Måløy

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Coordinates: 61°56′N 5°07′E / 61.933, 5.117
Måløy
Country County Municipality	Norway Sogn og Fjordane Vågsøy
Town status	1997
Population (2007)
- Total	3,003
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Måløy (help·info) is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Vågsøy in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. On January 1, 2007, Måløy had a population of 3,003 and a density of 1444 people per square kilometre.^[1] Måløy is located on the south-eastern side of the island of Vågsøy, which the municipality is named after, and is connected to the mainland by the bridge Måløybrua. It is one of the most important fishing ports in the region. In 1997, Måløy was allowed by the municipality to call itself a town.^[2]

1 History
2 Townscape
3 Culture
- 3.1 Sports
4 Twinnings
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Måløy was originally founded as a trading center on the small island of Moldøen, or Måløya, on the sound of Ulvesundet between Vågsøy and the mainland. As trade flourished, the town gradually moved to the larger island of Vågsøy, while keeping the name of the smaller island. This is the cause of some confusion, although the smaller island is today often known as "Lisje-Måløyna" (lit. smaller Måløy) or "Øyna" (lit. the island). During World War II, it was used as a German coastal fortress, which led to the eradication of all settlement on the island to make room for the fortress, and as a result of Operation Archery in December 1941.

[edit] Townscape

The town square in Måløy has a monument over the denizens of Sør-Vågsøy and Davik municipalities who fell in World War II. Another monument, located elsewhere in the town, is a memorial to Martin Linge, the only Norwegian who died during Operation Archery. Few streets in Måløy are named; most, especially the ones on the hillside, are only numbered.

[edit] Culture

The festival Måløydagene is arranged in the town every year. In 2004, Måløy was awarded the role as a 2008 Tall Ships' Races main port. The town will be the host of the participating tall ships from July 28 until August 4. The event has a budget of 18 million NOK, of which the county government will sponsor 2.5 million NOK.^[3]^[4] The only upper secondary school in the municipality, Måløy videregåande skule, as well as several lower secondary schools and elementary schools, are located in the vicinity of the town. The closest institutions of higher education are Sogn og Fjordane University College, located in Sogndal, Førde and Sandane, Ålesund University College in Ålesund, and the University of Bergen in Bergen.

[edit] Sports

The association football club Tornado Måløy FK is the result of a merger between the independent clubs Tornado and Måløy in 2002. The club has two stadiums, one of which is located in Måløy. The club's two men's senior teams play in the Norwegian third division and fifth division as of 2008.