Hidra (historically spelled ''Hitterø'') is the largest
island in
Agder county,
Norway. The island lies in
Flekkefjord municipality, south of the mainland coast, separated by the wide Hidrasund
strait
A strait is an oceanic landform connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. The surface water generally flows at the same elevation on both sides and through the strait in either direction. Most commonly, it is a narrow ocean channe ...
and the
Listafjorden. The island has about 500 residents (in 2015), mostly living on the west side in
Kirkehavn, where
Hidra Church
Hidra Church ( no, Hidra kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in the large Flekkefjord Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Kirkehamn on the island of Hidra. It is the church for the Hidra parish whi ...
is located. The village of
Rasvåg is another main village on the south side of the island. In 2007, the government of Norway studied the possibility of building an undersea tunnel to connect the island to the mainland without a ferry, but it was deemed to be too costly for the small benefit.
The island was the center of the old municipality of
Hidra which existed from 1893 until 1965.
Geography
The island is almost entirely granite with some moraine deposits. The inner part of the island is much more hospitable, with oak and other deciduous trees. The island is divided nearly in two halves by the Rasvågfjorden, and the Eie Canal was built through the remaining isthmus so that small boats can pass all the way through.
Name
The
Old Norse form of the name was ''Hitr''. The name is probably derived from a word with the meaning "split" or "cleft" (referring to the fact that the island is almost split in two by the Rasvåg
fjord).
Prior to 1918, the name was spelled ''Hitterø''.
See also
*
List of islands of Norway
References
External links
Hidra's website
{{Agder-island-stub
Flekkefjord
Islands of Agder