Detailled map of Tyrifjorden, with Utøya encircled in red |
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Utøya
Utøya (Norway)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Tyrifjorden |
| Area | 0.106 km2 (0.0409 sq mi) |
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Utøya (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈʉːtœʏɑ]) is a small island in the Tyrifjorden lake in Hole municipality, in the county of Buskerud, Norway. The island is 10.6 hectares (26 acres),[1] situated 500 metres (1,600 ft) off the shore, by the E16 road, 38 kilometres (24 mi) driving distance north-west of Oslo city centre.
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Utøya is owned by the Workers' Youth League (Arbeidernes ungdomsfylking, AUF), the youth wing of the Labour Party, which holds an annual summer camp there. The island was given as a commemorative gift by Oslo Trade Union Confederation on August 28, 1950,[2] but also serves as a camp site for other events, including other organizations' summer camps. The island is operated commercially by Utøya AS.[3]
The island is largely forested, with some open spaces. A small pier on the east side of the island is used to ferry people to and from the mainland. There are also permanent buildings. Hovedhuset ("The Main House"), Stabburet ("The Hórreo"), and Låven ("The Barn") are located together near the dock. Up on the hillside (LO-toppen) are the main campgrounds, the cafeteria building, and the sanitary building. Skolestua ("The school house") is located further south.[4]
The first element ut means 'out', or 'outermost'; the last element øya is the definite form of øy, meaning 'island'. Utøya is the southernmost (or farthest "out") island of three which lie in the lake of Tyrifjorden. The name is used in reference to its position in relation to two other islands (lying north of Utøya); Storøya (Big Isle) and Geitøya (Goat Isle). Storøya is the northernmost, and Geitøya lies between Utøya and Storøya. All of these islands were formerly used for herding (as is shown in the meaning of Geitøya) by the people at Sundvollen.
On 22 July 2011, a mass shooting took place at the AUF's summer camp, where 650 young people were staying. Anders Behring Breivik arrived on Utøya dressed as a police officer and told those on the island that he was there for security reasons following the explosions in Oslo which took place a few hours before. He then began shooting at individuals, continuing until the police arrived one hour after the first alarm call. The suspect immediately surrendered.[5] Combined, the attacks in Oslo and Utøya left 77 dead, with 69 killed on the island, 55 of whom were teenagers.[6][7][8]