Halsa
Encyclopedia
Halsa is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Nordmøre
region
. The administrative centre of Halsa is the village of Liabøen
. Other villages in the municipality include Halsanaustan
, Valsøyfjord
, Engan, Hjellnes, and Valsøybotnen
.
). On 1 January 1868, an unpopulated area of Halsa was transferred to Straumsnes
. On 1 January 1879, a part of Halsa (population: 279) was transferred to Stangvik
. The next year, the Torjulvågen area (population: 240) was transferred to Tingvoll
. On 1 July 1915, part of Halsa (population: 114) was transferred to Åsskard
. On 1 January 1965, all of Valsøyfjord
that was on the mainland (population: 1,104) was merged into Halsa. On 1 January 1976, the area of Aure
south of the Vinjefjorden
(population: 158) was transferred to Halsa.
) is named after the old Halsa farm (Old Norse
: Hǫlsyinjar), since the first church was built there. The first element is hals which means "neck
" and the last element is the plural
form of vin which means "meadow
" or "pasture
". Here, the word hals is referring to an isthmus
(neck of land) between two fjord
s: Halsafjord
and Skålvikfjord. Before 1918, the name was written "Halse".
is from modern times. They were granted on 19 August 1988. The motif represents the three fjord headland
s of the municipality.
has two parishes within the municipality of Halsa. It is part of the Diocese of Møre
and the Rural Deanery
(Prosti) of Ytre Nordmøre.
, Vinjefjorden
, Arasvikfjord
, Skålvikfjord, and Valsøyfjorden
lie in Halsa. The Valsøy Bridge
crosses the Valsøyfjorden.
, Keiko
, went when he was set free. Keiko died in December 2003 and was buried there, unlike most marine animals
. The people of Halsa have built a memorial cairn
over Keiko's body, where people from all over the world are free to visit him. In the first year after his burial
, around 5,000 people visited the grave but then fewer and fewer came and in 2007 only around 500 visitors paid him homage
. In June 2008, hardly anyone had come to see the grave, so the municipality decided it would not continue keeping the grave in order.
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is part of the Nordmøre
Nordmøre
Nordmøre is a traditional district in the Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. The area comprises the northern third of the county including the municipalities of Kristiansund, Averøy, Tingvoll, Surnadal, Rindal, Aure, Halsa, Eide, Sunndal, Gjemnes, and Smøla...
region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
. The administrative centre of Halsa is the village of Liabøen
Liabøen
Liabøen is a village and the administrative center of the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Skalvikfjorden, along the highway , about northeast of Halsanaustan and about west of Valsøyfjord....
. Other villages in the municipality include Halsanaustan
Halsanaustan
Halsanaustan is a village in the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the highway between the Halsafjord and the Skålvikfjorden, about southwest of the municipal center of Liabøen. There is a ferry from Halsanausta to Kanestraum in Tingvoll,...
, Valsøyfjord
Valsøyfjord
Valsøyfjord is a village and a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Arasvikfjorden, just west of the Valsøyfjorden and the Valsøy Bridge. The highway runs through the village. There are about 800 people living in the Valsøyfjord area, and most...
, Engan, Hjellnes, and Valsøybotnen
Valsøybotnen
Valsøybotnen is a village in the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Valsøyfjorden, just south of Hjellnes and about southeast of the municipal center of Liabøen. The area was once part of the old municipality of Valsøyfjord....
.
General information
Halsa was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). On 1 January 1868, an unpopulated area of Halsa was transferred to Straumsnes
Straumsnes, Møre og Romsdal
Straumsnes is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Tingvoll.-History:...
. On 1 January 1879, a part of Halsa (population: 279) was transferred to Stangvik
Stangvik
Stangvik is a village and former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Stangvikfjord in the present-day municipality of Surnadal, about southwest of Surnadalsøra and Skei...
. The next year, the Torjulvågen area (population: 240) was transferred to Tingvoll
Tingvoll
Tingvoll is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Nordmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Tingvoll. Other villages include Meisingset, Kvisvik, and Torjulvågen.-General information:...
. On 1 July 1915, part of Halsa (population: 114) was transferred to Åsskard
Åsskard
Åsskard is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village Åsskard is located in the western part of Surnadal, about northwest of Sylte. The former municipality included the area around the Åsskardfjord and north of the Hamnesfjord....
. On 1 January 1965, all of Valsøyfjord
Valsøyfjord
Valsøyfjord is a village and a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Arasvikfjorden, just west of the Valsøyfjorden and the Valsøy Bridge. The highway runs through the village. There are about 800 people living in the Valsøyfjord area, and most...
that was on the mainland (population: 1,104) was merged into Halsa. On 1 January 1976, the area of Aure
Aure, Norway
Aure is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the region of Nordmøre. The administrative centre is the village of Aure. Other villages include Stemshaug, Todalen, and Tjeldbergodden. Aure has one of the largest wooden churches in Norway.The municipality includes many...
south of the Vinjefjorden
Vinjefjorden
The Vinjefjorden is a fjord in Norway. It begins at Vinjeøra in the municipality of Hemne and flows west through the municipalities of Aure, Halsa, Tingvoll, and Kristiansund . At its end, it flows into the Talsjøen and Freifjorden. The Halsafjord, Skålvikfjorden, and Valsøyfjorden branch off...
(population: 158) was transferred to Halsa.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the old Halsa farm (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Hǫlsyinjar), since the first church was built there. The first element is hals which means "neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
" and the last element is the plural
Plural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
form of vin which means "meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
" or "pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
". Here, the word hals is referring to an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
(neck of land) between two 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: Halsafjord
Halsafjord
The Halsafjord is a fjord in the municipalities of Surnadal and Tingvoll in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord branches south off of the Vinjefjorden and stretches about until it becomes the Trongfjord off of which the Surnadalsfjord later branches....
and Skålvikfjord. Before 1918, the name was written "Halse".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 19 August 1988. The motif represents the three fjord headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
s of the municipality.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has two parishes within the municipality of Halsa. It is part of the Diocese of Møre
Diocese of Møre
The Diocese of Møre is a diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Its bishop and cathedral are located in the county administrative center of Molde...
and the Rural Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
(Prosti) of Ytre Nordmøre.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halsa | Halsa kirke | 1724 | Halsanaustan Halsanaustan Halsanaustan is a village in the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the highway between the Halsafjord and the Skålvikfjorden, about southwest of the municipal center of Liabøen. There is a ferry from Halsanausta to Kanestraum in Tingvoll,... |
| Valsøyfjord | Otnes kirke | 1863 | Valsøyfjord Valsøyfjord Valsøyfjord is a village and a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Arasvikfjorden, just west of the Valsøyfjorden and the Valsøy Bridge. The highway runs through the village. There are about 800 people living in the Valsøyfjord area, and most... |
Geography
Halsa has numerous fjords in and around the municipality including the HalsafjordHalsafjord
The Halsafjord is a fjord in the municipalities of Surnadal and Tingvoll in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord branches south off of the Vinjefjorden and stretches about until it becomes the Trongfjord off of which the Surnadalsfjord later branches....
, Vinjefjorden
Vinjefjorden
The Vinjefjorden is a fjord in Norway. It begins at Vinjeøra in the municipality of Hemne and flows west through the municipalities of Aure, Halsa, Tingvoll, and Kristiansund . At its end, it flows into the Talsjøen and Freifjorden. The Halsafjord, Skålvikfjorden, and Valsøyfjorden branch off...
, Arasvikfjord
Arasvikfjord
Arasvikfjord or Arasvikfjorden is fjord between the municipalities of Aure and Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is part of the Vinjefjorden, near where the Valsøyfjorden branches off to the south. The highway runs along the south shore, through the village of Valsøyfjord...
, Skålvikfjord, and Valsøyfjorden
Valsøyfjorden
Valsøyfjorden is a fjord in the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is a fjord arm off of the Arasvikfjord that runs south past the island of Valsøya. The villages along the fjord include Engan, Hjellnes, and Valsøybotnen...
lie in Halsa. The Valsøy Bridge
Valsøy Bridge
Valsøy Bridge is the longest of three spans that crosses parts of the Valsøyfjorden in the municipality of Halsa in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The bridge, which opened in June 1993, connects the mainland of Halsa to the west side of the island of Valsøya...
crosses the Valsøyfjorden.
Attractions
Halsa is the location where the famous killer whaleOrca
The killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
, Keiko
Keiko (orca)
Keiko was a male orca / actor who starred in the film Free Willy and was perhaps the most famous of captive orcas.- History :...
, went when he was set free. Keiko died in December 2003 and was buried there, unlike most marine animals
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
. The people of Halsa have built a memorial cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
over Keiko's body, where people from all over the world are free to visit him. In the first year after his burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
, around 5,000 people visited the grave but then fewer and fewer came and in 2007 only around 500 visitors paid him homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
. In June 2008, hardly anyone had come to see the grave, so the municipality decided it would not continue keeping the grave in order.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...