Askøy (island)
Encyclopedia
Askøy is an island in Western Norway. Since the opening of the Askøy Bridge
leading to the mainland in Bergen
in 1992, the population has increased rapidly. In north lay the island Herdla
.
Askøy is surrounded by fjord
s; Hjeltefjorden
to the west and north, Byfjorden
to the east, and Herdlefjorden to the north-east. The municipality borders Radøy
to the north, Meland
to the north-east, Bergen
to the south-east, Fjell
to the south-west, and Øygarden
to the north-west. The area around the bridge, where Kleppestø and Strussham are located, and the east coast, especially the very urban settlement of Florvaag which for many decades had excellent direct communication with downtown Bergen via ferries,are densely populated, while the northern and western parts of the island are thinly populated.
Askøy Bridge
The Askøy Bridge is a suspension bridge which crosses Byfjorden between Bergen and Askøy in Hordaland, Norway. It is long and has a main span of , making it the longest suspension bridge in Norway. It carries two lanes of County Road 562 and a combined pedestrian and bicycle path...
leading to the mainland in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in 1992, the population has increased rapidly. In north lay the island Herdla
Herdla
Herdla is an island in Askøy, Norway, at the north end of the island of Askøy. The island was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds...
.
Askøy is surrounded by fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
s; Hjeltefjorden
Hjeltefjorden
Hjeltefjorden is a fjord in Hordaland in Norway. Its name is derived from Hjaltland, the Old Norse name for Shetland - the routes to Shetland ran through Hjeltefjorden. It is a major route into Bergen, and runs from Fedje in the north to Byfjorden in the south...
to the west and north, Byfjorden
Byfjorden
Byfjorden is a fjord in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It separates the island of Askøy from the city of Bergen on the mainland. The western entrance to Byfjorden is between Drotningsvik in Laksevåg, Bergen, and Marikoven on Askøy...
to the east, and Herdlefjorden to the north-east. The municipality borders Radøy
Radøy
Radøy is an island municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Radøy was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964, after the merger of large parts of Hordabø, Manger, and Sæbø, and smaller parts of Austrheim and Lindås.-Name:...
to the north, Meland
Meland
Meland is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway.-History:The municipality is named after the farm of Meland. The norse name of the farm was "Meðalland"...
to the north-east, Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
to the south-east, Fjell
Fjell
Fjell is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The parish of Fjæld was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
to the south-west, and Øygarden
Øygarden
Øygarden is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Midhordland. The administrative centre is Rong.Øygarden was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964 after the merger of Hjelme and parts of Herdla....
to the north-west. The area around the bridge, where Kleppestø and Strussham are located, and the east coast, especially the very urban settlement of Florvaag which for many decades had excellent direct communication with downtown Bergen via ferries,are densely populated, while the northern and western parts of the island are thinly populated.