Vågan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vågan kommune | |||
— Municipality — | |||
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Vågan within Nordland | |||
Coordinates: | |||
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Country | Norway | ||
County | Nordland | ||
District | Lofoten | ||
Municipality ID | NO-1865 | ||
Administrative centre | Svolvær | ||
Government | |||
- Mayor (2003) | Hugo Bjørnstad (Ap) | ||
Area (Nr. 212 in Norway) | |||
- Total | 477 km² (184.2 sq mi) | ||
- Land | 459 km² (177.2 sq mi) | ||
Population (2006) | |||
- Total | 9,021 | ||
- Density | 20/km² (51.8/sq mi) | ||
- Change (10 years) | -3.1 % | ||
- Rank in Norway | 115 | ||
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
- Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Official language form | Neutral | ||
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Website: www.vagan.kommune.no |
Vågan is a municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway.
Vågan was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Gimsøy (1856) and the town of Svolvær (1919) - but these were both again merged with Vågan January 1, 1964.
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[edit] Geography
The main population centres are the town of Svolvær and the villages of Kabelvåg and Henningsvær, located on the largest island, Austvågøy (although Svolvær and Henningsvær are partly located on smaller islands adjacent to the main island). All three have a picturesque situation under the rugged Lofoten mountains, facing the rough body of water called Vestfjorden.
Kabelvåg is the oldest fishing village in Lofoten, where King Øystein built the first fishing shacks in the early 12th c. The Lofoten Cathedral, built in 1898, seats 1,200 people, and used to be filled to the last seat during the Lofoten fishing in the Winter. Henningsvær has a picturesque situation on several islands, and is today more important for fishing. Svolvær is the municipal centre, and has an impressive number of artists' studios and galleries. In addition to the cod fisheries, salmon fish farming and tourism is economically important in Vågan.
[edit] The name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Vågan (Norse Vágar), since the first church was built there. The name is the plural form of vág f 'bay'. The island of Austvågøya (Norse Vág(a)øy) is named after this important site.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1973). It shows a cod.
[edit] Twin Towns
[edit] External links
- Lofoten Golf Links Golf court at Gimsøy in Vågan
- Laukvikøyene nature reserve, a wetland area with rich bird life
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