Moskenes

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Moskenes kommune
County Nordland
District Lofoten
Municipality NO-1874
Administrative centre Reine
Mayor (2003) Lillian Hansen (Ap)
Official language form Neutral
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Percentage
Ranked 374
119 km²
110 km²
0.04 %
Population
 - Total (2004)
 - Percentage
 - Change (10 years)
 - Density
Ranked 391
1,212
0.03 %
-15.5 %
11/km²
Coordinates 67°55′N 12°57′E
www.moskenes.kommune.no

Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 67°55′N 12°57′E

Moskenes is a municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway. Moskenes is a part of Lofoten.

The municipality was created by a split from Flakstad on July 1, 1916, at which time Moskenes had a population of 1,306. On 1 January 1964 the two municipalities were reunited, this time under the name Moskenes. However, Flakstad broke out on 1 January 1976 to once again form a separate municipality.

Moskenes is among the most scenic municipalities in all Norway, and the picturesque fishing villages of Hamnøy, Reine, Sørvågen, Moskenes, Å and Tind have a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks rising above the Vestfjord.

Between Lofotodden, the southwestern tip of the Lofoten chain, and the offshore island of Mosken, there is the tidal current of Moskstraumen. This is better known internationally as the Maelstrom, feared by all sailors. On the isolated north western coast of the island, there are also interesting stone age cave paintings.

[edit] Famous people

  • Hans Erik Dyvik Husby, musician
  • Birger Eriksen, commander at Oscarsborg, and responsible for the sinking of Blücher, the German ship headed for Oslo on the night between April 8 and 9, 1940.
 Moskenes to the west
Enlarge
Moskenes to the west



Municipalities of Nordland Nordland coat of arms

Alstahaug | Andøy | Ballangen | Beiarn | Bindal | Bodø | Brønnøy |  | Dønna | Evenes | Fauske | Flakstad | Gildeskål | Grane | Hadsel | Hamarøy | Hattfjelldal | Hemnes | Herøy | Leirfjord | Lurøy | Lødingen | Meløy | Moskenes | Narvik | Nesna | Rana | Rødøy | Røst | Saltdal | Sortland | Steigen | Sømna | Sørfold | Tjeldsund | Træna | Tysfjord | Vefsn | Vega | Vestvågøy | Vevelstad | Vågan | Værøy | Øksnes