Karmøy
Encyclopedia
Karmøy is a municipality
in Rogaland
county
, Norway
. It is located southwest of the city of Haugesund
in the traditional district
of Haugaland
.
Karmøy was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1965 after the merger of Kopervik
(city), Skudeneshavn
(city), Skudenes
, Stangaland
, Torvastad
, Åkra
, and most of Avaldsnes
.
form of the name was Körmt. The name is probably derived from karmr which means 'bargeboard
' (here in the sense 'the sheltering island'). The last element in the word, øy, "island
" and was added later.
is from modern times. They were granted on 18 April 1975. The arms are a silver diamond and cross on a red background. The diamond symbolizes the name Karmøy since the island protects the mainland. The cross symbolizes the Church of Avaldsnes
which was a royal chapel in the Middle Ages
.
, Bronze Age
and Iron Age
. Large burial mounds, stone monuments, and many other ancient monuments are found on the island. Karmøy is the site of the Storhaug, Grønhaug and Flagghaugen burial mounds.
Karmøy was known for sailing in the old times. The eddic poem Grímnismál
says that Thor
, the weather god, wades the straits at Karmsund
every morning on his way to Yggdrasil
, the tree of life. The ocean outside Karmøy is dangerous, filled with underwater currents and rocks. Thus the ships were forced into the narrow Karmsund
. Chieftains and kings controlled the ships passing up and down the coast and demanded taxes.
The Karmsund
strait was also the source of the name of the kingdom, at the time when the first king of the unified Norway, Harald Fairhair, lived on Karmøy. (See History of Norway
.)
Avaldsnes
is located on the northeastern coast of the island. King Augvald
who has given his name to this ancient site is mentioned in the Old Norse
sagas
as having his home here. Later the residence of Harald Fairhair and other kings are mentioned. There is also a medieval church, St. Olav's church of Avaldsnes
, located on this coast.
Visnes in the northwest was once the site of an important copper
mine. This mine was source of the copper used for the Statue of Liberty
in New York City
.
In the 18th century, two girls from Uyea in Shetland rowed to Haaf Gruney
to milk some of the cows grazing there. Unfortunately, their return was marred by a strong storm, and eventually they found their tiny boat blown to Karmøy. The Uyea girls ended up marrying Karmøy men, and their descendants still live there.
The natural and cultural landscape is highly heterogeneous, encompassing chalk-white sands, moorland and several piers around the island. The landscape in the north is mainly agricultural, while large parts of the inland south are heather moors. The island has many white, sandy beaches facing the North Sea, attracting surfers as one of the top spots for windsurfing in Norway.
Built up places are for the most part located along the coast, the main such areas being Kopervik
, Åkrehamn
and Skudeneshavn
.
Haugesund Airport
is also located on the island rather than in Haugesund proper. Karmøy is known for its industries, as well as for fishing. Among interested people Karmøy is also well known in Norway for the heather moors and the surfing beaches.
is a large aluminium smelter operator located at Karmøy. The power supply of this facility is done by three overhead powerlines, which cross Karmsund on 143.5 metres tall pylons. These pylons are the tallest electricity pylons in Norway.
Bauer-Nilsen
design and produce high-pressure hydraulics
located at Karmøy.
with: Mjölby
, Sweden
Vinderup
, Denmark
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
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 located southwest of the city of Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
in the traditional district
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,...
of Haugaland
Haugaland
Haugaland is a traditional district situated on the western coast of Norway. Haugaland is one of the 15 traditional district located within the Region of Vestlandet.-Location:...
.
Karmøy was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1965 after the merger of Kopervik
Kopervik
Kopervik is the largest city on the island of Karmøy in the county of Rogaland, Norway and is the administrative centre of the municipality of Karmøy, and Kopervik have 8,192 inhabitants. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. -Population:...
(city), Skudeneshavn
Skudeneshavn
is a city on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy in Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland...
(city), Skudenes
Skudenes
Skudenes is a former municipality of the traditional district of Haugaland in Rogaland county, Norway.The parish of Skudesnæs was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 ....
, Stangaland
Stangaland
Stangaland is a former municipality of the traditional district of Haugaland in Rogaland county, Norway.It was created by a split from Avaldsnes on January 1, 1909. The new municipality had a population of 1.001....
, Torvastad
Torvastad
-History:The parish of Torvestad was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . On 1 February 1855 the district Haugesund was separated from Torvastad to form a municipality of its own. The split left Torvastad with 3,242 inhabitants. Further division took place when Skåre broke out on 1...
, Åkra
Åkra
Åkra is a former municipality of the traditional district of Haugaland in Rogaland county, Norway. Åkrehamn is the official name of Åkra. Locally the name is Haugalandet under Åkra. It is part of the settlement Åkrehamn / Vedavågen which has 9,946 inhabitants ,Åkra was created by a split from...
, and most of Avaldsnes
Avaldsnes
Avaldsnes was an ancient centre of power on the west coast of Norway and is the site of one of Norway’s more important areas of cultural history...
.
Name
The 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....
form of the name was Körmt. The name is probably derived from karmr which means 'bargeboard
Bargeboard
Bargeboard is a board fastened to the projecting gables of a roof to give them strength and to mask, hide and protect the otherwise exposed end of the horizontal timbers or purlins of the roof to which they were attached...
' (here in the sense 'the sheltering island'). The last element in the word, øy, "island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
" and was added later.
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 18 April 1975. The arms are a silver diamond and cross on a red background. The diamond symbolizes the name Karmøy since the island protects the mainland. The cross symbolizes the Church of Avaldsnes
Church of Avaldsnes
St. Olav's Church at Avaldsnes is a medieval church in Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy in Rogaland on the west coast of Norway.-History:Before this church was constructed, there was a wooden church on the same site...
which was a royal chapel in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
History
There are several finds from the Stone AgeStone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
, 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...
and 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...
. Large burial mounds, stone monuments, and many other ancient monuments are found on the island. Karmøy is the site of the Storhaug, Grønhaug and Flagghaugen burial mounds.
Karmøy was known for sailing in the old times. The eddic poem Grímnismál
Grímnismál
Grímnismál is one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda. It is preserved in the Codex Regius manuscript and the AM 748 I 4to fragment. It is spoken through the voice of Grímnir, one of the many guises of the god Odin, who is tortured by King Geirröth...
says that Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
, the weather god, wades the straits at Karmsund
Karmsund
Karmsund is a strait dividing Karmøy and Haugesund municipalities in western Norway. The Karmsund Bridge linking Karmøy to the mainland was completed in 1955....
every morning on his way to Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil
In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is an immense tree that is central in Norse cosmology. It was said to be the world tree around which the nine worlds existed...
, the tree of life. The ocean outside Karmøy is dangerous, filled with underwater currents and rocks. Thus the ships were forced into the narrow Karmsund
Karmsund
Karmsund is a strait dividing Karmøy and Haugesund municipalities in western Norway. The Karmsund Bridge linking Karmøy to the mainland was completed in 1955....
. Chieftains and kings controlled the ships passing up and down the coast and demanded taxes.
The Karmsund
Karmsund
Karmsund is a strait dividing Karmøy and Haugesund municipalities in western Norway. The Karmsund Bridge linking Karmøy to the mainland was completed in 1955....
strait was also the source of the name of the kingdom, at the time when the first king of the unified Norway, Harald Fairhair, lived on Karmøy. (See History of Norway
History of Norway
The history of human settlement in what is present day Norway goes back at least 11,000 years, to the late Paleolithic. Archaeological finds in the county of Møre og Romsdal have been dated to 9,200 BC and are probably the remains of settlers from Doggerland, an area now submerged in the North Sea,...
.)
Avaldsnes
Avaldsnes
Avaldsnes was an ancient centre of power on the west coast of Norway and is the site of one of Norway’s more important areas of cultural history...
is located on the northeastern coast of the island. King Augvald
Augvald
King Augvald was a semi-legendary figure from the Norse sagas. He reportedly lived at Karmøy, controlling the realm that included parts of what is today Hordaland and southern Norway. Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy is allegedly named after King Augvald.-Biography:according to the sagas, King...
who has given his name to this ancient site is mentioned in the 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....
sagas
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
as having his home here. Later the residence of Harald Fairhair and other kings are mentioned. There is also a medieval church, St. Olav's church of Avaldsnes
Church of Avaldsnes
St. Olav's Church at Avaldsnes is a medieval church in Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy in Rogaland on the west coast of Norway.-History:Before this church was constructed, there was a wooden church on the same site...
, located on this coast.
Visnes in the northwest was once the site of an important copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mine. This mine was source of the copper used for the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the 18th century, two girls from Uyea in Shetland rowed to Haaf Gruney
Haaf Gruney
Haaf Gruney is a small island in the north east of the Shetland Islands.-Geography and geology:The island is between Unst and Fetlar which are to the north and south respectively. Between it and Yell are a mini-archipelago of small islands including Linga, Sound Gruney, Urie Lingey, Daaey and...
to milk some of the cows grazing there. Unfortunately, their return was marred by a strong storm, and eventually they found their tiny boat blown to Karmøy. The Uyea girls ended up marrying Karmøy men, and their descendants still live there.
Geography
The vast part of the district is the large island of Karmøy, but it also includes the peninsula between Karmsund and Førdesfjord and several small islands.The natural and cultural landscape is highly heterogeneous, encompassing chalk-white sands, moorland and several piers around the island. The landscape in the north is mainly agricultural, while large parts of the inland south are heather moors. The island has many white, sandy beaches facing the North Sea, attracting surfers as one of the top spots for windsurfing in Norway.
Built up places are for the most part located along the coast, the main such areas being Kopervik
Kopervik
Kopervik is the largest city on the island of Karmøy in the county of Rogaland, Norway and is the administrative centre of the municipality of Karmøy, and Kopervik have 8,192 inhabitants. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. -Population:...
, Åkrehamn
Åkrehamn
or Åkrahamn is a small town located on the west side of Karmøy in Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland...
and Skudeneshavn
Skudeneshavn
is a city on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy in Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland...
.
Haugesund Airport
Haugesund Airport, Karmøy
Haugesund Airport, Karmøy is the airport serving the city of Haugesund in Norway. It is located on the west side of the island and municipality of Karmøy, southwest of Haugesund. The airport was opened in 1975 and is operated by Avinor....
is also located on the island rather than in Haugesund proper. Karmøy is known for its industries, as well as for fishing. Among interested people Karmøy is also well known in Norway for the heather moors and the surfing beaches.
Area attractions
- Skude Festival (Skudefestivalen) is an annual festival held during the first week of July in Skudeneshavn. It is the largest gathering of coastal culture in Western Norway with boats of all categories: vintage boats of all categories - old wooden boats, vintage boats, modern boats, sailing boats, tall ships. Craftsmen demonstrate handcrafts from olden days connected to sea and shipping. International and national artists entertain in the evenings. In 2004, Skudeneshavn was voted Norway's summer city by national TV viewers.
- Viking Farm (Vikinggarden) is part of the Nordvegen History Centre, located close to Avaldsnes. The building and use of the farm is an ongoing experimental archaeological research and interpretation programme. The farm includes reconstructed houses.
- Karmøy Museum of Fishing (Karmøy Fiskerimuseum), which opened in 1999, presents the history of fishing in the region of Karmøy from the 1950s up to the present day. In addition to the main exhibitions there are salt-water aquariums showing the most common types of fish in the area. The Karmøy Fishery Museum is housed in a new building with unique architecture.
- Mælandsgården Museum (Museet i Mælandsgården) is situated in the middle of the old, well preserved part of Skudeneshavn. A town model shows what old SkudeneshavnSkudeneshavnis a city on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy in Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland...
looked like in 1918.
- Rogaland Fish Museum (Rogaland Fiskerimuseum), located in an old herring salting factory in Åkrehamn, is fully restored to its former glory and housing new exhibitions about the history of this vibrant coastal community. This museum also richly depicts the contact enjoyed between Karmøy and North America.
- Visnes Mining Museum (Visnes Gruvemuseum) provides the history of the rather special mining community that in the 1800s had 3,000 inhabitants. Visnes supplied the copper for the Statue of LibertyStatue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
- FerkingstadFerkingstadFerkingstad is a village in the county of Rogaland, Norway within the municipality of Karmøy. It is known for its highly rich archeology finds, from the early Viking period to the late medieval era....
, an area known for its archaeological finds, from the early Viking period to the late medieval era.
Industry
Norsk HydroNorsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
is a large aluminium smelter operator located at Karmøy. The power supply of this facility is done by three overhead powerlines, which cross Karmsund on 143.5 metres tall pylons. These pylons are the tallest electricity pylons in Norway.
Bauer-Nilsen
Bauer-Nilsen
Bauer Nilsen AS is a Norwegian company established in 1925.The company is located in Karmøy municipality.The company started with production of central pressure lubricators...
design and produce high-pressure hydraulics
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
located at Karmøy.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Karmøy is twinnedTown 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 :...
with: Mjölby
Mjölby
Mjölby is a city and the seat of Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 11,927 inhabitants in 2005.Mjölby is located by the rivulet Svartån. The name "Mjölby" is derived from "Mölloby", which comes from mylna or mölna -- meaning "mill"...
, 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....
Vinderup
Vinderup
Vinderup Municipality is a former municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in west Denmark. The former Vinderup municipality covered an area of 224 km², and had a total population of 8,035 . Its last mayor was Holger Hedegaard, a member of the Venstre political party...
, 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...
Notable residents
- King AugvaldAugvaldKing Augvald was a semi-legendary figure from the Norse sagas. He reportedly lived at Karmøy, controlling the realm that included parts of what is today Hordaland and southern Norway. Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy is allegedly named after King Augvald.-Biography:according to the sagas, King...
, legendary king - King FerkingKing FerkingKing Ferking was a semi-legendary figure recorded in local church literature. He lived in the 7th century, controlling a realm that included western parts of island of Karmøy...
, legendary king - King Harold Fairhair, Norway's first king.
- Leif Ove AndsnesLeif Ove AndsnesLeif Ove Andsnes is a Norwegian pianist and an ardent champion of the works of Edvard Grieg.-Biography:He studied with Jiří Hlinka at the Bergen Music Conservatory and made his debut in Oslo in 1987, in Britain at the Edinburgh Festival with the Oslo Philharmonic in 1989, and in the United States...
, pianist - Endre Johannes ClevenEndre Johannes ClevenEndre Johannes Cleven was a Norwegian-born Canadian who was prominent in the settlement and culture of Norwegian immigrants in Manitoba, Canada during the early 20th century....
, composer and director of Scandinavian immigration for Canada (d. 1916)
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...
- Tourist information - from the municipality
- Karmøy Museum of Fishing
- Mælandsgården
- Karmøy Kulturopplevelser
- Nordvegen History Center