Moskenes
Encyclopedia
Moskenes is a municipality
in Nordland
county
, Norway
. The area of the municipality comprises the southern part of Moskenesøya
. It is part of the Lofoten
traditional region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Reine
.
) is named after the old Moskenes farm ("Muskenes" - 1567), since the first church was built there. The first element is probably derived from the word mosk/musk n 'sea spray
', the last element is nes which means 'headland
'. (See also Moskstraumen
.)
is from modern times. They were granted on 12 September 1986. The arms show a vortex
spiral
. Vortexes or whirlpool
s, such as the Moskstraumen
, appear in the channel just south of the island of Moskenes when the tide comes in, making it a hazardous channel.
on 1 July 1916, at which time Moskenes had a population of 1,306. On 1 January 1964, the two municipalities were reunited, this time under the name Moskenes. However, Flakstad broke away again on 1 January 1976 to once again form a separate municipality.
, Reine, Sørvågen
, Moskenes, Å
, and Tind have a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks rising above the Vestfjord
.
Between Lofotodden, the southwestern tip of the Lofoten chain, and the offshore island of Mosken, there is the tidal current of Moskstraumen
. This is better known internationally as the Maelstrom
, feared by all sailors. On the isolated north western coast of the island, there are also interesting stone age
cave paintings. The highest mountain is Hermannsdalstinden
at 1029 metres (3,376 ft).
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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
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 area of the municipality comprises the southern part of Moskenesøya
Moskenesøya
Moskenesøya is an island in Lofoten in Nordland county of Norway. The island consists of an agglomeration of glaciated hills with the highest peak at . It is elongated from south-west to north east, is about 40 km long and 10 km wide, and has a very uneven shoreline...
. It is part of the Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
traditional 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 Reine
Reine
Reine is the administrative centre of Moskenes municipality, Norway. Its population is 342. It has been a commercial centre since 1743. Today tourism is important. In spite of its remote location thousands of people visit this neighborhood annually....
.
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 Moskenes farm ("Muskenes" - 1567), since the first church was built there. The first element is probably derived from the word mosk/musk n 'sea spray
Sea spray
Sea spray is a spray of water that forms when ocean waves crash.-Make up:As a result, salt spray contains a high concentration of mineral salts, particularly chloride anions.-Effects:...
', the last element is nes which means '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...
'. (See also Moskstraumen
Moskstraumen
The Moskenstraumen or Moskstraumen is a system of tidal eddies and whirlpools, one of the strongest in the world, that forms at the Lofoten archipelago, Norway, in the Norwegian Sea. It is located between the...
.)
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 12 September 1986. The arms show a vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
spiral
Spiral
In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a central point, getting progressively farther away as it revolves around the point.-Spiral or helix:...
. Vortexes or whirlpool
Whirlpool
A whirlpool is a swirling body of water usually produced by ocean tides. The vast majority of whirlpools are not very powerful. More powerful ones are more properly termed maelstroms. Vortex is the proper term for any whirlpool that has a downdraft...
s, such as the Moskstraumen
Moskstraumen
The Moskenstraumen or Moskstraumen is a system of tidal eddies and whirlpools, one of the strongest in the world, that forms at the Lofoten archipelago, Norway, in the Norwegian Sea. It is located between the...
, appear in the channel just south of the island of Moskenes when the tide comes in, making it a hazardous channel.
History
The municipality was created by the division of the municipality of FlakstadFlakstad
Flakstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Lofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ramberg...
on 1 July 1916, at which time Moskenes had a population of 1,306. On 1 January 1964, the two municipalities were reunited, this time under the name Moskenes. However, Flakstad broke away again on 1 January 1976 to once again form a separate municipality.
Attractions
Moskenes is among the most scenic municipalities in all Norway, and the picturesque fishing villages of HamnøyHamnøy
Hamnøy is a populated island in Moskenes municipality, Norway.Hamnøy was previously connected to Reine by ferry, but this has been replaced by bridges on European route E10....
, Reine, Sørvågen
Sørvågen, Moskenes
Sørvågen is a fishing village in Moskenes municipality on Lofoten, Norway with several scenery attractions.Sørvågen contains a local department of Norsk Telemuseum which reflects the local history of telegraphy...
, Moskenes, Å
Å, Moskenes
-Overview:Å is traditionally a fishing village, specialising in stockfish, but now also features tourism.The town contains the Lofoten Stockfish Museum and the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum....
, and Tind have a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks rising above the Vestfjord
Vestfjord
Vestfjord is a Norwegian fjord, which would be described as a firth or an open bight of sea between the Lofoten archipelago and mainland Norway, northwest of Bodø...
.
Moskstraumen
The Moskenstraumen or Moskstraumen is a system of tidal eddies and whirlpools, one of the strongest in the world, that forms at the Lofoten archipelago, Norway, in the Norwegian Sea. It is located between the...
. This is better known internationally as the Maelstrom
Maelstrom
A maelstrom is a very powerful whirlpool; a large, swirling body of water. A free vortex, it has considerable downdraft. The power of tidal whirlpools tends to be exaggerated by laymen. There are virtually no stories of large ships ever being sucked into a maelstrom, although smaller craft are in...
, feared by all sailors. On the isolated north western coast of the island, there are also interesting stone age
Stone 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...
cave paintings. The highest mountain is Hermannsdalstinden
Hermannsdalstinden
Hermannsdalstinden is the highest mountain on the island Moskenesøya, in the archipelago Lofoten in North Norway....
at 1029 metres (3,376 ft).
Notable residents
- Hans Erik Dyvik HusbyHank Von HelveteHans Erik Dyvik Husby , also known as Hank von Helvete, Hertugen and Hærtis, most famous for being the former lead vocalist of the Norwegian death-punk band Turbonegro. While not explicitly addressed to date, the name Helvete was adopted due to its meaning "hell" or "a place of suffering" in...
, musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession.... - Birger Eriksen, commander at Oscarsborg, and responsible for the sinking of BlücherGerman cruiser BlücherBlücher was the second of five heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, built after the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the ship was laid down in August 1936 and launched in...
, the German ship headed for OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
on the night between 8-9 April 1940.