Bokn

Bokn is one of the smaller municipalities of Rogaland, consisting of 3 islands: Ognøy, Austre (eastern) Bokn and Vestre (western) Bokn. The three islands are now linked via bridges to Tysvær on the mainland, and the main coastal highway between Stavanger and Bergen now pass over Bokn, connecting southwards by ferries to Rennesøy. There are specific plans of building an undersea tunnel directly to the mainland north of Stavanger.

Apart from a factory producing various tanks made of glassfiber-reinforced plastic (Bokn Plast), there is no industry on the islands. There are some fish-farms, however. People have traditionally lived off fishing and farming. Nowadays some work in the North Sea oil industry. Tourism is likely to play a bigger part in the future.

Geographically, the islands are rugged with lots of small hills with small lakes in the valleys. The hills are largely covered with heather, but bushes and trees are increasingly competing, especially birch. The highest point is on Vestre Bokn - the 297 meter high Boknafjellet.

[edit] The name

The municipality is named after the islands of Austre and Vestre Bokn (Norse Bókn). The name is probably very old, and the meaning is unknown.

Until 1889 the name was written "Bukken".

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). The six circles symbolizes a cairn, which again represent the mountain of Boknafjellet (a well known landmark in the region).

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