Halsnøy
| Halsnøy | ||
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| Waters | Hardangerfjord ( Atlantic Ocean ) | |
| Geographical location | 59 ° 46 ′ 0 ″ N , 5 ° 47 ′ 0 ″ E | |
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| surface | 38 km² | |
| Residents | 2400 (2006) 63 inhabitants / km² |
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Halsnøy is the largest island in the south of Kvinnherad municipality in western Norway . With a population of around 2,400 (2006), it is also the most densely populated island in the municipality. The most important places are Sæbøvik, Høylandsbygd and Halsnøy Kloster.
In 1896 one of the oldest boat finds in Norway was made on Halsnøy with the Halsnøy boat (also called “Toftebåten” or “Halsnøybåten”). The boat was reconstructed to scale in 2006.
The name Halsnøy is derived from "neck"; the island is only 200 m wide in the central part.
geography
The island of Halsnøy lies at the exit of the Hardangerfjord . The island was formed in the Ice Age , is mountainous, covered with dense coniferous forest except for a few rocky plateaus , and has only a few flat areas that are used for agriculture. Since usable land is so rare, houses are often built on steep slopes. The highest mountains are Svartaberg, Toftås, Landås, Ravnekult, Jamburfjell and Sydnessåta. In the interior of the island there are several lakes, such as Landavatn, Gravdalsvatn and Flatdalsvatn (each named after the nearest inhabited place).
In the vicinity of Halsnøy are the islands of Fjelbergøy and Borgundøy , to which there is a ferry connection . Other smaller and mostly uninhabited islands are Sjoøya , Kolsøya , Toftøya , Blåbærholmen .
The climate is rainy , with relatively mild winters. The holly can be seen as a typical representative of the plant world, which is no longer wild just a few kilometers inland.
The animal world only has deer in large mammals . When it comes to smaller predators, the mink is worth mentioning. Chance comes viper before. Porpoises are not uncommon in the sea .
tourism
The biggest attraction on the island is the ruined monastery from 1164. Other attractions are the Sæbøvik Festival every summer , the artistically designed “Magnar Garden” and “Radiohola”, a hard-to-reach place where the Allies secretly broadcasted during World War II was bugged. In the summer, many holiday homes are rented to German and Western European tourists who mainly devote themselves to fishing .
Halsnøy monastery
Halsnøy Monastery in the district of the same name was one of the first monasteries in Norway. According to tradition, it is said to have been founded by Erling Skakke on the basis of a vow at the coronation of his son Magnus Erlingsson in 1163/1164. Although there is no written evidence of this foundation, this is believed to be likely, as Erling Skakke had his ancestral estates in the area and had to meet the church for the coronation by Archbishop Øystein Erlendsson . As soon as the monastery was mentioned in a document, it was mostly called "coenobium paracleti" or "spiritus sancti", meaning monastery of the Holy Spirit. Since the Order of the Holy Spirit was only founded in 1197, it is assumed that it was initially an Augustinian Canons' monastery, which was then reformed into the Order of the Holy Spirit. However, the final clarification is still pending, as the Order of the Holy Spirit in Scandinavia is otherwise not proven and is considered to be limited to southern France, Italy and Upper Germany.
The monastery included a hospital , a church and overnight accommodation. Trade in fish and agricultural products flourished . The Augustinian monks and nuns took care of the sick seamen , soldiers , farmers and other sick people. Even today you can find herbs in the monastery garden that were previously used for medicine. The complex has been part of the Sunnhordland Museum since 1986. Every year the monastery is a destination for many visitors. It is a tradition that newlyweds visit the monastery.
The Sunnhordland Adult Education Center is located near the monastery.
Economy and Infrastructure
traffic
From Ranavik harbor in the north of the island there is a car ferry to Skjærsholmane on the island of Stord and a speedboat for passengers to Leirvik (island of Stord) and Sunde (mainland). The port of Sydnes in the south offers ferry connections to Utbjoa, Borgundøy and Fjellbergøy.
A bus line operates on the island. In Sæbøvik there is a small harbor, which is also suitable for loading and unloading smaller cargo ships, and a small guest harbor .
The interior of the island is still difficult to access. Paved paths away from the main roads have only been established for a few years.
The Halsnøytunnel
Between Halsnøy (above Toftevåg on the east coast) and the mainland between Sunde and Husnes, a tunnel (Halsnøytunnel) has been built under the seabed in recent years, which opened on March 8, 2008. The tunnel has a length of 4210 m, plus another 2.1 km of road to connect to the existing road network. The cost is expected to be DKK 254 million . 53% of the financing comes from toll revenues , 33% from funds from the Norwegian state and 10% from a grant from the municipality of Kvinnherad. The toll station is located on the island and is operated fully automatically. Cars that cannot be electronically recorded ( AutoPASS system) are photographed and the owner receives an invoice. The toll for vehicles up to 3.5 t is 100 NOK. The tunnel passage is free for motorbikes and electric vehicles. The tunnel replaces the Ranavik - Sunde ferry line.
economy
For a long time, Halsnøy made a living from fishing and exported a large number of canned fish . Despite the declining fish wealth in recent years, catching a sardine species (Sild) is still of economic importance. Salmon farms are particularly close to the island of Fjellbergøy .
Other important companies are:
- Per Skarveland
- Eide Marine Services (shipbuilding)
- Adonis Data
- Fjelberg Kraftlag (energy supply)
Education and sport
schools
- Sunnhordland folkehøgskule (adult education center)
- Sætre skule, Øyatun ungdomsskule
- Tofte skule
- Hauge Oppvekstsenter, former Hauge Skule.
sports clubs
- Halsnøy idrettslag (volleyball, football, swimming)
- Halsnøy o-lag
- Høylandsbygd skyttarlag (shooting club)
There is a large sports field in the center of the main town of Sæbøvik.
Personalities from Halsnøy
- Bjarte Agdestein, collaborator on the Oscar-winning film "The Danish Poet"
- Tor Bjarne Bjelland (musician)
Web links
- Information about the tunnel connection (in Norwegian)