Balsfjord
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| County | Troms | |
| District | ||
| Municipality | NO-1933 | |
| Administrative centre | Storsteinnes | |
| Mayor (2003) | Gunda Johansen (Ap) | |
| Official language form | Bokmål | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 52 1,496 km² 1,440 km² 0.46 % |
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| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 176 5,611 0.12 % -8.3 % 4/km² |
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| Coordinates | ||
| www.balsfjord.kommune.no |
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Balsfjord is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway. The municipality's coat of arms depicts a plough to symbolise the importance of farming.
The municipality consists of two fjords, Malangen and Balsfjord, surrounded by comparatively rich farmlands under majestic peaks including the southern end of the Lyngen Alps.
Farming is the single most important industry, although there is also some manufacturing. The dairy at Storsteinnes is one of the largest producers of the Norwegian brown cheese. They also make their own brand of cheese, called Balsfjord, from goat's milk. The E6 and the E8 meet at the village Nordkjosbotn, making it a major crossroad.
Apart from the impressive scenery, attractions include the 6000 year old rock carvings at Tennes (close to the church), the old trading centre of Nordby and the 18th century sawmill at Aursfjord.
[edit] History
The Sami were the original inhabitants, but around 1800 new settlers came from Southern Norway, from the coast and from Finland, and today very few traces of Sami culture survive. In the 20th century trappers from Balsfjord were active in the Arctic Hunting from Greenland to Novaya Zemlya.
| Municipalities of Troms |  |
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Balsfjord | Bardu | Berg | Bjarkøy | Dyrøy | Gratangen | Harstad | Ibestad | Karlsøy | Kvæfjord | Kvænangen | Kåfjord | Lavangen | Lenvik | Lyngen | Målselv | Nordreisa | Salangen | Skjervøy | Skånland | Storfjord | Sørreisa | Torsken | Tranøy | Tromsø |
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