Hinnøya

Hinnøya

Gullesfjordbotn, at the head of Gullesfjorden, partly a nature reserve
Hinnøya
Geography
Location Northern Norway
Coordinates 68°32′N 15°50′E / 68.533°N 15.833°E / 68.533; 15.833Coordinates: 68°32′N 15°50′E / 68.533°N 15.833°E / 68.533; 15.833
Area 2,204.7 km2 (851.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,262 m (4,140 ft)
Highest point Møysalen
Administration
Norway
Counties Nordland and Troms
Largest settlement Harstad (pop. 23,242)
Demographics
Ethnic groups Norwegian

Hinnøya is the fourth-largest island in Norway – and the largest off the mainland – covering an area of 2,204.7 square kilometres (851.2 sq mi).[1] It is located on the west coast of the country, in Northern Norway. The western part of the island is in the district of Vesterålen, the southwestern part is in Lofoten, the southeastern part is in Ofoten and the northeastern part is in Southern Troms. In 2001, Hinnøya was Norway's most populated island.[2]

Name

See also: the names of Hitra and Hidra

The Old Norse form of the name was just Hinn (-øya meaning 'the island' was added later). The large island is almost divided in two parts by the Gullesfjorden and Kanstadfjorden, and the old name is probably derived from an old verb with the meaning "cleave", "split", or "cut".

Environment

View towards Tjeldsundet from southeastern Hinnøya (north of Lødingen).

Hinnøya is dissected by several fjords, and two very long ones, Gullesfjorden in the Northeast and Øksfjorden in the Southwest, almost sever the island; it is only 5 km (3 mi) between their respective heads. The island contains a mostly rugged and mountainous terrain, especially the southern part. The best agricultural area is in the northeast, in Harstad and Kvæfjord. The southern part is the location of Møysalen National Park, which includes the highest mountain on the island, the 1,262-metre (4,140 ft) tall Møysalen.[3] In the northwestern part of the island, near Forfjord, is a nature reserve containing a valley with forests and bogs, including the oldest pine trees in Norway, more than 700 years old.[4]

Hinnøya is connected to the mainland by the Tjeldsund Bridge across the Tjeldsundet strait. To the west, it is connected to the island of Langøya by the Sortland Bridge, and to the northwest to the island of Andøya by the Andøy Bridge. The Lofoten mainland connection was opened on 1 December 2007. It is part of the European Route E10 highway, and it connects Hinnøya to the Lofoten islands to the southwest. The highway runs near Møysalen National Park. There is also a ferry connection in the southeast between Lødingen and Bognes on the mainland, across the Vestfjorden.

Geographic data

As of 2001, Hinnøya had a population of 32,101; the only town is Harstad. Villages include Borkenes, Lødingen, Sigerfjord and Sørvik. The island is split between the municipalities of Harstad and Kvæfjord in Troms county, as well as Andøy, Hadsel, Lødingen, Sortland, Tjeldsund and Vågan in Nordland county.

Borkenes/Kvæfjord (1961-90)
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
81
 
 
−1
−5
 
 
74
 
 
0
−5
 
 
59
 
 
2
−4
 
 
47
 
 
4
−1
 
 
33
 
 
9
3
 
 
40
 
 
13
7
 
 
51
 
 
16
10
 
 
56
 
 
15
9
 
 
82
 
 
11
6
 
 
109
 
 
6
2
 
 
94
 
 
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−2
 
 
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0
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: met.no/klimastatistikk/eklima
Hinnøya
Area[2] 2,198 square kilometres (849 square miles)
Population 2001[2] 32,101
Population – –
County Troms Nordland
Area[2] 933 km2 (360 sq mi) 1,265 km2 (488 sq mi)
Population 2001[2] 25,268 7,247
District Southern Troms Vesterålen Lofoten Ofoten
Area[2] 933 km2 (360 sq mi) – – –
Population 2001[2] 25,268 – – –
Municipality Harstad Kvæfjord Andøy Sortland Hadsel Vågan Lødingen Tjelsund
Area – – – – – – – –
Population – – – – – – – –

Climate

Borkenes in Kvæfjord (elevation: 36 metres or 118 feet) has mean annual temperature of 4 °C (39 °F) and mean annual precipitation 820 millimetres (32 in). The southern coast of the island in Lødingen municipality is wetter with up to 1,800 millimetres (71 in) precipitation annually.

References

  1. ↑ "Norgeskart". Statkart.no. Statkart.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Store norske leksikon. "Hinnøya" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  3. ↑ Møysalen National Park, norw with pictures
  4. ↑ Forfjorddalen nature reserve
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