Herdla

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Herdla Golf Club

Herdla, is an island, and former municipality, in Hordaland county, Norway.

Herdla was separated from Manger as a municipality of its own in 1870. It was divided in three parts which were merged with Askøy, Meland and Øygarden January 1, 1964.

Herdla is situated north of the Island of Askøy. Askøy is adjacent to the city of Bergen.

The island is a popular target for tourists. The nature reserve at the Island has many birds. Some 220 species of birds are registered. The nature reserve is also a nice place to walk and bathe. There are good fishing possibilities in the area.

[edit] Air base and coastal fortifications

During the Second World War, all of Herdla was in effect a military base for the German Luftwaffe. The flat area "Herdlevalen" was considered a good place for an airport. The air base at Herdla was important to defend the west coast of Norway against Allied attacks. Many fortifications were built to hinder possibly invading forces. All civilians had to leave the island. In 1945 they came back to an island full of military installations.

Herdla was seriously considered as the site for Bergen's main airport. After the war the air traffic control for the Bergen area was placed at Herdla. However, in 1955, the airport was finally built at Flesland instead, since that would not require boat to reach it.

After the war some of the military installations were assimilated into the Royal Norwegian Coastal Artillery, who also built a series of new installations on the island. In recent years the fortress has been used for training new recruits for the coastal artillery, but the fortress was permanently closed in 2000 as a part of a major restructuring of the Norwegian armed forces, when the Royal Norwegian Coastal Artillery was decommissioned.