Karlsøy (Northern Sami: Gálssa suohkan) is an island municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Other villages include Dåfjord, Hessfjord, Karlsøya, Torsvåg, Vannvåg, and Vannareid. The municipality is made up of many islands including Ringvassøya, Reinøya, Vannøya, Karlsøya, and Rebbenesøya plus several uninhabited islands (many of which were formerly inhabited). Some of the currently uninhabited islands include Helgøya, Nordkvaløya, Grøtøya, and Nord-Fugløya.[3]
Karlsøy kommune
Gálssa suohkan | |
---|---|
Municipality | |
![]() View of the Kåja island with Torsvåg Lighthouse off Vanna | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Troms og Finnmark within Norway | |
![]() Karlsøy within Troms og Finnmark | |
Coordinates: 70°07′48″N 19°25′51″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Troms og Finnmark |
District | Nord-Troms |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
• Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Hansnes |
Government | |
• Mayor (2015) | Mona Pedersen (LL) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,091.57 km2 (421.46 sq mi) |
• Land | 1,050.56 km2 (405.62 sq mi) |
• Water | 41.01 km2 (15.83 sq mi) 3.8% |
• Rank | #103 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 2,179 |
• Rank | #268 in Norway |
• Density | 2.1/km2 (5/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Karlsøyværing[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-5423 |
Website | Official website |
The 1,092-square-kilometre (422 sq mi) municipality is the 103rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Karlsøy is the 268th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,179. The municipality's population density is 2.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.4/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 7.5% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
Karlsøy was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see the formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1867, the southern Ullsfjord district of Karlsøy (population: 862) was transferred from Karlsøy to the neighboring Lyngen Municipality. On 1 September 1886, the western island district (population: 828) was separated from Karlsøy to become the new municipality of Helgøy. This left Karlsøy with 1,334 inhabitants.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged back into the municipality of Karlsøy. At the same time, all of the mainland areas of Karlsøy (the northern part of the Lyngen peninsula, with 1,001 inhabitants) was transferred from Karlsøy to neighboring Lyngen Municipality. After all the changes, the new Karlsøy had 3,414 residents. On 1 January 2008, the southern part of the island of Reinøya was transferred from Tromsø Municipality to Karlsøy Municipality.[6][7]
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[8]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the small Karlsøya island (Old Norse: Kalsøe), since the first Karlsøy Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name Karl and the last element is øy which means "island". Prior to 1909, the name was spelled Karlsø.[9]
The coat of arms was granted on 12 December 1980. The arms show the head of a white-tailed eagle on a blue background, since one of Europe's largest colonies of these birds is found on the island of Nord-Fugløya in the municipality. Furthermore, the eagle symbolizes the importance of fishing for the municipality.[10]
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Karlsøy. It is part of the Tromsø domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Karlsøy | Helgøy Church | Helgøya | 1742 |
Karlsøy Church | Karlsøya | 1854 | |
Ringvassøy Church | Hansnes | 1977 | |
Sengskroken Church | Vanna | 1962 |
Karlsøy is among the world's most important exporters of dried and salted cod, with Portugal, Spain, and Brazil among the main markets.[citation needed] The population is almost totally dependent on fishing.[citation needed] There are also goat herding businesses and some musicians that live on the island. There is also some tourism, including a festival that runs in the Summer. There are plans for 50 holiday homes to be built on the isle.[citation needed]
The municipality consists of islands only. Ringvassøya, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest island in the municipality. Nordkvaløya, Helgøya, Karlsøya, Vanna (Vannøya), Reinøya, and Rebbenesøya are the other major islands.
The islands of Rebbenesøy and Ringvassøy are split (as was Reinøya before 2008), with the southern part belonging to neighboring Tromsø municipality. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the southern parts of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the northern parts belonged to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is awkward,[clarification needed] which is why the Norwegian government transferred all of Reinøy to the municipality of Karlsøy on 1 January 2008.[7] Soltindan is the highest mountain on the island of Ringvassøy at 1,051 m (3,448 ft) above sea level.
Karlsøya, the little island after which the municipality is named, has a village with the 19th century Karlsøy Church. The inhabitants include the original inhabitants, hippies, and Norwegian Muslims.[citation needed]
Helgøya, the former seat of the independent municipality of Helgøy in the western part of present Karlsøy, is today a more or less abandoned village of wooden houses and the old Helgøy Church. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.
Lake Skogsfjordvatn, in the centre of Ringvassøy, is a lake with some fishing, surrounded by sub-Arctic forests. This is Norway's largest lake in an island. The island of Vannøya has several villages, including Burøysund and Torsvåg, the latter offering views of the Atlantic from the Torsvåg Lighthouse.
Karlsøy mostly has a subpolar oceanic climate. Torsvåg lighthouse has been recording temperature sine 1933, and is situated on the northwestern tip of Vanna island. The eastern and inland part of the islands will have slightly warmer summers and slightly colder winters. The record low at Torsvåg is −15.1 °C (4.8 °F) recorded January 1979. The record high 27.2 °C (81.0 °F) is from July 1966. The average date for the first overnight freeze (below 0 °C (32 °F)) in autumn is October 21 at Torsvåg (1981-2010 average).[11]
Climate data for Torsvåg 1991-2020 (21 m, extremes 1939-2022) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
10 (50) |
15.8 (60.4) |
22 (72) |
26.1 (79.0) |
27.2 (81.0) |
25.5 (77.9) |
22.9 (73.2) |
19 (66) |
13.8 (56.8) |
12.5 (54.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 0 (32) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
0.1 (32.2) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.3 (52.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.9 (48.0) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.8 (37.0) |
1.2 (34.2) |
4.7 (40.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | −15.1 (4.8) |
−14 (7) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−2 (28) |
2.8 (37.0) |
3 (37) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
−15.1 (4.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 87 (3.4) |
73 (2.9) |
75 (3.0) |
53 (2.1) |
47 (1.9) |
41 (1.6) |
49 (1.9) |
69 (2.7) |
81 (3.2) |
106 (4.2) |
85 (3.3) |
90 (3.5) |
856 (33.7) |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[12] |
Climate data for Torsvåg 1961-1990 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 0.7 (33.3) |
0.6 (33.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
3.2 (37.8) |
6.9 (44.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
13.2 (55.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
3.3 (37.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
1.4 (34.5) |
4.8 (40.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
Average low °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.6 (47.5) |
8.8 (47.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
3.0 (37.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 73 (2.9) |
56 (2.2) |
57 (2.2) |
48 (1.9) |
45 (1.8) |
50 (2.0) |
52 (2.0) |
59 (2.3) |
76 (3.0) |
97 (3.8) |
80 (3.1) |
85 (3.3) |
778 (30.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 14.5 | 12.5 | 12.1 | 11.9 | 10.5 | 11.0 | 10.9 | 11.7 | 15.0 | 17.4 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 159.7 |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[13] |
All municipalities in Norway, including Karlsøy, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[14] The municipality falls under the Nord-Troms District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Karlsøy is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Karlsøy Common List (Karlsøy Fellesliste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy (Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy (Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Reinøy List (Reinøylista) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy) | 2 | |
Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 25 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy) | 3 | |
Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 25 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy) | 4 | |
Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy) | 7 | |
Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy) | 5 | |
Socialist Unity List (Sosialistisk enhetsliste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 16 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
Vannøy Non-party List (Vannøy Upolitiske Liste) | 2 | |
Independent Voters (Uavhengige Velgere) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 16 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 13 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 20 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 9 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 9 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 21 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 21 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 16 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 16 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 16 | |
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |
The mayors of Karlsøy (incomplete list):
The municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through an undersea tunnel from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here ferries depart to Vannøy, Reinøy, and Karlsøy. The Langsund Tunnel is under construction and was planned to be completed by 2015, but it is currently on hiatus. It is expected to connect the islands of Reinøya and Ringvassøy. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøy are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøy.
Karlsøy attractions include:
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