Harstad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| County | Troms | |
| District | Hålogaland | |
| Municipality | NO-1901 | |
| Administrative centre | Harstad | |
| Mayor (2005) | Halvar Hansen (Ap) | |
| Official language form | Neutral | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 249 372 km² 355 km² 0.11 % |
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| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 38 23,163 0.51 % 1.8 % 65/km² |
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| Coordinates | ||
| www.harstad.kommune.no |
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Harstad is a city and municipality in Norway 
. It is the second largest in the county of Troms, and the third largest in North Norway, by population. This makes Harstad the natural centre for its district. The city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004.
The municipality is located on the sheltered northeastern part of Hinnøya, which is Norway's largest island (except from Svalbard), and the southern part, 53 km², of Grytøya, located just north of Hinnøya. It's bordered by Bjarkøy to the north, Kvæfjord to the west and Tjeldsund (in the county of Nordland) to the south. To the southeast the Tjeldsund Bridge connects Hinnøya with Skånland and the mainland across Tjeldsundet, and to the northeast is the fjord Vågsfjorden, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad. The city itself is located northeast on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and it's popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle – pearl of Vågsfjorden.
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[edit] Geography
In the municipality there are also several small islands, such as Arnøya, Gressholman, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Måga, Rogla and Åkerøya – and the biggest mountain is Sætertind, located at Sandtorg, with its 1095 meters above sea level; on Grytøya Nona is 1012 meters tall.
The nascent oil industry of Northern Norway is centered in Harstad, and shipyards and other industries are also important. Harstad and the surrounding area has traditionally been among the most productive agricultural regions in North Norway, with the old seabed creating fertile soil well suited for farming.
[edit] History
In recent years, a 3000-year-old bronze axe (external link) and 2600-year-old bronze collar (external link) have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial cairns built close to the sea, are powerful indications that the most northern well developed Bronze Age culture (agriculture, use of bronze) took place in the Harstad area.
There is substantial archeological evidence of a well developed Iron Age culture in the area, dating back to approximately AD 200.
Trondenes is often mentioned in the Heimskringla as a power center in the Viking Age and a place to meet and discuss important issues (Trondarting).
Trondenes Church, the world's most northern medieval church, from the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town.
Adjacent to the church is the Trondenes Historical Center and nearby is the Adolf Gun, an enormous land based cannon from World War II, and the last of the four originally constructed by the Nazis. Harstad is one of the few towns in this part of Norway which were left largely undamaged by World War II.
[edit] The name Harstad
The city is named after the old farm Harstad (Norse *Harðarstaðir), since it is built on its ground. The first element is (probably) the genitive case of the male name Hörðr, and the last element is staðir (homestead, farm).
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1953. The blue symbolizes the sea, with silver/white waves.
[edit] Local Info
- Located approximately 250 km (150 mi) north of the Arctic Circle, Harstad enjoys the midnight sun during the summer months, from 22 May to 18 July, along with comfortable moderate daytime temperatures, usually from 14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F).
- During the winter months, the polar night allows for regular viewings of the aurora borealis (aka the Northern Lights). The sun is not visible (below the horizon) from 30 November to 12 January. There is moderate snowfall for the region, and a surprisingly comfortable temperature of 4 °C to -10 °C (39 °F to 14 °F).
- The city hosts the annual weeklong Festival of North Norway (external link).
- Harstad University College has approximately 1,100 students (external link), including a thriving foreign exchange program with students from around the world.
- The local soccer team in the center of the city is Harstad Idrettslag (external link), and the popular basketball team is Harstad Vikings (external link).
- Harstad is home port for Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner, also known as the sailing queen of Norway (external link).
- The nearest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, 45 km (28 miles) by road, located on the mainland.
- Every morning a northbound and a southbound Coastal Express ship meet in Harstad.
[edit] Local areas
| Villages north/west of the city | City parts | Villages south of the city |
|---|---|---|
| Grøtavær | Bergseng | Nordvik |
| Lundenes | Trondenes | Melvik |
| Alvestad | Sama | Sørvik |
| Kjøtta | Harstadåsen | Halsebø |
| Kasfjord | Skaret | Brokvik |
| Stornes | Center | Fauskevåg |
| Årnes | Heggen | Gausvik |
| Røkenes | Seljestad | Haukebø |
| Undlandet | Harstadbotn | Sandtorg |
| Ervik | Grønnebakkan | |
| Vika | Gangsås | |
| Mustaparta | Stangnes | |
| Hagan | Åsby | |
| Kilhus | Kanebogen | |
| Tennvassåsen | Medkila | |
| Tømmeråsen | Holtet | |
| Steinnes | Breivik | |
| Storvassbotn | Ruggevik | |
| Sørlia | Kilbotn |
[edit] Education
| 1. to 10. grade Elementary and secondary schools |
11th to 13th grade High schools |
Other schools | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvestad skole | Aune skole | Bergseng barneskole | Harstad tekniske fagskole | Academy of Commerce |
| Ervik barneskole | Fauskevåg skole | Gausvik skole | Heggen videregående skole | Harstad University College |
| Hagebyen skole | Harstad barneskole | Harstad ungdomsskole | Stangnes videregående skole | Voksenopplæringa / Spesialpedagogisk senter Education for adults / Special help for kids |
| Kanebogen skole | Kasfjord skole | Kila skole | ||
| Lundenes skole | Medkila skole | Seljestad barneskole | ||
| Seljestad ungdomsskole | Stangnes barneskole | Sørvik skole | ||
See list of schools in Norway for more information.
[edit] People from Harstad
- Knut Andersen (1931–), acclaimed Norwegian film director (external link)
- Bjarne Berg-Sæther (1919–), mayor, county mayor, parliament politician
- Trygve Bornø (1942–), former national football player
- Kristin Clemet (1957–), politician, twice minister
- Hans Egede (1686–1758), priest, The Apostle of Greenland
- Karl Erik Harr (1940–), painter
- Kine Hellebust (1954–), singer (external link), actress (external link)
- Leif Arne Heløe (1932–), dr. odont., politian, minister of social affairs
- Jon Lech Johansen (1983–), hacker
- Hanna Kvanmo (1926–2005), politician
- Runar Normann (1978–), football player, formerly with Coventry City F.C.
- Iren Reppen (1965–), actress, play author (external link) (external link)
- Iselin Steiro (1986–), supermodel
- Ketil Stokkan (1956–), Eurovision Song Contest singer
- Unni Wikan (1944–), Ph.D. and professor of social anthropology
[edit] Twin towns
The twin towns of Harstad are:
Elsinore in Denmark
Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast in Russia
Umeå in Sweden
Vaasa in Finland
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Tourist information
- Culture
- Old history of Harstad
- Harstad pictures
- Green and black aurora over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Particularly rare purple auroral corona over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
- Web-cam Showing various parts of the town
- Live weather station located in Harstad In Norwegian
- Harstad Tidende (Harstad Times) Newspaper for the district, in Norwegian
| Municipalities of Troms |  |
|---|---|
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Balsfjord | Bardu | Berg | Bjarkøy | Dyrøy | Gratangen | Harstad | Ibestad | Karlsøy | Kvæfjord | Kvænangen | Kåfjord | Lavangen | Lenvik | Lyngen | Målselv | Nordreisa | Salangen | Skjervøy | Skånland | Storfjord | Sørreisa | Torsken | Tranøy | Tromsø |
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