Harstad
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| Harstad kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Troms | ||
| District | Hålogaland | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-1901 | ||
| Administrative centre | Harstad | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2007) | Helge Eriksen (H) | ||
| Area (Nr. 249 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 372 km² (143.6 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 355 km² (137.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 23,242 | ||
| - Density | 65/km² (168.3/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | 1.8 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 38 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
| Demonym | Harstadværing[1] | ||
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| Website: www.harstad.kommune.no | |||
Harstad is a city and municipality in Norway.
The town of Harstad was separated from Trondenes January 1, 1904. The municipalities of Sandtorg and Trondenes were merged with Harstad January 1, 1964. Harstad is located approximately 250 km (150 mi) north of the Arctic Circle.
It is the second largest city in the county of Troms, and the third largest in North Norway, by population. This makes Harstad the natural centre for its district. The city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004.
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[edit] Geography
The municipality is located on two islands in south Troms. Most of the municipality is located on Hinnøya, which is Norway's largest island (except Svalbard). The northern part of the municipality is located on the southern third of Grytøya. Harstad is bordered by Bjarkøy to the north, Kvæfjord to the west and Tjeldsund (in the county of Nordland) to the south. To the southeast the Tjeldsund Bridge connects Hinnøya with Skånland and the mainland across Tjeldsundet, and to the northeast is the fjord Vågsfjorden, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad. The city itself is located northeast on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle (The pearl of Vågsfjorden).
The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Måga, Rogla and Åkerøya. The highest mountain is Sætertind (1095 metres above sea level[2]), located near Sandtorg, Hinnøya.
The oil industry of North Norway is centered in Harstad, but the city also has shipyards and other industries that are important for the economy. Harstad and the surrounding area have traditionally been among the most productive agricultural regions in North Norway, with the old seabed creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming[citation needed].
The city enjoys the midnight sun during the summer months, from 22 May to 18 July, along with moderate daytime temperatures, usually from 12 °C to 24 °C, although northerly winds can plunge temperatures down to 9°C. Summer starts in June, but July and August are the warmest months. Mean annual temperature is 3.9°C and annual average precipitation is 850 mm. May and June are the driest months with on average 35 mm rain, while July and August averages 55 mm. The wettest period is October through December, with on average 100 mm precipitation each month, some of it snow (yr). During the winter months, the polar night allows for regular viewings of the aurora borealis (aka the Northern Light). The sun is not visible from 30 November to 12 January. There is moderate snowfall for the region and temperatures usually range from 4 °C to -10 °C. Average 24-hr temperatures is slightly below freezing from late November to late March, but often stays above freezing for days during mild weather thaws.With high pressure weather, winter temperatures can get down to about -15°C, and in summer reach 27°C.[3]
[edit] History
In recent years, a 300-year-old bronze axe[4] and a 260-year-old bronze collar[5] have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial cairns built close to the sea, are indications of a well developed Bronze Age culture in the Harstad area.
There is also substantial archeological evidence of a well developed Iron Age culture in the area, around 200 AD.
Trondenes is mentioned in the Heimskringla as a power centre in the Viking Age and a place to meet and discuss important issues (Trondarting).
Trondenes Church, the world's northernmost medieval church, which dates back to the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town.
Adjacent to the church is the Trondenes Historical Center and nearby is the Adolf Gun, an enormous land-based cannon from World War II, and the last of four cannons originally constructed by the Nazis. Harstad is one of the few towns in this part of Norway which were left largely undamaged by World War II.
[edit] Origin of the name
The city is most likely named after the old farm Harstad (Norse *Harðarstaðir), since it is built on its ground[citation needed]. The first element is (probably) the genitive case of the male name Hörðr, and the last element is staðir (homestead, farm).[citation needed]
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1953. The blue symbolizes the sea, with silvery and white waves.
[edit] Culture
The city hosts the annual week long Festival of Northern Norway[6].
Harstad University College, with approximately 1,100 students [7], has a thriving foreign exchange program with students from all over the world.
The most successful local football team is Harstad Idrettslag[8], and the most successful basketball team is Harstad Vikings[9].
Harstad is home port for Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner, also known as the sailing queen of Norway (external link).
[edit] Transportation
The closest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, 45 km (28 miles) by road, located on the mainland.
[edit] Historical Sites
The Adolf Cannon is located in Harstad. It was created by Adolf Hitler during World War II. It has a range of 56 Km and can shoot shells that weigh up to 1080 Kg.
[edit] Famous people from Harstad
- Hans Egede (1686–1758), priest
- Bjarne Berg-Sæther (1919–), mayor, county mayor, parliament politician
- Hanna Kvanmo (1926–2005), politician
- Knut Andersen (1931–), director
- Leif Arne Heløe (1932–), minister of social affairs
- Karl Erik Harr (1940–), painter
- Trygve Bornø (1942–), former national football player
- Unni Wikan (1944–), professor of social anthropology
- Kine Hellebust (1954–), singer
- Ketil Stokkan (1956–), singer
- Kristin Clemet (1957–), politician, former minister of education
- Iren Reppen (1965–), actress, playwright
- Runar Normann (1978–), football player
- Even Kenneth Weines (1980–), countrysinger
- Jon Lech Johansen (1983–), hacker
- Iselin Steiro (1986–), supermodel
[edit] Twin towns
The twin towns of Harstad are:[citation needed]
Elsinore in Denmark
Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast in Russia
Umeå in Sweden
Vaasa in Finland
[edit] References
- ^ Personnemningar til stadnamn i Noreg (Norwegian)
- ^ Norwegian Mountains - Route Descriptions - Sætertinden
- ^ met.no Harstad
- ^ Feilmelding
- ^ Lucky Horseshoe?
- ^ Festspillene I Nord Norge
- ^ http://www.hih.no/Internasjonale_programmer/infoenglish/default.asp
- ^ Startsiden - HIL
- ^ Mjødberget online - Hjem
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Visit Harstad
- iHarstad.no information portal
- Tourist information
- Culture
- Old history of Harstad
- Harstad pictures
- About Hinnøy (Norwegian)
- Magnars garden at 69 degrees north
- Green and black aurora over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Particularly rare purple auroral corona over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Web-cam Showing various parts of the town
- Live weather station located in Harstad In Norwegian
- Harstad Tidende (Harstad Times) Newspaper for the district, in Norwegian
- http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthHistory&Number=101559&Searchpage=1&Main=101559&Words=+MikeyMike&topic=&Search=true
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