Tysfjord

Tysfjord is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name Divtasvuodna. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is vuodna 'fjord'.

[edit] Geography and Nature

The municipality is named after the fjord; the main village is Kjøpsvik. Tysfjord is the second deepest fjord in Norway, with a maximum depth of 897 m.

The mountains of Tysfjord with Stetind as the highest

The municipality borders Ballangen in the north, Hamarøy in the south, Sweden in the east and Vestfjord in the northwest. The nature in the municipality is dominated by grey granite mountains, pine, birch and aspen woodland and forests, and the many fjord branches. Tysfjord's most dominant mountain, Stetind, is famous in Norway. This 1,392 m high natural granite obelisk, rising straight out of the fjord, is an awe-inspiring sight([1], [2]). In Norwegian, it is called gudenes ambolt, e.g., anvil of the gods, partly because the summit forms a plateau. This was selected to be the national mountain of Norway in the autumn of 2002. The famous british climber William C. Slingsby described it as the ugliest mountain I ever saw; he did not reach the summit. The mountains near the border with Sweden have peaks up to 1,500 m above sea level. Mannfjordbotn Nature Reserve has undisturbed forests at the head of a narrow fjord branch sourrounded by granite mountain walls ([3]). From Hellemobotn, at the head of Hellemofjorden, the distance to the border with Sweden is only 6.3 km; this is also a scenic hiking terrain ([4]) with a canyon opening up in Hellemobotn ([5]). Silver birch occurs in Tysfjord, as one of few areas in North Norway (Silver birch need more summer warmth than the more common Downy birch).

The large number of whales, orca in particular, that show up in the fjord every winter to feed on the herring, have attracted winter tourist from far away, but not in huge numbers. Harbor porpoise, sea eagles, great cormorants, otters and moose are all common in the Tysfjord area.

[edit] Climate and Light

The climate is surprisingly temperate considering the location north of the Arctic circle. Mean annual temperature in Kjøpsvik is 4.2°C and mean annual precipitation is 1,080 mm. Summer is usually pleasant, although there might be persistent rain. Average monthly 24-hr temperature in June, July and August is 10.9°C, 13.3°C and 12.5°C, with average daily high about 16°C (61°F). Average temperatures are below freezing from December to March, with January average of -2.7°C (27°F). October is the wettest month with on average 154 mm precipitation, May is the driest with 54 mm ([6]). The midnight sun can be seen from the end of May to mid-July, and the sun is below the horizon from the beginning of December to mid-January. The aurora borealis is commonly seen in winter and late autumn.

Skarberget ferry harbor, northern shore of Tysfjord

[edit] Communications

Tysfjord is the only location in Norway where the E6 depends on a car ferry. There is ferry connections from Bognes to Skarberget (E6 road) and from Bognes to Lødingen (connecting to E10 road and Lofoten, as well as the airport at Evenes). There is also a ferry connecting Drag south of the fjord with Kjøpsvik on the northern shore, and this might be an alternative to E6 (and the ferry to choose to get close to Stetind) as Kjøpsvik is connected by road with E6 and Narvik to the north. If Tysfjord experiences bad weather and the ferry connections are shut down, Norway is cut in two road-wise. A road connection is still maintained, albeit through Sweden, which makes it a very long drive. Kjøpsvik is connected to E6 and Narvik by road, with no ferry crossings. The closest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes; there is also a small airport in Narvik.

Source: NAF veibok.

[edit] History

There are prehistoric rock carvings at Leiknes, showing scenes of hunting, and the worlds oldest known depiction of an Orca whale.

Orca taking a look above the water

Tysfjord is the only municipality in Norway where speakers of Lule Sami should theoretically be able to speak that language with officials, although this has not come to fruition. The Árran Lule Sami Center is located in the Tysfjord village of Drag.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987). It shows a lobster; the lobsters in Tysfjord are the most northerly in the world.

[edit] Villages

The following list names the villages first in Sami and then in Norwegian:

Gásluokta/Kjøpsvik
Ájluokta/Drag
Ájládde/Hellandsberg
Soahkeluokta/Bjørkvik
Stuorgiedde/Storjord
Måsske/Musken
Tjierrekluokta/Nordbukt
Vuodnabahta/Hellemobotn
Hierggenjárgga/Korsnes
Jågåsijdda/Storå

[edit] Birdlife

The coastal municipality of Tysfjord is better known for its whale watching than its bird watching but the region has still a lot to offer. Thanks to a range of habitats the area has a varied birdlife. Though the area has no large seabird colonies there is a small nature reserve at Ramnholmen with breeding populations of Arctic Tern and Common Tern. For more information and some photos check: Bird Watching In Norway - Tysfjord