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Harstad Municipality

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This article is about the municipality of Harstad, Norway. For the town of Harstad in Harstad municipality, see Harstad (town).

Harstad Municipality
Harstad kommune
Municipality
Flag of Harstad Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Harstad Municipality
Coat of arms
Harstad within Troms
Harstad within Troms
CountryNorway
CountyTroms
DistrictCentral Hålogaland
Administrative centreHarstad
Government
 • Mayor (2013)Marianne Bremnes
Area
 • Total
445.86 km2 (172.15 sq mi)
 • Land429.06 km2 (165.66 sq mi)
 • Water16.8 km2 (6.5 sq mi)
 • Rank#249 in Norway
Population
 (2012)
 • Total
23,640
 • Rank#38 in Norway
 • Density66.5/km2 (172/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +2.4%
DemonymHarstadværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1903[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

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Harstadⓘ is the second-most populated municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is mostly located on the large island of Hinnøya. The municipal center is the town of Harstad, the most populous town in Central Hålogaland, and the third-largest in all of Northern Norway.[4][5] The town was incorporated in 1904. Villages in the municipality include Elgsnes, Fauskevåg, Gausvik, Grøtavær, Kasfjord, Lundenes, Nergården and Sørvika.

Geography

File:Harstad map.jpg
Municipality of Harstad (before 2013, when Bjarkøy was merged with Harstad).
Toppen (mountain on Grytøya, October 2009).

The municipality is located on many islands in southern Troms county. Most of the municipality is located on the large island of Hinnøya, which is Norway's largest coastal island (three islands in the Svalbard archipelago are larger). The northern part of the municipality is located on the smaller islands of Grytøya, Bjarkøya, Sandsøya, Helløya, Flatøya and Krøttøya and many even smaller islands between the Andfjorden (to the west) and the Vågsfjorden (to the east). The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman, Helløya, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Flatøya, Meløyvær, Måga, Rogla, Lille Rogla and Åkerøya.

Harstad is bordered by the municipality Kvæfjord to the west and Tjeldsund (in Nordland county) to the south. To the southeast, the Tjeldsund Bridge connects Hinnøya with Skånland municipality and the mainland across Tjeldsundet, and to the northeast is the Vågsfjorden, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad municipality. The city itself is located on the northeastern part of on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle (The pearl of Vågsfjorden).

The highest mountain in Harstad is Sætertinden, which is 1,095 m (3,593 ft) above sea level.[6] It is located near the village of Sandtorg in southern Harstad. The 412-metre (1,352 ft) tall mountain, Nupen, is located in the northwestern part of the municipality on the border with Kvæfjord.

Climate and light

Despite being located north of the Arctic Circle, Harstad features a subpolar oceanic climate with relatively mild winters and cool summers. Harstad does not have the brutal winters that most locations north of the Arctic Circle experience, and is sheltered from Atlantic gales by a range of mountains to the west. The city actually experiences warmer winters than major cities located 25 to 30 degrees farther south in latitude in the northern hemisphere such as Beijing, Chicago and Toronto. Summers in Harstad are cool, with average high temperatures seldom breaking the 22 °C (72 °F) mark. Mean annual temperature is 3.9 °C (39.0 °F) (1961–90) and annual average precipitation is 850 millimetres (33.5 in).[7] With high pressure weather, winter temperatures can get down to about −15 °C (5 °F), and in summer they can reach 27 °C (81 °F). However, July 2014 recorded 6 days above 27 °C (81 °F) and a new all-time high of 31.7 °C (89 °F) on 10 July. [8]

The city enjoys the midnight sun during the summer months, from 22 May to 18 July. There is also a period from early May to early August with twilight for a few hours each night as the sun just dips below the horizon, so there is no darkness. The polar night, when the sun is always below the horizon, lasts from 30 November to 12 January. At this time, there are 3–4 hours of dawn and dusk around noon, sometimes with colourful skies towards the south. From late January, the period of daylight rapidly increases, reaching 12 hours by March and 18 hours in April. Harstad is located in the midst of the aurora borealis (a.k.a. the northern lights) zone, and the aurora can often be seen on clear nights, but not in summer due to the continuous daylight.

Climate data for Harstad (10 last years)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0
(32) 		−1
(30) 		1
(34) 		5
(41) 		9
(48) 		12
(54) 		16
(61) 		15
(59) 		10
(50) 		6
(43) 		3
(37) 		1
(34) 		6
(44)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4
(25) 		−4
(25) 		−3
(27) 		1
(34) 		5
(41) 		8
(46) 		12
(54) 		11
(52) 		7
(45) 		2
(36) 		0
(32) 		−2
(28) 		3
(37)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 85
(3.3) 		80
(3.1) 		65
(2.6) 		50
(2.0) 		35
(1.4) 		37
(1.5) 		53
(2.1) 		58
(2.3) 		80
(3.1) 		110
(4.3) 		97
(3.8) 		100
(3.9) 		850
(33.5)
Source: [9]

History

Rikard Kaarbø was the founder of Harstad.
Trondenes Church at Trondenes.
Northern part of Harstad at night, early August. View towards north-west from Gangsåstoppen

The town of Harstad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1904 when it was separated from the municipality of Trondenes. The initial population of the town of Harstad was 1,246. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Sandtorg, Trondenes, and Harstad were merged to form a new, combined municipality with a population of 17,882. Prior to the merger, Harstad had 3,808 residents.[10] On 1 January 2013, the municipality of Bjarkøy (to the north) was merged with Harstad, forming a new, larger municipality of Harstad.

In recent years, a 3000-year-old bronze axe[11] and a 2600-year-old bronze collar[12] have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial cairns built close to the sea, are indications of a well-developed Bronze Age culture in the Harstad area.

There is also substantial archeological evidence of a well-developed Iron Age culture in the area, around 200 AD.

Trondenes is mentioned in the Heimskringla as a power centre in the Viking Age and a place to meet and discuss important issues (Trondarting).

Trondenes Church, the world's northernmost medieval church, which dates back to the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town.

Harstad Kulturhus (culture house)

Adjacent to the church is the Trondenes Historical Center and nearby is the Adolf Gun, an enormous land-based cannon from World War II, and the last of four cannons originally constructed by the Nazis. Harstad is one of the few towns in this part of Norway which were left largely undamaged by World War II.

Origin of the name

The city is named after the old Harstad farm (Old Norse: Harðarstaðir), since it is built on its ground[citation needed]. The first element is (probably) the genitive case of the male name Hǫrðr, and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm".[13]

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times and were granted on 24 April 1953. The blue background symbolizes the sea and the silvery white lines represent waves.[14]

Economy

The oil industry of North Norway is centered in Harstad; including Statoil's main office for a new operational area for Northern Norway,[15] the DNV office for Northern Norway,[16] as well as other regional offices including Total E&P,[17] Det Norske Oljeselskap ASA[18] and Aibel.[19][20] Harstad also has shipyards and other industries that are important for the economy. Harstad and the surrounding area have traditionally been among the most productive agricultural regions in Northern Norway,.[21] The old seabed, now dry land due to isostatic rebound (up to 60 to 80 metres or 200 to 260 feet above sea level), creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming.[22]

Agricultural area in Harstad; 1930.

Institutions and culture

Harstad Stadium; June 2007

The city hosts the annual week-long Festival of North Norway in June.[23]

Harstad University College, with approximately 1,100 students,[24] has a thriving foreign exchange program with students from all over the world. The hospital in Harstad is part of the University Hospital of North Norway.

The most successful local football team is Harstad Idrettslag (a.k.a. HIL),[25] and the most successful basketball team is the Harstad Vikings.[26]

Harstad is home port for the Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner, also known as the sailing queen of Norway.[27]

Harstad Camping is a campsite located in the municipality.

Churches

The Church of Norway has five parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Harstad. It is part of the Trondenes deanery in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Harstad
Parish (Sokn) Church Name Location of the Church Year Built
Bjarkøy og Sandsøy Bjarkøy Church Nergården 1766
Sandsøy Church Sandsøya 1888
Grytøy Grøtavær Church Grøtavær 1915
Lundenes Church Lundenes 1974
Harstad Harstad Church Harstad 1958
Kanebogen Kanebogen Church Kanebogen 1999
Sandtorg Gausvik Church Gausvik 1979
Sandtorg Church Sørvika 1932
Trondenes Trondenes Church Trondenes 15th century
Elgsnes Chapel Elgsnes 1985

Military connections

Harstad traditionally has strong ties with the Norwegian Armed Forces. Kystjegerkommandoen (Coastal Ranger Command) has its home base at Trondenes, Harstad. Marinejegerkommandoen is based in Ramsund in Tjeldsund on the mainland south of Harstad. General Carl Gustav Fleischer led the field operations of the Norwegian Armed Forces in WW2, among them the 7,500 soldiers which from the north pushed the Nazi Germans back to Narvik and participated in retaking Narvik on 28 May 1940. A street in Harstad is named Gen. Fleischers Gate in his honour.

Operation Judgement, Kilbotn took place on 4 May 1945, when the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy attacked a U-boat base at Kilbotn, a village in the Harstad district, sinking two ships and a U-boat.

Harstad is also the hometown of the Norwegian army band "Forsvarets Musikkorps Nord Norge" with professional musicians.

Transportation

Coastal Express ship MS Kong Harald in Harstad

The closest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, located on the mainland, 44 kilometres (27 mi) by road from the city center.[28]

Every morning a northbound and a southbound Hurtigruten ship stop in Harstad.[29]

High-speed craft regularly go between Harstad and Tromsø, Finnsnes, Senja and other places.[30]

There are several ferries and buses in the district, and in Harstad there are local buses.[30]

The leading helicopter company in Northern Norway, Heli-Team, is located in Harstad.[31]

Local areas

Street: Strandgata, 4 May 2008.
Street: Hvedings gate, February 2005. View towards west from a Hurtigruten ship.
Villages north/west of the city

Alvestad, Aune, Elgsnes, Ervik, Grøtavær, Hagan, Kasfjord, Kilhus, Kjøtta, Lundenes, Mustaparta, Nergården, Røkenes, Steinnes, Stornes, Storvassbotn, Sørlia, Tennvassåsen, Tømmeråsen, Undlandet, Vika and Årnes.

City neighbourhoods

Bergseng, Blåbærhaugen, Breivika, City Center, Eineberget, Gangsås, Grønnebakkan, Harstadbotn, Harstadåsen, Heggen, Holtet, Kanebogen, Kilbotn, Medkila, Ruggevika, Sama, Seljestad, Skaret, Stangnes, Trondenes and Åsby.

Villages south of the city

Brokvik, Fauskevåg, Gausvik, Halsebø, Haukebø, Melvik, Nordvik, Sandtorg and Sørvika.

Notable residents

Northeastern part of Harstad seen from Eineberget; 4 May 2008
View from Harstad towards the Vågsfjord and Andørja island; May 2008

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway
Harstad university college
Typical residential area with private houses; Eineberget, Harstad.

Twin towns — Sister cities

The twin towns of Harstad are:[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^ Municipality second largest in Troms county, by population
  5. ^ City second largest in Troms county; third largest in Northern Norway
  6. ^ "Sætertinden".
  7. ^ Harstad climate statistics 1961-90
  8. ^ "yr.no:Harstad statistics for last 12 months".
  9. ^ "Harstad average conditions - base period 10 last years". Storm Weather Center. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  10. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  11. ^ "Bronze axe".
  12. ^ "Bronze collar".
  13. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 21.
  14. ^ "Harstad kommunes byvåpen" (in Norwegian). Harstad kommune. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  15. ^ http://www.statoil.com/en/NewsAndMedia/News/2012/Pages/21Mar_DriftHarstad.aspx
  16. ^ http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2012/05/dnv-increases-arctic-focus.html
  17. ^ http://www.total.no/normal/En/about/org/Pages/Home.aspx
  18. ^ http://www.detnor.no/#
  19. ^ http://aibel.com/en/news-and-media/press-releases/billion-nok-contract-gives-aibel-six-years-on-draugen
  20. ^ http://aibel.com/en/about/locations/harstad
  21. ^ http://www.destinationharstad.no/hno/Kommuner/Kvaefjord
  22. ^ http://www.skogoglandskap.no/filearchive/Rapport_02_98.pdf
  23. ^ "Festspillene i Nord-Norge".
  24. ^ "Harstad University College".
  25. ^ "HIL" (in Norwegian).
  26. ^ "Harstad Vikings" (in Norwegian).
  27. ^ "Anna Rogde" (in Norwegian).
  28. ^ Harstad/Narvik Lufthavn Evenes. supersaver.no. Accessed 2011-06-11.
  29. ^ Coastal Express. hurtigruten.com. Accessed 2011-10-14.
  30. ^ a b Troms fylkestrafikk. tromskortet.no. Accessed 2011-06-30.
  31. ^ Heli-Team. heliteam.no.
  32. ^ "Twin towns". Choose English > Political info > Friendship cities
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