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 Location of Senja |
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 Senja (Norway)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern Norway |
| Coordinates | 69°20′N 17°30′E / 69.333°N 17.5°ECoordinates: 69°20′N 17°30′E / 69.333°N 17.5°E |
| Area | 1,586.3 km2 (612.47 sq mi)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 1,017 m (3,337 ft) |
| Highest point | Breidtinden |
| Country | |
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Norway
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| County | Troms |
| Municipalities | Berg, Lenvik, Torsken, Tranøy |
| Largest city | Silsand, Lenvik (pop. 1313) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 7722 (as of 2009) |
| Density | 4.9 /km2 (12.7 /sq mi) |
Senja (Northern Sami: Sážžá) is the second largest island in Norway (not counting Svalbard). It is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town. Senja is connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. The municipalities located on Senja are Lenvik (part of which is on the mainland), Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy. Senja had 7782 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.
Senja is mentioned in David Armine Howarth's World War II novel We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance. It has a namesake island in the MMORPG Tibia.
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[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name must also have been *Senja. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it might be related to the verb sundra 'tear, split apart': The west coast of the island is torn and split by numerous small fjords.
[edit] Geography
The north and western coasts of Senja are facing the open sea. Here, steep and rugged mountains rises straight from the sea, with some fishing villages (like Gryllefjord, Husøy) wherever there is some lowland. The eastern and southern parts of the island are milder, with rounder mountains, forests, rivers and agriculture land.
[edit] Photo gallery
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Bergsfjorden, Senja
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Husøy, Northern Senja
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View from Gibostad towards Kistefjellet on the mainland
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Seashore on the Senja island in Norway
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[edit] Attractions
Senja is often referred to as "Norway in miniature", as the island's diverse scenery reflects almost the entire span of Norwegian nature. Senja is well known domestically for its beautiful scenery, and is marketed as a tourist attraction.
Among the sights of the island are Ånderdalen National Park with coastal pine forests and mountains,[2] traditional fishing communities, and the "Troll of Senja" (Norwegian: Senjatrollet)--the world's largest troll. The southernmost municipality Tranøy also has several small museums documenting local history, among these the Halibut Museum ("Kveitmuseet") in Skrolsvik.
[edit] References
- ^ Statens kartverk (in Norwegian). Øyer i Norge - største i hvert fylke. http://www.statkart.no/?module=Files;action=File.getFile;ID=19347.
- ^ "Ånderdalen National Park" (in Norwegian). Directorate for nature management. http://www.dirnat.no/nasjonalparker/anderdalen. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
[edit] External links
Media related to Senja at Wikimedia Commons- Senja travel guide from Wikitravel
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