| Native name: Selbjørn | |
|---|---|
Bekkjarvik |
|
| Geography | |
| Area | 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Highest point | Kongsafjellet |
| Country | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 956 |
| Density | 38.24 /km2 (99.04 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Norwegians |
Selbjørn is the second largest island in the Austevoll municipality, Hordaland, Norway. The commercial centre of Selbjørn is Bekkjarvik.
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Selbjørn is based on the old Norwegian Salbjorn meaning the bear in the saddle. The interpretation is that sailor- and fishermen used Selbjørn as replacement for a more ancient "Hund" meaning quarry. However, "Hund" is the same as the Norwegian word for dog and "Hund" in the meaning of dog was according to old tradition something not to be mentioned at sea. The result being Salbjorn or Selbjørn as the new word for "Hund" (quarry).
Kongsafjellet is 185 meters above sea level, with good view in all directions. Kongsafjellet has a strategic position to overview all fairways for ships coming from the north sea and going north/south along the coast. The Viking king's estate at Fitjar was also seen from the hilltop, and due to this and the archaeological findings, it is anticipated that Haakon the Good used the hilltop as scouting location as part of his Vikings security system.
Selbjørn is connected to Stolmen and Huftarøy with bridges. The ferries to/from Austevoll goes to Hufthamar on Huftarøy (from the north) and to Husavik (from the south). The ferry to Hufthamar comes from Krokeidet in Bergen and takes 35 minutes, Hufthamar to Selbjørn is a 25-minute drive. The ferry to Husavik comes from Sandvikvåg, Fitjar and takes 25 minutes, Husavik to Selbjørn is a 10-minute drive.[1]