Orust Municipality
Encyclopedia
Orust Municipality is a municipality
in Västra Götaland County
in western Sweden
. Its seat is located in the town of Henån
, with an approximate population of 1,800.
The municipality includes Sweden's third largest island
Orust
and some other small adjacent islets. The year-round population of around 15,000 increases significantly in the summer due to an influx of summer vacationers.
The former municipal entities on the island Orust and adjacent minor islands were grouped into larger units in 1952 and united into a single municipality in connection with the nationwide municipal reform of 1971.
The villages in the municipality are Ellös
, Henån
, Hälleviksstrand
, Mollösund
, Svanvik
and Varekil
.
, runestones are plentiful throughout Orust.
In the Nordisk familjebok
the island of Orust is mentioned as a Geat
ish territory. Ramshult (the modern Swedish form), a hillfort, is mentioned in Beowulf
as Hrefnesholt
, the Geatish hillfort which became the prison of Onela
, Ohthere
and their mother until their rescue by Ongenþeow
.
called Morlanda features a lookout point that offers a good overview of the area.
and boat production. Shipyard
Hallberg-Rassy
is the largerst employer nowadays. Its shipyard is located in Ellös
, on the north-west part of the island, and it has a significant export of sailing boats. The second largest employer is Najad-varvet, also a shipyard.
Municipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
in Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
in western 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....
. Its seat is located in the town of Henån
Henån
Henån is a locality and the seat of Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,855 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Henån is home to approximately 2,000 permanent year-round residents with a significant increase of summer residents who come from the nearby towns and cities to stay in...
, with an approximate population of 1,800.
The municipality includes Sweden's third largest 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...
Orust
Orust
Orust is an island in western Sweden, and Sweden's third largest island. The largest town on Orust is Henån, where approximately 1,800 inhabitants live...
and some other small adjacent islets. The year-round population of around 15,000 increases significantly in the summer due to an influx of summer vacationers.
The former municipal entities on the island Orust and adjacent minor islands were grouped into larger units in 1952 and united into a single municipality in connection with the nationwide municipal reform of 1971.
The villages in the municipality are Ellös
Ellös
Ellös is a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 988 inhabitants in 2005....
, Henån
Henån
Henån is a locality and the seat of Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,855 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Henån is home to approximately 2,000 permanent year-round residents with a significant increase of summer residents who come from the nearby towns and cities to stay in...
, Hälleviksstrand
Hälleviksstrand
Hälleviksstrand is a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 225 inhabitants in 2005....
, Mollösund
Mollösund
Mollösund is an old fishing village and a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 277 inhabitants in 2005. It is located on the southwest tip of Orust Municipality in the outer archipelago of Sweden’s west coast....
, Svanvik
Svanvik
Svanvik is a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 324 inhabitants in 2005....
and Varekil
Varekil
Varekil is a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 586 inhabitants in 2005....
.
History
Historically, the area has been inhabited for thousands of years, as evident by ancient remains such as tombs, grave fields and rock carvings. Dating from the Viking AgeViking 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,...
, runestones are plentiful throughout Orust.
In the Nordisk familjebok
Nordisk familjebok
Nordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957.- History :The first edition was published in 20 volumes between 1876 and 1899. The first edition is known as the "Iðunn edition" because of the picture of Iðunn on the cover...
the island of Orust is mentioned as a Geat
Geat
Geats , and sometimes Goths) were a North Germanic tribe inhabiting what is now Götaland in modern Sweden...
ish territory. Ramshult (the modern Swedish form), a hillfort, is mentioned in Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
as Hrefnesholt
Hrefnesholt
Hrefnesholt is a location in Beowulf where the Geatish king Hæþcyn had taken the Swedish queen. The Swedish king Ongenþeow arrived to save her and killed Hæþcyn. The Geatish force was, however, reinforced by Hygelac, whereupon the Swedes sought refuge in a hillfort, but were stormed by the Geats...
, the Geatish hillfort which became the prison of Onela
Onela
Onela was according to Beowulf a Swedish king, the son of Ongentheow and the brother of Ohthere. He usurped the Swedish throne, but was killed by his nephew Eadgils, who won by hiring foreign assistance....
, Ohthere
Ohthere
Ohthere, Ohtere , Óttarr, Óttarr vendilkráka or Ottar Vendelkråka was a semi-legendary king of Sweden who would have lived during the 6th century and belonged to the house of Scylfings...
and their mother until their rescue by Ongenþeow
Ongenþeow
Ongentheow was the name of a semi-legendary Swedish king of the house of Scylfings, who appears in Old English sources...
.
Points of interest
The geography offers several sights, with a couple of picturesque small villages. A nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
called Morlanda features a lookout point that offers a good overview of the area.
Industry
Industry wise, the area has always been dominated by fishingFishing
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 boat production. Shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
Hallberg-Rassy
Hallberg-Rassy
Hallberg-Rassy AB is a Swedish shipyard internationally known for producing exclusive, high quality sailing yachts.The yard is located in Ellös on the island of Orust, Västra Götaland....
is the largerst employer nowadays. Its shipyard is located in Ellös
Ellös
Ellös is a locality situated in Orust Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 988 inhabitants in 2005....
, on the north-west part of the island, and it has a significant export of sailing boats. The second largest employer is Najad-varvet, also a shipyard.
See also
- Orust Eastern Hundred, historical hundredHundred (division)A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
- Orust Western Hundred, historical hundred
- VarekilsnäsVarekilsnäsVarekilsnäs is a community located on the island of Orust in Bohuslän, on the Swedish west coast. It is the first village you meet when you enter Orust on road 160 from Tjörn....
, most southern village on Orust
External links
- Orust Municipality - Official site
- Orust map - From the official site
Sources
- Please see corresponding article on Swedish and German Wikipedia.