Værøya

Værøya or Værøy is an island in Værøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The 15.7-square-kilometre (6.1 sq mi) island makes up about 89% of the land area of the whole municipality and it is home to 100% of the municipal residents. The island has two villages on it: Nordland (on the northern edge of the island) and Sørland (on the southeastern peninsula). About 95% of the island's residents live in Sørland, which is also the administrative centre of the municipality. There is also the old (now abandoned) village of Mostad on the southern part of the island. The Værøy Church and Old Værøy Church are both located on the island.[1]

Værøya
Værøya
Location of the island
Værøya
Værøya (Norway)
Geography
LocationNordland, Norway
Coordinates67.6778°N 12.6640°E / 67.6778; 12.6640
ArchipelagoLofoten
Area15.7 km2 (6.1 sq mi)
Length9.4 km (5.84 mi)
Width5 km (3.1 mi)
Highest elevation450 m (1,480 ft)
Highest pointNordlandsnupen
Administration
Norway
CountyNordland
MunicipalityVærøy Municipality

The island lies at the southern of the Lofoten archipelago, between the islands of Røstlandet and Moskenesøya. The small, uninhabited island of Mosken lies a short distance north of Værøya. The Moskenstraumen strait lies to the north of the island, the Vestfjorden lies to the east, and the Norwegian Sea is to the west. The highest point on the island is the 450-metre (1,480 ft) tall mountain Nordlandsnupen.[1]

The Norwegian Lundehund was a dog used in Værøy to hunt puffins on the narrow cliffs on the island. The dog breed nearly went extinct in the 20th century, but a few dogs remained and have since mounted a comeback.

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was Veðrøy. The first element is veðr which means "weather" (here referring to harsh weather and the exposed and unsheltered position of the island). The last element is øy which means "island". Historically, the name has been spelled Værø.[2]

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See also

References
  1. Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2016-07-17). "Værøya". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  2. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 351.
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