Kvæfjord
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| Kvæfjord kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Troms | ||
| District | Hålogaland | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-1911 | ||
| Administrative centre | Borkenes | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2005) | Lillian Hessen (V) | ||
| Area (Nr. 205 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 513 km² (198.1 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 498 km² (192.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 3,072 | ||
| - Density | 6/km² (15.5/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -9.8 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 266 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
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| Website: www.kvafjord.kommune.no | |||
Kvæfjord is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.
Kvæfjord was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The district Godfjorden was transferred from Kvæfjord to Sortland municipality (in Nordland county) January 1, 2000.
Together with Harstad, the two municipalities cover most of the island of Hinnøya in the southern parts of the county. Kvæfjord consists mostly of mountains and fjords. The fjord Kvæfjord is a central part.
Kvæfjord is also where the the Norwegian national cake originally comes from.
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[edit] The name
The municipality is named after the fjord (Norse Kviðjufjörðr). The first element is the genitive case of the name of the island *Kviðja (now Kveøya), the last element is fjörðr m 'fjord'. The name of the island is maybe derived from the word kviðr m 'belly, stomach'.
Until 1889 the name was written Kvædfjord.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). It shows a strawberry plant.
(See also the coat-of-arms of Norddal.)
[edit] Economy
The municipality is known for agriculture and farming. The quality of the strawberries is famous. The long hours of daylight, combined with relatively low summer temperatures, make the strawberries more tasteful than berries grown in warmer climates.
[edit] Geography
The landscape of today was largely formed during the last ice age. When the ice retreated, the terrain rose by 50 meters. It is in this belt of old seabed the agriculture is located.
One former large institution for the mentally handicapped has influenced Kvæfjord, that earlier had a large number of health workers. There are four county roads connecting the municipality: two to the north and one each to the east and south.
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