Moskenes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Moskenes kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Nordland | ||
| District | Lofoten | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-1874 | ||
| Administrative centre | Reine | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2003) | Lillian Hansen (Ap) | ||
| Area (Nr. 374 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 119 km² (45.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 110 km² (42.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 1,212 | ||
| - Density | 11/km² (28.5/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -15.5 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 391 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
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| Website: www.moskenes.kommune.no | |||
Moskenes is a municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway. Moskenes is a part of Lofoten.
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[edit] History
The municipality was created by a split from Flakstad on July 1, 1916, at which time Moskenes had a population of 1,306. On 1 January 1964 the two municipalities were reunited, this time under the name Moskenes. However, Flakstad broke out on 1 January 1976 to once again form a separate municipality.
[edit] The name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Moskenes ("Muskenes" 1567), since the first church was built there. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is nes n 'headland'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). The spiral represents Moskstraumen.
[edit] What to see
Moskenes is among the most scenic municipalities in all Norway, and the picturesque fishing villages of Hamnøy, Reine, Sørvågen, Moskenes, Å and Tind have a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks rising above the Vestfjord.
Between Lofotodden, the southwestern tip of the Lofoten chain, and the offshore island of Mosken, there is the tidal current of Moskstraumen. This is better known internationally as the Maelstrom, feared by all sailors. On the isolated north western coast of the island, there are also interesting stone age cave paintings. The highest mountain is Hermannsdalstinden 1,029 m (3300 ft).
[edit] Famous people
- Hans Erik Dyvik Husby, musician
- Birger Eriksen, commander at Oscarsborg, and responsible for the sinking of Blücher, the German ship headed for Oslo on the night between April 8 and 9, 1940.
[edit] External links
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