Samsø

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Samsø is a Danish island in the North Sea bay of Kattegat 15 kilometers off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 4124 inhabitants (2006) and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place. The name of the island stems from this time. The word samle means to gather and Ø is the Danish word for island.

Geographically, the island is divided into three areas:

the North Island
the Stavns Fjord
the South Island

[edit] General information

The island is very popular among French, Welsh and Irish people for strawberry picking during the months of June and July every year. In Denmark, the island is well-known for its early potatoes. The first few pounds of potatoes usually fetch prices around £100, and are considered a great delicacy. In 1997 the island won a competition for a 10 year project to see if it is practical to generate all the energy the island requires from Renewable Energy alone. This has to date (2006) mainly been done by using wind power, but notably by involving the islanders, who are shareholders in many of the turbines. Some of these are offshore. An Energy Academy is due to be opened in Ballen by early 2007 - which will be a visitor centre and include educational perspectives. Ballen's beach and village are popular with visitors; it is served by the bus which runs around the island, including the ferry terminals. In clear weather, you can see the peninsula of Helgenæs to the north.

[edit] Norse mythology

On this island, Saxo Grammaticus relates that there was a legendary battle when the Swedish champion Hjalmar and his friend Orvar-Odd fought against the twelve sons of the Swedish berserker Arngrim. This battle was once famous, since it also figures in Faroese ballads, in Orvar-Odd's saga and in Hervarar saga.

According to the Hervarar saga and the Waking of Angantyr, the mounds of the slain beserkers were haunted. This did not stop Arngrim's grand-daughter Hervor from approaching the mounds and demanding the enchanted sword Tyrfing from her father Angantyr.