Hinnøya

Hinnøya
Hinnøya (Nordland)
Geography
Location North Norway
Archipelago Vesterålen
Area 2,204.7 km2 (851.24 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation 1,262 m (4,140 ft)
Highest point Møysalen
Country
Norway
County Nordland and Troms
Largest city Harstad (pop. 23,242)
Demographics
Ethnic groups Norwegian

Hinnøya is an island in Nordland and Troms in Norway.

Contents

Geography and environment

Covering an area of 2,204.7 square kilometres (851.2 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only town is Harstad. Villages include Borkenes, Lødingen, Sigerfjord and Sørvik.

The island is split between the municipalities of Harstad and Kvæfjord in Troms, and Andøy, Hadsel, Lødingen, Sortland, Tjeldsund and Vågan in Nordland. Hinnøya is dissected by several fjords, and contains a mostly rugged and mountainous terrain, especially the southern part. It is the location of Møysalen National Park, which includes the highest mountain on the island, Møysalen, with its 1,262 metres (4,140 ft) above sea level.[2] The best agricultural area is in the northeast, in Harstad and Kvæfjord. In the north lays a nature reserves contianing a valley with forests, bogs and the oldest pine tree in Norway, which is 700 years old.[3]

Hinnøya is connected to the mainland by the Tjeldsund Bridge across Tjeldsundet. To the west it is connected to Langøya by the Sortland Bridge, and to the north to Andøya by the Andøy Bridge. The Lofoten Fixed Link, was taken into use on 1 December 2007. Part of European Route E10, it runs close to the national park. In the was officially opened on December 1, 2007. The road is designated as the E10 and goes very close to Møysalen National Park.

The name

The Norse form of the name was just Hinn (-øya meaning 'the island' was added later). The large island is almost divided in two parts by Gullesfjorden and Kanstadfjorden, and the old name is probably derived from an old verb with the meaning 'cleave, split, cut'. (See also the names Hitra and Hidra.)

Climate

Borkenes/Kvæfjord (1961-90)
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
81
 
−1
−5
 
 
74
 
0
−5
 
 
59
 
2
−4
 
 
47
 
4
−1
 
 
33
 
9
3
 
 
40
 
13
7
 
 
51
 
16
10
 
 
56
 
15
9
 
 
82
 
11
6
 
 
109
 
6
2
 
 
94
 
2
−2
 
 
94
 
0
−4
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: met.no/klimastatistikk/eklima

Borkenes in Kvæfjord (36 m amsl) has mean annual temperature of 4°C and mean annual precipitation 820 mm (source met.no).

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.statkart.no/?module=Files;action=File.getFile;ID=19347
  2. ^ Møysalen National Park, norw with pictures
  3. ^ Forfjorddalen nature reserve