Karlsøy

Karlsøy (Northern Sami: Gálssa suohkan) is an island municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Other villages include Dåfjord, Hessfjord, Karlsøya, Torsvåg, Vannvåg, and Vannareid. The municipality is made up of many islands including Ringvassøya, Reinøya, Vannøya, Karlsøya, and Rebbenesøya plus several uninhabited islands (many of which were formerly inhabited). Some of the currently uninhabited islands include Helgøya, Nordkvaløya, Grøtøya, and Nord-Fugløya.[3]

For the village in Hamarøy, Norway, see Karlsøy, Nordland.

Karlsøy kommune Gálssa suohkan
Municipality
View of the Kåja island with Torsvåg Lighthouse off Vanna
Coat of arms Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Karlsøy within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 70°07′48″N 19°25′51″E
Country	Norway
County	Troms og Finnmark
District	Nord-Troms
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Hansnes
Government
• Mayor (2015)	Mona Pedersen (LL)
Area
• Total	1,091.59 km^2 (421.47 sq mi)
• Land	1,050.71 km^2 (405.68 sq mi)
• Water	40.88 km^2 (15.78 sq mi)  3.7%
Area rank	103 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,200
• Rank	270 in Norway
• Density	2.1/km^2 (5/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	-7.2%
Demonym(s)	Karlsøyværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5423
Official language form	Neutral[2]
Website	karlsoy.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,092-square-kilometre (422 sq mi) municipality is the 103rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Karlsøy is the 270th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,200. The municipality's population density is 2.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.4/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 7.2% over the last decade.[4][5]

General information

Karlsøy was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see the formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1867, the southern Ullsfjord district of Karlsøy (population: 862) was transferred from Karlsøy to the neighboring Lyngen Municipality. On 1 September 1886, the western island district (population: 828) was separated from Karlsøy to become the new municipality of Helgøy. This left Karlsøy with 1,334 inhabitants.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged back into the municipality of Karlsøy. At the same time, all of the mainland areas of Karlsøy (the northern part of the Lyngen peninsula, with 1,001 inhabitants) was transferred from Karlsøy to neighboring Lyngen Municipality. After all the changes, the new Karlsøy had 3,414 residents. On 1 January 2008, the southern part of the island of Reinøya was transferred from Tromsø Municipality to Karlsøy Municipality.[6][7]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the small Karlsøya island (Old Norse: Kalsøe), since the first Karlsøy Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name Karl and the last element is øy which means "island". Prior to 1909, the name was spelled Karlsø.[9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 December 1980. The arms show the head of a white-tailed eagle on a blue background, since one of Europe's largest colonies of these birds is found on the island of Nord-Fugløya in the municipality. Furthermore, the eagle symbolizes the importance of fishing for the municipality.[10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Karlsøy. It is part of the Tromsø domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Karlsøy

Parish (Sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Karlsøy	Helgøy Church	Helgøya	1742
	Karlsøy Church	Karlsøya	1854
	Ringvassøy Church	Hansnes	1977
	Sengskroken Church	Vanna	1962

Economy

Karlsøy is among the world's most important exporters of dried and salted cod, with Portugal, Spain, and Brazil among the main markets. The population is almost totally dependent on fishing. There are also goat herding businesses and some musicians that live on the island. There is also some tourism, including a festival that runs in the Summer. There are plans for 50 holiday homes to be built on the isle.

Geography and nature

The island Vanna seen from the ferry

The municipality consists of islands only. Ringvassøya, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest island in the municipality. Nordkvaløya, Helgøya, Karlsøya, Vanna (Vannøya), Reinøya, and Rebbenesøya are the other major islands.

The islands of Rebbenesøy and Ringvassøy are split (as was Reinøya before 2008), with the southern part belonging to neighboring Tromsø municipality. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the southern parts of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the northern parts belonged to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is awkward, which is why the Norwegian government transferred all of Reinøy to the municipality of Karlsøy on 1 January 2008.[7] Soltindan is the highest mountain on the island of Ringvassøy at 1,051 m (3,448 ft) above sea level.

Karlsøya, the little island after which the municipality is named, has a village with the 19th century Karlsøy Church. The inhabitants include the original inhabitants, hippies, and Norwegian Muslims.

Helgøya, the former seat of the independent municipality of Helgøy in the western part of present Karlsøy, is today a more or less abandoned village of wooden houses and the old Helgøy Church. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.

Lake Skogsfjordvatn, in the centre of Ringvassøy, is a lake with some fishing, surrounded by sub-Arctic forests. This is Norway's largest lake in an island. The island of Vannøya has several villages, including Burøysund and Torsvåg, the latter offering views of the Atlantic from the Torsvåg Lighthouse.

Climate data for Torsvåg
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	0.7 (33.3)	0.6 (33.1)	1.3 (34.3)	3.2 (37.8)	6.9 (44.4)	10.8 (51.4)	13.6 (56.5)	13.2 (55.8)	9.9 (49.8)	6.3 (43.3)	3.3 (37.9)	1.5 (34.7)	5.9 (42.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−1.1 (30.0)	−1.2 (29.8)	−0.5 (31.1)	1.4 (34.5)	4.8 (40.6)	8.0 (46.4)	10.8 (51.4)	10.7 (51.3)	7.9 (46.2)	4.6 (40.3)	1.6 (34.9)	−0.3 (31.5)	3.9 (39.0)
Average low °C (°F)	−2.9 (26.8)	−3.0 (26.6)	−2.2 (28.0)	−0.3 (31.5)	2.9 (37.2)	6.0 (42.8)	8.6 (47.5)	8.8 (47.8)	6.3 (43.3)	3.0 (37.4)	0.0 (32.0)	−2.1 (28.2)	2.1 (35.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	73 (2.9)	56 (2.2)	57 (2.2)	48 (1.9)	45 (1.8)	50 (2.0)	52 (2.0)	59 (2.3)	76 (3.0)	97 (3.8)	80 (3.1)	85 (3.3)	778 (30.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	14.5	12.5	12.1	11.9	10.5	11.0	10.9	11.7	15.0	17.4	16.3	15.9	159.7
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[11]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Karlsøy, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[12] The municipality falls under the Nord-Troms District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Karlsøy is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Karlsøy Common List (Karlsøy Fellesliste)	5
Total number of members:		17

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy (Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy)	3
Total number of members:		17

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	4
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy (Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy)	2
Total number of members:		17

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Reinøy List (Reinøylista)	1
Total number of members:		17

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
Total number of members:		19

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy)	2
	Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste)	1
Total number of members:		25

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy)	3
	Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste)	1
Total number of members:		25

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy)	4
	Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste)	3
Total number of members:		27

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	14
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy)	7
	Western Vannøy non-party list (Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste)	2
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	15
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy (Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy)	5
	Socialist Unity List (Sosialistisk enhetsliste)	1
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	16
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	13
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Vannøy Non-party List (Vannøy Upolitiske Liste)	2
	Independent Voters (Uavhengige Velgere)	3
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	16
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	20
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	9
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	9
Total number of members:		29

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	16
Total number of members:		16

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	10
Total number of members:		16

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [29]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	16
Total number of members:		16

Karlsøy Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		16

Mayors

The mayors of Karlsøy (incomplete list):

• 2015–present: Mona Pedersen (LL)
• 2011-2015: Hanny Ditlefsen (Ap)
• 2007-2011: Bent Gabrielsen (Ap)
• 2003-2007: Thor Tøllefsen (Kp)
• 1999-2003: Hanny Ditlefsen (Ap)

Transportation

The municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through an undersea tunnel from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here ferries depart to Vannøy, Reinøy, and Karlsøy. The Langsund Tunnel is under construction and was planned to be completed by 2015, but it is currently on hiatus. It is expected to connect the islands of Reinøya and Ringvassøy. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøy are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøy.

Attractions

View from Burøysund

Karlsøy attractions include:

• The island of Nord-Fugløya, one of Norway's major bird cliffs, including puffin colonies.
• Fugløykalven Lighthouse, northwest of Nord-Fugløya
• There is a flat high plateau on Nord-Fugløya, 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level, where Arctic cloudberries grow. The island can only be reached in the cloudberry season, when picking expeditions are organized from Burøysund.

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Store norske leksikon. "Karlsøy" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2012-12-16.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
7. "Søndre del av Reinøy i Troms overføres til Karlsøy kommune" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
8. Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (2019-12-24). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
9. Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 162.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
11. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 2004-06-14.
12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-18.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Troms travel guide from Wikivoyage
• http://karlsoyfestival.com/