadnes Vidaregåande Skule (earlier Rubbestadnes Yrkesskule)
There is also a Folk High School, Olavskulen Folkehøgskule
[edit] Industry
Wärtsilä , Eidesvik, Brandasund fiskeforedling and Bremnes Seashore are notable employers. As well as tourism.
[edit] Transport
An extensive tunnel and bridge system, the Triangle Link, connected Bømlo to the mainland and neighboring island Stord on 30 April 2001.
[edit] References
- ^ "Personnemningar til stadnamn i Noreg" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet. http://www.sprakrad.no/nb-no/Sprakhjelp/Rettskrivning_Ordboeker/Innbyggjarnamn/.
- ^ Norske Kommunevåpen (1990). "Nye kommunevåbener i Norden". http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/b/bomlo.htm. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ http://steinriketbomlo.no/ryolitt/
- ^ http://www.bomlo.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=828&MId1=156
- ^ http://home.broadpark.no/~kulles/Tekstar/UFO-ringen.html
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bømlo |
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Look up Bømlo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway
- Hordaland travel guide from Wikitravel
- Municipality web site (Norwegian)
- Map
- Weather radar at Bømlo
- Bømlo tourist information
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