Solund
Encyclopedia
Solund is a municipality in the county
of Sogn og Fjordane
, Norway
. It is located in the traditional district
of Sogn
. Solund is the westernmost island municipality in Norway, and the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county that is made up only of islands. Holmebåen
on the island of Steinsøy is the westernmost point of Norway
.
The population today is around 875, with most people living on the main islands of Sula
and Ytre Sula. The administrative centre of Solund is the village of Hardbakke
on Sula island.
parish
(prestegjeld
) to form the new municipality and parish of Utvær. The initial population of Utvær was 1,384. On 1 January 1888, the Krakken farm (population: 17) was transferred from Hyllestad
and eight farms (population: 317) from Askvoll
were all transferred to Utvær.
On 1 July 1890, the name Utvær was changed to Sulen. The spelling was later altered to Solund by royal decree on 16 November 1923. On 1 January 1964, the island of Losna (population: 40) was transferred from Gulen
to Solund.
Sólund, Sólundir plural) originally belonged to the islands of Sula
. The meaning of the name is unknown. In Old Norse times, the sea between Norway
and Scotland
was called Sólundirhaf which means "the sea (haf) of Solund." The municipality was named Utvær from 1858 until 1 July 1890 when it was changed to Sulen. The spelling was altered to Solund on 16 November 1923.
is from 1990, but is inspired by the coat-of-arms
of the medieval noble family from the island of Losna.
has three churches within the municipality of Solund. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
and the Rural Deanery
(Prosti) of Ytre Sogn
.
(through 10th grade), outpatient health services
, senior citizen
services, unemployment
and other social services
, zoning
, economic development
, and municipal road
s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
.
breakdown is as follows:
(ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. The mayor for the 2007-2011 term is Gunn Åmdal Mongstad of the Centre Party
(Senterpartiet).
. The population of Solund is scattered among the islands in small villages as follows:
in the tiny Utvær islands which are mostly uninhabited.
Solund is bordered to the north by the municipality of Askvoll
, to the east by Fjaler
and Hyllestad
, to the south by Gulen
, and to the west by the North Sea
.
is the most important industry
in Solund. Solund Verft is the largest industrial business with 21 employees working on the maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of ship
s. Solund is popular with boaters with its myriad exciting islands and also attracts numerous tourists looking for outdoor recreation and fishing. Utvær island and the Utvær fyr (lighthouse
) is a popular destination for tourists during the summer.
. To visit Utvær one has to travel by boat. There is a service available on request from Kolgrov all year round. In the summer season there is a scheduled service with departures from Hardbakke
, Eivindvik
, and Korssund.
The County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane
declared Utvær to be a nature reserve. This decision applies to the Utvær island group and surrounding sea. An exception is made for the island of Utvær itself and the sea immediately around it. The Norwegian Riksantikvar (preservation of Norwegian heritage) has made a proposal to preserve the lighthouse itself.
In the Middle Ages there was a chapel to the south of the existing settlement. It is somewhat uncertain when the chapel was built. The first written references to if appear in the work of Bjørgynar Kalveskinn from 1320. The chapel had an income from gifts and fishing tithes. In the 17th century the chapel owned 15 cows and 27 sheep that were rented out. Later on in the 17th century the chapel of Utvær was robbed by Scottish
pirates
.
The chapel was made of timber and was approximately 7.5 by 6.3 m (24.6 by 20.7 ), and it could seat a congregation of about 120. The chapel bell from 1641 is currently exhibited at the Heibergske Samlingar exhibition in Kaupanger. Four sermons a year were held in the chapel and the priest had to come by boat from Eivindvik
. He was often stranded on the islands nearer the mainland as a result of bad weather. In 1718 the chapel was moved in to the island of Husøy. It was pulled down at the end of the 19th century when Straumen church was inaugurated.
The lighthouse
burned down in February 1945 during an allied air attack during World War II
. The lighthouse was reconstructed from 1948–1952. The lighthouse itself took on a different form from previously and the "balcony" on the top was one storey lower.
is a collection of trees and plants of largely indigenous species. There are 60 different species planted there. The rhododendron
collection is a sight to behold in early summer. Integrated into the arboretum, there is a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long footpath over a variety of terrain with a wonderful view over the outer Sognefjord
. There is also a marked foot path up to the top of Ravnenipa mountain.
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...
of Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
, 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 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 Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
. Solund is the westernmost island municipality in Norway, and the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county that is made up only of islands. Holmebåen
Holmebåen
Holmebåen is a point on the island of Steinsøy in an archipelago of small islands northwest of Utvær in the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, about west of the municipal center of Hardbakke. Holmebåen is the western-most point in Norway proper.-References:...
on the island of Steinsøy is the westernmost point of 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 population today is around 875, with most people living on the main islands of Sula
Sula, Sogn og Fjordane
Sula is an island in the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The island is the main island of the municipality. The island is located at the end of the Sognefjorden in the Sognesjøen, about east of Holmebåen, the western-most point in Norway. The largest village on the...
and Ytre Sula. The administrative centre of Solund is the village of Hardbakke
Hardbakke
Hardbakke is a village which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the west side of the island of Sula. Hardbakke is located about halfway between Holmebåen and Losnegard, the western- and eastern-most points in the...
on Sula island.
General information
Utvær was established as a municipality in 1858. The two sub-parishes, or sokn, of Solund and Husøy were separated from the GulenGulen
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik...
parish
Church 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...
(prestegjeld
Prestegjeld
A Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative area of the Church of Norway roughly equivalent to a parish. A prestegjeld can consist of one or many congregations...
) to form the new municipality and parish of Utvær. The initial population of Utvær was 1,384. On 1 January 1888, the Krakken farm (population: 17) was transferred from Hyllestad
Hyllestad
Hyllestad is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Hyllestad is the village of Hyllestad....
and eight farms (population: 317) from Askvoll
Askvoll
is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Askvoll....
were all transferred to Utvær.
On 1 July 1890, the name Utvær was changed to Sulen. The spelling was later altered to Solund by royal decree on 16 November 1923. On 1 January 1964, the island of Losna (population: 40) was transferred from Gulen
Gulen
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik...
to Solund.
Name
The name (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....
Sólund, Sólundir plural) originally belonged to the islands of Sula
Sula, Sogn og Fjordane
Sula is an island in the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The island is the main island of the municipality. The island is located at the end of the Sognefjorden in the Sognesjøen, about east of Holmebåen, the western-most point in Norway. The largest village on the...
. The meaning of the name is unknown. In Old Norse times, the sea between 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...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
was called Sólundirhaf which means "the sea (haf) of Solund." The municipality was named Utvær from 1858 until 1 July 1890 when it was changed to Sulen. The spelling was altered to Solund on 16 November 1923.
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 1990, but is inspired by the coat-of-arms
Coat 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...
of the medieval noble family from the island of Losna.
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 three churches within the municipality of Solund. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
and the Rural 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 :...
(Prosti) of Ytre Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
.
| Parish (Prestegjeld) | Sub-Parish (Sogn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solund Parish | Solund | Hersvik kyrkje | 1892 | Hersvik |
| Husøy kyrkje | 1896 | Straumen | ||
| Solund kyrkje | 1869 | Hardbakke Hardbakke Hardbakke is a village which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the west side of the island of Sula. Hardbakke is located about halfway between Holmebåen and Losnegard, the western- and eastern-most points in the... |
||
| *The three sogns were merged into one sogn in 2000. | ||||
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Solund, are responsible for primary educationPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
(through 10th grade), outpatient health services
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, senior citizen
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
services, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and other social services
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
, economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, and municipal road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Solund is made up of 14 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the partyPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
breakdown is as follows:
Mayor
The mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. The mayor for the 2007-2011 term is Gunn Åmdal Mongstad of the Centre Party
Centre 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...
(Senterpartiet).
Population
Solund is one of the least populated municipalities in NorwayNorway
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 population of Solund is scattered among the islands in small villages as follows:
- HardbakkeHardbakkeHardbakke is a village which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the west side of the island of Sula. Hardbakke is located about halfway between Holmebåen and Losnegard, the western- and eastern-most points in the...
- 246 inhabitants - Storøy/Dalesund - 139 inhabitants
- Nesefjord - 89 inhabitants
- Kolgrov/Trovåg - 62 inhabitants
- Hjønnevåg - 59 inhabitants
- Strand/Oddekalv - 53 inhabitants
- Færøy/Leknessund - 52 inhabitants
- Hersvik - 42 inhabitants
- Austrefjord/Dumbefjord - 26 inhabitants
- Indrevær/Utvær - 11 inhabitants
- Krakhella - 6 inhabitants
- LosnegardLosnegardLosnegard is a very small village in the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Constituting the easternmost point of the municipality, it is located near the end of the Sognefjord, about northeast of the municipal center of Hardbakke. Losnegard is the only settlement on the...
- 4 inhabitants
Geography
Solund is a municipality made up of many islands. The two largest islands are Sula and Ytre Sula. Other islands are Losna, Nesøyna, Ospa, Rånøyna, Færøyna, Lågøyna, and Hågøyna. The westernmost point in Norway is HolmebåenHolmebåen
Holmebåen is a point on the island of Steinsøy in an archipelago of small islands northwest of Utvær in the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, about west of the municipal center of Hardbakke. Holmebåen is the western-most point in Norway proper.-References:...
in the tiny Utvær islands which are mostly uninhabited.
Solund is bordered to the north by the municipality of Askvoll
Askvoll
is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Askvoll....
, to the east by Fjaler
Fjaler
Fjaler is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Dale. Other places in Fjaler include Flekke and Espedal....
and Hyllestad
Hyllestad
Hyllestad is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Hyllestad is the village of Hyllestad....
, to the south by Gulen
Gulen
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik...
, and to the west by the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
Economy
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....
is the most important industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
in Solund. Solund Verft is the largest industrial business with 21 employees working on the maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s. Solund is popular with boaters with its myriad exciting islands and also attracts numerous tourists looking for outdoor recreation and fishing. Utvær island and the Utvær fyr (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....
) is a popular destination for tourists during the summer.
Gåsvær
Gåsvær is among the outermost islands of northern Solund. It is far west out at sea between the Lågøy fjord and the Gåsværosen river outlet. The fishing banks are just off the island’s coastline, and Gåsvær most probably has a long history of trade. In 1767, the island had both its own guesthouse and pub. Over the past century, the islanders have made their living from fishing and agriculture, and in more modern times, taking passengers over the waters and tourism. The oldest section of the characteristic main house dates back to the 18th century, while another section was built using timber from a shipwrecked sailing ship.Utvær
One cannot travel any further west in Norway and still be on solid ground. There are no longer any permanent residents on the island of Utvær, but there are always two people on duty at the lighthouseLighthouse
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....
. To visit Utvær one has to travel by boat. There is a service available on request from Kolgrov all year round. In the summer season there is a scheduled service with departures from Hardbakke
Hardbakke
Hardbakke is a village which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the west side of the island of Sula. Hardbakke is located about halfway between Holmebåen and Losnegard, the western- and eastern-most points in the...
, Eivindvik
Eivindvik
Eivindvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gulen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, along the north shore of the Gulafjord, about south of the village of Dingja , about northwest of Dalsøyra, and about northeast of Byrknes...
, and Korssund.
The County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
declared Utvær to be a nature reserve. This decision applies to the Utvær island group and surrounding sea. An exception is made for the island of Utvær itself and the sea immediately around it. The Norwegian Riksantikvar (preservation of Norwegian heritage) has made a proposal to preserve the lighthouse itself.
In the Middle Ages there was a chapel to the south of the existing settlement. It is somewhat uncertain when the chapel was built. The first written references to if appear in the work of Bjørgynar Kalveskinn from 1320. The chapel had an income from gifts and fishing tithes. In the 17th century the chapel owned 15 cows and 27 sheep that were rented out. Later on in the 17th century the chapel of Utvær was robbed by Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
pirates
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
.
The chapel was made of timber and was approximately 7.5 by 6.3 m (24.6 by 20.7 ), and it could seat a congregation of about 120. The chapel bell from 1641 is currently exhibited at the Heibergske Samlingar exhibition in Kaupanger. Four sermons a year were held in the chapel and the priest had to come by boat from Eivindvik
Eivindvik
Eivindvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gulen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, along the north shore of the Gulafjord, about south of the village of Dingja , about northwest of Dalsøyra, and about northeast of Byrknes...
. He was often stranded on the islands nearer the mainland as a result of bad weather. In 1718 the chapel was moved in to the island of Husøy. It was pulled down at the end of the 19th century when Straumen church was inaugurated.
The 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....
burned down in February 1945 during an allied air attack during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The lighthouse was reconstructed from 1948–1952. The lighthouse itself took on a different form from previously and the "balcony" on the top was one storey lower.
Arboretum
The Coastal Arboretum in HardbakkeHardbakke
Hardbakke is a village which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the west side of the island of Sula. Hardbakke is located about halfway between Holmebåen and Losnegard, the western- and eastern-most points in the...
is a collection of trees and plants of largely indigenous species. There are 60 different species planted there. The rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
collection is a sight to behold in early summer. Integrated into the arboretum, there is a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long footpath over a variety of terrain with a wonderful view over the outer Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
. There is also a marked foot path up to the top of Ravnenipa mountain.