Halsa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Halsa kommune
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms of Halsa kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Halsa kommune
Møre og Romsdal within
Norway
Halsa within Møre og Romsdal
Halsa within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 63°6′50″N 8°28′13″E / 63.11389, 8.47028
Country Norway
County Møre og Romsdal
District Nordmøre
Municipality ID NO-1571
Administrative centre Liabø
Government
 - Mayor (2007) Ola Rognskog (Sp)
Area (Nr. 278 in Norway)
 - Total 301 km² (116.2 sq mi)
 - Land 293 km² (113.1 sq mi)
Population (2004)
 - Total 1,714
 - Density 6/km² (15.5/sq mi)
 - Change (10 years) -15.4 %
 - Rank in Norway 355
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Official language form Neutral
Demonym Halsabygg[1]
Data from Statistics Norway
Website: www.halsa.kommune.no
Halsa, as seen from the ferry
Halsa, as seen from the ferry

Halsa is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway.

Halsa was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Most of Valsøyfjord, and a part of Aure, were merged with Halsa January 1, 1965.

Contents

[edit] The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the farm Halsa (Old Norse Hölsvinjar), since the first church was built there. The first element is hals m 'neck', the last element is the plural form of vin f 'meadow, pasture'. The word hals is here referring to an isthmus ('neck of land') between to fjords.

Until 1918 the name was written Halse.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1988). The motive represents the three headlands of the municipality.

[edit] What to see

Halsa is the location where the famous killer whale, Keiko, went when he was set free. Keiko died in December 2003. The people of Halsa have built a memorial scree over Keiko's body, where people from all over the world are free to visit him.

Arasvikfjord and Valsøyfjord lie in Halsa.

[edit] References