Harstad
Encyclopedia
is the second largest city and municipality
by population, in Troms
county
, Norway
– the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately 250 kilometres (155 mi) north of the Arctic Circle
, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004.
, 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 southern half, 53 square kilometre, of Grytøya
. Harstad is bordered by the municipality of Bjarkøy
to the north, Kvæfjord
to the west, and Tjeldsund
(in the county of Nordland
) to the south. To the southeast the Tjeldsund Bridge
connects Hinnøya with Skånland
and the mainland across Tjeldsundet
, and to the northeast is the Vågsfjorden
, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad
. The city itself is located northeast on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle (The pearl of Vågsfjorden).
The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman
, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Måga, Rogla, Lille Rogla and Åkerøya
.
The highest mountain is Sætertinden, which is 1095 m (3,592.5 ft) above sea level. It is located near Sandtorg
, Hinnøya. The 412 metres (1,351.7 ft) tall mountain, Nupen
, is located in the northwestern part of the municipality on the border with Kvæfjord.
The oil industry of North Norway is centered in Harstad, but the city 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 North Norway, with the old seabed creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming.
, 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 °F) (1961–90) and annual average precipitation is 850 millimetres (33.5 in). With high pressure weather, winter temperatures can get down to about -15 C, and in summer they can reach 27 °C (81 °F).
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.
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 Harstad was 1,246. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Sandtorg
, Trondenes, and Harstad were merged together to form a new, combined municipality with a population of 17,882. Prior to the merger, Harstad had 3,808 residents.
In recent years, a 3000-year-old bronze axe and a 2600-year-old bronze collar have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial cairn
s 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.
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.
: Harðarstaðir), since it is built on its ground. The first element is (probably) the genitive case
of the male name Hörðr, and the last element is staðir which means "homestead
" or "farm
".
is from modern times and were granted on 24 April 1953. The blue background symbolizes the sea and the silvery white lines represent waves.
.
Harstad University College
, with approximately 1,100 students, 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), and the most successful basketball
team is the Harstad Vikings
.
Harstad is home port for the Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner
, also known as the sailing queen of Norway.
Harstad Camping
is a campsite located in the municipality.
(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 May 4, 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", which consist of some of the most gifted musicians in Norway.
, located on the mainland, 44 kilometres (27 mi) by road from the city center.
Every morning a northbound and a southbound Coastal Express
ship stop in Harstad.
High-speed craft
regularly go between Harstad and Tromsø
, Finnsnes
, Senja
and other places.
There are several ferries and buses in the district, and in Harstad there are local buses.
The leading helicopter
company in Northern Norway, Heli-Team, is located in Harstad.
of Harstad are: Elsinore
in Denmark
Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast
in Russia
Umeå
in Sweden
Vaasa
in Finland
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
by population, in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
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...
– the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately 250 kilometres (155 mi) north of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004.
Geography
The municipality is located on two islands in south Troms. Most of the municipality is located on HinnøyaHinnøya
-Geography and environment:Covering an area of , it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only...
, which is Norway's largest coastal island (three islands in the Svalbard
Svalbard
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the...
archipelago are larger). The northern part of the municipality is located on the southern half, 53 square kilometre, of Grytøya
Grytøya
Grytøya is an island situated just north of Hinnøya and south of Bjarkøya in Northern Norway. It belongs to the municipalities of Harstad and Bjarkøy in Troms county, Norway. It is surrounded by the Vågsfjorden and the Andsfjorden. The island has an area of , and the highest peak is Nona at ...
. Harstad is bordered by the municipality of Bjarkøy
Bjarkøy
Bjarkøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bjarkøy. The municipality is spread across several smaller islands, the biggest being the northern side of Grytøya...
to the north, Kvæfjord
Kvæfjord
Kvæfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is part of the Hålogaland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borkenes....
to the west, and Tjeldsund
Tjeldsund
Tjeldsund is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Ofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hol i Tjeldsund. Tjeldsund was separated from the municipality of Lødingen in 1909....
(in the county of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
) to the south. To the southeast the Tjeldsund Bridge
Tjeldsund Bridge
The Tjeldsund Bridge is a suspension road bridge that crosses Tjeldsundet between the mainland and Hinnøya in Troms county in Norway. The bridge is 1007 metres long, the main span is 290 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 41 metres...
connects Hinnøya with Skånland
Skånland
Skånland is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Evenskjer.- General information :...
and the mainland across Tjeldsundet
Tjeldsundet
Tjeldsundet is the sound or strait that is located between the island Hinnøya and mainland Norway in the northern part, and in the southern part it is between Hinnøya and Tjeldøya island...
, and to the northeast is the Vågsfjorden
Vågsfjorden
Vågsfjorden is a fjord in the southern part of Troms county in North Norway. Situated between Norway's two largest islands, Hinnøya to the south and Senja to the north, the 46 kilometers long fjord is part of the municipalities of Harstad, Bjarkøy, Tranøy, Dyrøy, Ibestad and Skånland...
, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad
Ibestad
Ibestad is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is part of the Hålogaland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hamnvik. Some of the larger villages in Ibestad include Sørvika, Å, and Laupstad....
. The city itself is located northeast on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle (The pearl of Vågsfjorden).
The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman
Gressholman
Gressholman or Grasholmen is an archipelago of several islets within the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. They are located just east of the village of Fauskevåg in the Vågsfjorden. The islets are situated at the mouth of the strait Tjeldsundet. The islets are popular recreational...
, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Måga, Rogla, Lille Rogla and Åkerøya
Akerøya
Akerøya is an uninhabited island in Hvaler in Østfold, Norway. The island has an area of 1.6 km². On the islet Festningholmen near Akerøya is Akerøya Fort from the 17th century, part of the fortifications of Fredrikstad Fortress. Akerøya was protected as a nature reserve from 1978, and is...
.
The highest mountain is Sætertinden, which is 1095 m (3,592.5 ft) above sea level. It is located near Sandtorg
Sandtorg
Sandtorg is a village and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad.A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is high and located at...
, Hinnøya. The 412 metres (1,351.7 ft) tall mountain, Nupen
Nupen
Nupen is a small mountain in Troms county in Northern Norway. It's on the border of the municipalities of Kvæfjord and Harstad, west of the city of Harstad, just east of the village of Bremnes, Kvæfjord. The tall mountain by the fjord is known for its view of the midnight sun....
, is located in the northwestern part of the municipality on the border with Kvæfjord.
The oil industry of North Norway is centered in Harstad, but the city 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 North Norway, with the old seabed creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming.
Climate and light
Despite being located north of the Arctic CircleArctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, 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
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. 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 °F) (1961–90) and annual average precipitation is 850 millimetres (33.5 in). With high pressure weather, winter temperatures can get down to about -15 C, and in summer they can reach 27 °C (81 °F).
The city enjoys the midnight sun
Midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous...
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
Polar night
The polar night occurs when the night lasts for more than 24 hours. This occurs only inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day, or midnight sun, occurs when the sun stays above the horizon for more than 24 hours.-Description:...
, 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.
History
Trondenes
Trondenes is a parish and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya and part of the island of Hinnøya as well as some smaller islands...
. The initial population of Harstad was 1,246. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Sandtorg
Sandtorg
Sandtorg is a village and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad.A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is high and located at...
, Trondenes, and Harstad were merged together to form a new, combined municipality with a population of 17,882. Prior to the merger, Harstad had 3,808 residents.
In recent years, a 3000-year-old bronze axe and a 2600-year-old bronze collar have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial 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...
s built close to the sea, are indications of a well-developed Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
culture in the Harstad area.
There is also substantial archeological evidence of a well-developed Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
culture in the area, around 200 AD.
Trondenes is mentioned in the Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
as a power centre in the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
and a place to meet and discuss important issues (Trondarting).
Trondenes Church
Trondenes Church
Trondenes Church is the northernmost Medieval stone church of Norway, situated in Harstad. Though frequently mentioned as a 13th century church, dating based on dendrochronology places its completion shortly after 1434. Compared to the other ten north Norwegian Medieval stone churches, Trondenes...
, the world's northernmost medieval church, which dates back to the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town.
Adjacent to the church is the Trondenes Historical Center
Trondenes Historical Center
Trondenes Historical Center is a museum located in the town of Harstad, in Troms county, Norway.The museum covers the history of Trondenes and the surrounding areas. The museum displaying more than 2,000 years of history in the region, which was once a Viking Era power centre...
and nearby is the Adolf Gun
Adolf Gun
The 40.6 cm Schnelladekanone C/34 , sometimes known as the Adolfkanone , was a German naval gun, designed in 1934 by Krupp and originally intended for the early H-class battleships.-Description:...
, an enormous land-based cannon from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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 most likely named after the old Harstad farm (Old NorseOld 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....
: Harðarstaðir), since it is built on its ground. The first element is (probably) the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of the male name Hörðr, and the last element is staðir which means "homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
" or "farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
".
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 and were granted on 24 April 1953. The blue background symbolizes the sea and the silvery white lines represent waves.
Institutions and culture
The city hosts the annual week long Festival of North NorwayFestival of North Norway
The Festival of North Norway is a festival based in Harstad, Norway.It was first held in 1965, and consists of music, theatre and art performances. The director of the festival is Birger Carlsen....
.
Harstad University College
Harstad University College
Harstad University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the city of Harstad, Norway. It was established August 1, 1994, as a result of the restructuring of an existing høgskole in Harstad, a 1983 establishment, and has about 1100 students and 110...
, with approximately 1,100 students, 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), and the most successful basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team is the Harstad Vikings
Harstad Vikings
Harstad Vikings was a Norwegian basketball team. The Vikings play their matches in Harstadhallen. The kits are blue and white, and the coach is Tore Berset. Harstad won the BLNO championship in 2006, and has made a total of 5 final appearances.-External links:...
.
Harstad is home port for the Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, also known as the sailing queen of Norway.
Harstad Camping
Harstad Camping
Harstad Camping is a campgrounds in the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located just east of Kanebogen on the Steinbergneset peninsula, about south of the city of Harstad, along the Vågsfjorden.-External links:*...
is a campsite located in the municipality.
Military connections
Harstad traditionally has strong ties with the Norwegian Armed Forces. KystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoen
Kystjegerkommandoen is a Norwegian amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery....
(Coastal Ranger Command) has its home base at Trondenes, Harstad. Marinejegerkommandoen
Marinejegerkommandoen
Marinejegerkommandoen is a Norwegian maritime special forces unit. It was formally established in 1951. It is located in Ramsund in the northern part of Norway and at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen...
is based in Ramsund in Tjeldsund
Tjeldsund
Tjeldsund is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Ofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hol i Tjeldsund. Tjeldsund was separated from the municipality of Lødingen in 1909....
on the mainland south of Harstad. General Carl Gustav Fleischer
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Carl Gustav Fleischer KCB was a Norwegian general and the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War...
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
Operation Judgement, Kilbotn
Operation Judgement, Kilbotn was an operation carried out at the end of World War II by the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy in North Norway on May 4, 1945, when 44 aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm attacked a U-boat base five miles south of the town and port of Harstad. The attack was directed at vessels...
took place on May 4, 1945, when the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
attacked a U-boat base at Kilbotn
Kilbotn
Kilbotn is a village in the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. The population of the village is 332, but since 2002 it has been considered a part of the Harstad urban area. The village is located about south of the center of the city of Harstad, along the Vågsfjorden on the east...
, 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", which consist of some of the most gifted musicians in Norway.
Transportation
The closest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, EvenesHarstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes is located in the Evenes municipality, in Nordland county in northern Norway. Some of the runway lighting at the north end of the runway crosses the county border into the Skånland municipality in Troms...
, located on the mainland, 44 kilometres (27 mi) by road from the city center.
Every morning a northbound and a southbound Coastal Express
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
ship stop in Harstad.
High-speed craft
High-speed craft
A high-speed craft is a high speed water vessel for civilian use, also called a fastcraft or fast ferry.The first high-speed craft were often hydrofoils or hovercraft, but in the 1990s catamaran and even monohull designs have become popular.Most high-speed craft serve as passenger ferries, but the...
regularly go between Harstad and Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, Finnsnes
Finnsnes
is a small town located in the municipality of Lenvik on the mainland near the island of Senja, in Troms county, Norway. The population is 4,185. The municipality is well provided with kindergartens and a decentralized school system on both primary and secondary level...
, Senja
Senja
Senja is the second largest island in Norway . 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 , Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy...
and other places.
There are several ferries and buses in the district, and in Harstad there are local buses.
The leading helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
company in Northern Norway, Heli-Team, is located in Harstad.
Local areas
| Villages north/west of the city | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grøtavær | Lundenes | Alvestad |
| Kjøtta | Kasfjord Kasfjord Kasfjord is a village in the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. Its population is 264. The village is located at the end of the Kasfjorden on the north side of Hinnøya island, about west of the city of Harstad. The Kasfjordvannet lake is located along the east side of the village.... |
Aune |
| Stornes | Årnes | Røkenes |
| Undlandet | Ervik | Vika |
| Mustaparta | Hagan Hagan Hagan is a surname of Irish origin. Various spellings including O'Hagan. Hagan may refer to:-People:* Art Hagan* Billy Hagan* Bo Hagan* Bob Hagan* Bob Hagan * Cliff Hagan* Darian Hagan* Derek Hagan* Ebenezer Hagan... |
Kilhus |
| Tennvassåsen | Tømmeråsen | Steinnes Steinnes Steinnes is a rock point on the southeast shore of Prydz Bay, about 4 nautical miles east-northeast of Larsemann Hills. First mapped from air photographs by the Lars Christensen Expedition and named Steinnes .... |
| Storvassbotn | Sørlia | |
| City neighbourhoods | ||
| Bergseng | Trondenes Trondenes Trondenes is a parish and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya and part of the island of Hinnøya as well as some smaller islands... |
Sama Sama (Harstad) Sama is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway – located just northwest of the city center. To the north is Samaåsen , to the south is Harstadåsen , to the southwest is Blåbærhaugen and to the west is Bergseng... |
| Blåbærhaugen | Harstadåsen | Eineberget |
| Skaret | City Center | Heggen |
| Seljestad | Harstadbotn | Grønnebakkan Grønnebakkan Grønnebakkan is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located about south of the city centre, just south of Gangsåsbotn, northwest of Kanebogen, east of Harstadbotn and southeast of Seljestad.... |
| Gangsås Gangsås Gangsås is a part of Harstad city in the county of Troms, Norway – situated southeast of the city center... |
Stangnes Stangnes Stangnes is part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located south-east of the city center, bordered by Gangsåstoppen and Åsby to the west, Kanebogen to the south-west and the fjord Vågsfjorden to the north and east... |
Åsby Åsby Åsby is a locality situated in Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden with 429 inhabitants in 2005.... |
| Kanebogen Kanebogen Kanebogen is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located about south of the city center – south of Gangsås, southwest of Stangnes, north of Medkila and southeast of Grønnebakkan.... |
Medkila Medkila Medkila is a part of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It's located south of Kanebogen and north of Holtet, about south of the city center. The name of the area was previously spelled Midkila and Mekile.... |
Holtet |
| Breivik | Ruggevik | Kilbotn Kilbotn Kilbotn is a village in the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. The population of the village is 332, but since 2002 it has been considered a part of the Harstad urban area. The village is located about south of the center of the city of Harstad, along the Vågsfjorden on the east... |
| Villages south of the city | ||
| Nordvik | Melvik | Sørvik Sørvik Sørvik is a village approximately south of the city of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. Its population is about 451. The community includes a school, Sørvik Barne- og Ungdomsskole, housing grades 5 through 10; a kindergarten, Sørvik barnehage; and a retirement home, Sørvik eldrehjem... |
| Halsebø | Brokvik | Fauskevåg Fauskevåg Fauskevåg is a village on the island Hinnøya that is located about south of the city of Harstad, within the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. The population of Fauskevåg is 341... |
| Gausvik | Haukebø | Sandtorg Sandtorg Sandtorg is a village and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad.A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is high and located at... |
Notable residents
- Knut Andersen (1931–), director
- Bjarne Berg-SætherBjarne Berg-SætherBjarne Berg-Sæther was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.-Early life:He was born in Tjeldsund as the son of coastal pilot Magnar Berg-Sæther and wife Magna Toresen . He was educated in England from 1939 in languages and economics...
(1919–), mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, county mayor, parliament politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making... - Trygve BornøTrygve Bornø-Active career:His career began in Harstad IL, but he made his name with Skeid where he played 419 matches between 1964 and 1978.VG awarded him the Player of the Year title in 1969.Between 1966 and 1972 he was capped 43 times for the Norwegian national team....
(1942–), former national football player - Kristin ClemetKristin ClemetKristin Clemet is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in 1989, but was not re-elected in 1993...
(1957–), politician, former minister of education - Hans EgedeHans EgedeHans Poulsen Egede was a Norwegian-Danish Lutheran missionary who launched mission efforts to Greenland, which led him to be styled the Apostle of Greenland. He established a successful mission among the Inuit and is credited with revitalizing Dano-Norwegian interest in the island after contact...
(1686–1758), priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities... - Karl Erik HarrKarl Erik HarrKarl Erik Harr is a Norwegian painter, illustrator, graphic artist and author, best known for his representations of Northern-Norwegian scenery and coastal history.-Background:...
(1940–), painter, anthropologist - Kine Hellebust (1954–), singer
- Leif Arne HeløeLeif Arne HeløeLeif Arne Heløe is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party. He was Minister of Social Affairs 1981-1986. Heløe was a dentist before his political career.-References:...
(1932–), minister of social affairs
- Jon Lech JohansenJon Lech JohansenJon Lech Johansen , also known as DVD Jon, is a Norwegian programmer famous for his work on reverse engineering data formats....
(1983–), hacker - Hanna KvanmoHanna KvanmoHanna Kristine Kvanmo was a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party...
(1926–2005), politician - Runar NormannRunar NormannRunar Normann is a Norwegian footballer who is a free agent, having most recently been contracted to Tromsdalen UIL in the second tier of the Norwegian football league.-Club career:...
(1978–), football player - Iren ReppenIren ReppenIren Reppen is a Norwegian actress.She graduated from Norwegian National Academy of Theatre in 1990. Her debut was in the play «Romeo og Julie» ved Trøndelag Teater in 1990. She has since worked at Det Norske Teatret , and other theatres...
(1965–), actress, playwright - Iselin SteiroIselin SteiroIselin Vollen Steiro is a Norwegian model. She grew up in Harstad in the northern part of Norway. Steiro was discovered in 1999 while Christmas shopping with her parents in London...
(1985–), supermodel - Ketil StokkanKetil StokkanKetil Stokkan is a Norwegian pop artist who has performed as solo artist as well as the singer in the Norwegian band Zoo. 1983 saw him participate in the Norwegian qualifying heat for Eurovision with the song "Samme charmeur" which was placed second...
(1956–), singer - Even Kenneth Weines (1980–), country singer
- Unni WikanUnni WikanUnni Wikan is a Norwegian professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo and is the second wife of the well-known Norwegian social anthropologist Fredrik Barth...
(1944–), professor of social - Ørjan Steiro Mortensen (1988-), musician
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
The twin townsTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of Harstad are: Elsinore
Elsinore
Helsingør is a city and the municipal seat of Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Helsingør has a population of 46,279 including the southern suburbs of Snekkersten and Espergærde...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast
Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast
Kirovsk , known as Khibinogorsk until 1934, is a town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the spurs of the Khibiny Massif on the shores of the Lake Bolshoy Vudyavr, south of Murmansk...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Vaasa
Vaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
External links
- Information in English Harstad municipality
- Visit Harstad
- Culture
- Old history of Harstad
- Harstad pictures
- Green and black aurora over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Particularly rare purple auroral corona over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Web-cam Showing various parts of the town
- Photo presentation on YouTube
- The Adolf Cannon
- Art of the States: Frozen Horizon Musical work inspired by the Harstad landscape
- Harstad Tidende (Harstad Times) Newspaper for the district
- iHarstad.no Information portal
- Live weather station located in Harstad
- About Hinnøy
- Magnars garden at 69 degrees north