Kvæfjord

Kvæfjord is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway. Together with Harstad, the two municipalities cover most of the island of Hinnøya in the southern parts of the county. Kvæfjord consists mostly of mountains and fjords. The fjord Kvæfjord is a central part.

1 The name
2 Coat-of-arms
3 Economy
4 Geography

[edit] The name

The municipality is named after the fjord (Norse Kviðjufjörðr). The first element is the genitive case of the name of the island *Kviðja (now Kveøya), the last element is fjörðr m 'fjord'. The name of the island is maybe derived from the word kviðr m 'belly, stomach'.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). It shows a strawberry plant.

[edit] Economy

The municipality is known for agriculture and farming. The quality of the strawberries is famous. The long hours of daylight, combined with relatively low summer temperatures, make the strawberries more tasteful than berries grown in warmer climates.

[edit] Geography

The landscape of today was largely formed during the last ice age. When the ice retreated, the terrain rose by 50 meters. It is in this belt of old seabed the agriculture is located.

One former large institution for the mentally handicapped has influenced Kvæfjord, that earlier had a large number of health workers. There are four county roads connecting the municipality: two to the north and one each to the east and south.

Municipalities of Troms
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