Sandøy
Encyclopedia
Sandøy is an island municipality in Møre og Romsdal
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Romsdal
region
. The administrative centre is the village of Steinshamn
. Other villages include Ona
and Myklebost
. The municipality is spread out over many islands in the mouth of the Romsdalsfjord
.
was established on 1 January 1867 when it was separated from the municipality of Akerø
. The initial population was 601. The spelling of the name was later changed to Sandøy. On 1 January 1965, the Myklebost
area on Harøya
and some smaller islands to the west (population: 287) were transferred from Haram
to Sandøy.
) is named after the farm and the small island, Sandøya
(Old Norse
: Sandøy), since the first church was built there. The first element is sandr which means "sand
" and the last element is øy which means "island
". The name was historically spelled Sandø or Sandøen.
is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1986. The arms show the light beam
s from the Ona lighthouse
, since lighthouse
s play an important role in the safety in the municipality, which consists of 871 islands and skerries
.
has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Sandøy. It is part of the Diocese of Møre
and the Molde domprosti (Deanery
).
, Sandøya
, Finnøya
, Ona
, and Orta
. Ona is the most famous of the islands and is a popular tourist destination due to its history and the Ona lighthouse
.
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
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 Romsdal
Romsdal
Romsdal is the name of a traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal, located between Nordmøre and Sunnmøre. The district of Romsdal comprises Aukra, Fræna, Midsund, Molde, Nesset, Rauma, Sandøy, and Vestnes. It is named for the valley of Romsdalen, which covers part of Rauma.The...
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 is the village of Steinshamn
Steinshamn
Steinshamn is a village that is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located at the northern end of the island of Harøya. There is a causeway that connects Steinshamn to the island of Finnøya to the northeast.The village has a...
. Other villages include Ona
Ona, Sandøy
Ona is a village and an island group located in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The tiny island of Ona and the larger island of Husøy are separated by a shallow wide waterway. The two islands are collectively referred to as Ona...
and Myklebost
Myklebost, Sandøy
Myklebost is a village on the southern end of Harøya island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is about south of the municipal center of Steinshamn. There are ferry connections from Myklebost to Fjørtofta and Brattvåg in Haram and to Dryna in Midsund. ...
. The municipality is spread out over many islands in the mouth of the Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest fjord in Norway. It is long and located in the Romsdal district of Møre og Romsdal county. It flows through the municipalities of Midsund, Haram, Vestnes, Molde, Nesset, and Rauma...
.
General information
The municipality of Sandø i RomsdalRomsdal
Romsdal is the name of a traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal, located between Nordmøre and Sunnmøre. The district of Romsdal comprises Aukra, Fræna, Midsund, Molde, Nesset, Rauma, Sandøy, and Vestnes. It is named for the valley of Romsdalen, which covers part of Rauma.The...
was established on 1 January 1867 when it was separated from the municipality of Akerø
Aukra
Aukra is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the region of Romsdalen. The administrative centre is the village of Aukra....
. The initial population was 601. The spelling of the name was later changed to Sandøy. On 1 January 1965, the Myklebost
Myklebost, Sandøy
Myklebost is a village on the southern end of Harøya island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is about south of the municipal center of Steinshamn. There are ferry connections from Myklebost to Fjørtofta and Brattvåg in Haram and to Dryna in Midsund. ...
area on Harøya
Harøya
Harøya is a swampy island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the largest island in the municipality. The island is located between the islands of Finnøya and Fjørtofta ....
and some smaller islands to the west (population: 287) were transferred from Haram
Haram, Norway
Haram is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative center is Brattvåg, the industrial center of Sunnmøre. Other important villages in the municipality include Austnes, Eidsvik, Helle, Longva, Søvik, Tennfjord, and Vatne.Brattvåg IL is...
to Sandøy.
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 farm and the small island, Sandøya
Sandøya, Møre og Romsdal
Sandøya is an island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the namesake of the municipality. The island has ferry connections to Finnøya, Ona, and Orta. The Sandøy church is located on this island....
(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....
: Sandøy), since the first church was built there. The first element is sandr which means "sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
" and the last element is øy which means "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...
". The name was historically spelled Sandø or Sandøen.
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 December 1986. The arms show the light beam
Light beam
A light beam or beam of light is a narrow projection of light energy radiating from a source into a beam. Sunlight is a natural example of a light beam when filtered through various mediums...
s from the Ona lighthouse
Ona lighthouse
Ona Lighthouse is located on the small island of Ona in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The lighthouse is built on Onakalven, the highest cliff on the island overlooking the harbor and the few, clustered wooden houses on this small island.The lighthouse was built in...
, since lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
s play an important role in the safety in the municipality, which consists of 871 islands and skerries
Skerry
A skerry is a small rocky island, usually defined to be too small for habitation. It may simply be a rocky reef. A skerry can also be called a low sea stack....
.
- See also: The Coat-of-arms of UtsiraUtsiraUtsira is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. Utsira was separated from Torvastad on 1 July 1924.The municipality consists of an island located in the North Sea, 18 km west of Haugesund...
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 Sandøy. It is part of the Diocese of Møre
Diocese of Møre
The Diocese of Møre is a diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Its bishop and cathedral are located in the county administrative center of Molde...
and the Molde domprosti (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 :...
).
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandøy | Sandøy kyrkje | 1812 | Sandøya Sandøya, Møre og Romsdal Sandøya is an island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the namesake of the municipality. The island has ferry connections to Finnøya, Ona, and Orta. The Sandøy church is located on this island.... |
| Harøy kyrkje | 1934 | Harøya Harøya Harøya is a swampy island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the largest island in the municipality. The island is located between the islands of Finnøya and Fjørtofta .... |
Geography
Sandøy is an island municipality. Sandøy consists of 871 islands, but only five are regularly inhabited. The main inhabited islands are HarøyaHarøya
Harøya is a swampy island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the largest island in the municipality. The island is located between the islands of Finnøya and Fjørtofta ....
, Sandøya
Sandøya, Møre og Romsdal
Sandøya is an island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the namesake of the municipality. The island has ferry connections to Finnøya, Ona, and Orta. The Sandøy church is located on this island....
, Finnøya
Finnøya, Møre og Romsdal
Finnøya is an island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located northeast of Harøya island. Finnøya is connected by a causeway to Harøya, and it has ferry connections to Sandøya and Orta....
, Ona
Ona, Sandøy
Ona is a village and an island group located in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The tiny island of Ona and the larger island of Husøy are separated by a shallow wide waterway. The two islands are collectively referred to as Ona...
, and Orta
Orta, Møre og Romsdal
Orta is an island in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies mid-way between Harøya and Gossa islands in the Harøyfjorden. There are ferry connections from Orta to Sandøya and Finnøya and to Gossa in Aukra....
. Ona is the most famous of the islands and is a popular tourist destination due to its history and the Ona lighthouse
Ona lighthouse
Ona Lighthouse is located on the small island of Ona in the municipality of Sandøy in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The lighthouse is built on Onakalven, the highest cliff on the island overlooking the harbor and the few, clustered wooden houses on this small island.The lighthouse was built in...
.
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...