Leka, Norway
Encyclopedia
Leka is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Namdalen
region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Leknes
. Other villages include Sør-Gutvika and Madsøygrenda.
Primarily a fishing
and farming community, Leka is the northernmost municipality in Trøndelag
. The island
has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years, as evidenced by cave drawings
in the Solsem section of the island.
. Initially, the population of Leka was 1,702. On 1 January 1909, the southern district of Leka (population: 881) was separated from Leka to form the new municipality of Gravvik
. This left Leka was 1,209 residents. The borders of Leka have not changed since then.
form of the name was Leka. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it may come from the word lekke which can mean "gravelly ground".
is from modern times; they were granted on 21 April 1989. The arms show the golden wing
and claw
of an eagle
on a red background. (In 1932 a child disappeared on the island
, and was refound by an eagles nest.)
has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Leka. It is part of the Nærøy deanery
in the Diocese of Nidaros
.
, and many other small islands in the surrounding area. The tiny island groups of Sklinna and Horta lie to the west of the main islands. Sklinna Lighthouse
is located in the westernmost part of the municipality. Leka borders Vikna
and Nærøy
municipalities to the south and Bindal
(in Nordland
county) to the north.
in Norway, at 69.3 per cent.
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
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 Namdalen
Namdalen
Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Fosnes, Nærøy, Høylandet, Namdalseid, Flatanger, Lierne, Leka, Namsskogan, and Vikna, all in Nord-Trøndelag county. The district has two towns: Kolvereid and Namsos...
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 the municipality is the village of Leknes
Leknes, Nord-Trøndelag
Leknes is a village and the administrative centre of the municipality of Leka in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the northeastern part of the island of Leka in the northwestern part of Nord-Trøndelag. The local church, Leka Church, sits on the south side of the village. There is...
. Other villages include Sør-Gutvika and Madsøygrenda.
Primarily a fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and farming community, Leka is the northernmost municipality in Trøndelag
Trøndelag
Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger...
. The 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...
has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years, as evidenced by cave drawings
Cave painting
Cave paintings are paintings on cave walls and ceilings, and the term is used especially for those dating to prehistoric times. The earliest European cave paintings date to the Aurignacian, some 32,000 years ago. The purpose of the paleolithic cave paintings is not known...
in the Solsem section of the island.
General information
The municipality of Leka was established on 1 October 1860 when it was separated from the large municipality of KolvereidKolvereid
Kolvereid is a town and former municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located within the present-day municipality of Nærøy. The small town of Kolvereid is also the administrative centre of the municipality....
. Initially, the population of Leka was 1,702. On 1 January 1909, the southern district of Leka (population: 881) was separated from Leka to form the new municipality of Gravvik
Gravvik
Gravvik is a village and former municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village is located in the present-day municipality of Nærøy. Gravvik Church, built in 1875 in the village of Gravvik, serves as the main church for the area....
. This left Leka was 1,209 residents. The borders of Leka have not changed since then.
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 Leka. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it may come from the word lekke which can mean "gravelly ground".
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 21 April 1989. The arms show the golden wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
and claw
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, birds, and some reptiles. However, the word "claw" is also often used in reference to an invertebrate. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in arthropods such as beetles and spiders, at the end...
of an eagle
Aquila (genus)
Aquila is the genus of true eagles. It is often united with the buteos, sea eagles and other more heavyset Accipitridae, but more recently it appears as if they are less distinct from the more slender accipitrine hawks than believed...
on a red background. (In 1932 a child disappeared on the 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 refound by an eagles nest.)
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 one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Leka. It is part of the Nærøy 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 :...
in the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Location of the Church | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leka | Leka Church Leka Church Leka Church is a parish church in the municipality of Leka in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located just south of the village of Leknes. The church is part of the Leka parish in the Nærøy deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros. The white wooden church was built in 1867 by the architect Knudt... |
Leknes Leknes is a town and administrative centre of municipality Vestvågøy in the county of Nordland in North Norway. The town is situated in the geographical middle of Lofoten, approximately 68 km west of Svolvær and 65 km east of Å... |
1867 |
Geography
Leka is an island municipality encompassing the main island of Leka, the western part of the island of AustraAustra
Austra is an island on the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland counties in Norway. The island is shared between the municipalities of Bindal, Leka and Nærøy. The highest point is the tall Romsskåla....
, and many other small islands in the surrounding area. The tiny island groups of Sklinna and Horta lie to the west of the main islands. Sklinna Lighthouse
Sklinna Lighthouse
Sklinna Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the municipality of Leka in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The lighthouse is located on the island of Heimøya in the Sklinna island group about northwest of the main island of Leka and about north of the island of Ytter-Vikna in Vikna municipality. The...
is located in the westernmost part of the municipality. Leka borders Vikna
Vikna
Vikna is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rørvik. Other villages in Vikna include Austafjord, Garstad, and Valøya.-General information:...
and Nærøy
Nærøy
Nærøy is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Nærøy is part of the Namdalen region. Norway's smallest town, Kolvereid, is the administration centre of the municipality...
municipalities to the south and Bindal
Bindal
Bindal is a municipality in the Helgeland region in the extreme southwest part of Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Terråk...
(in 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...
county) to the north.
Politics
In the 2007 municipal elections, Leka had the highest vote for the Centre PartyCentre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
in Norway, at 69.3 per cent.
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...