Solund is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in the
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
of
Vestland
Vestland is a county in Norway established on 1 January 2020. The county is located in Western Norway and it is centred around the city of Bergen, Norway's second largest city. The administrative centre of the county is the city of Bergen, where t ...
,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. It is located in the
traditional district of
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway ''(Vestlandet)''. It is located in the county of Vestland, surrounding the Sognefjord, the largest/longest fjord in Norway. The district of Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestr ...
. Solund is the westernmost island municipality in Norway.
Holmebåen Holmebåen is a point on the tiny island of Steinsøy in an archipelago of small islands northwest of the Utvær islands in the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. It lies about west of the municipal center of Hardbakke. Holmebåe ...
on the island of Steinsøy is the westernmost point in all of
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. Most residents of Solund live on the main islands of
Sula and
Ytre Sula. The
administrative centre of Solund is the village of
Hardbakke
Hardbakke ( en, "Hard Hill") is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the west side of the island of Sula, just across the strait from the island of Steinsundøyna. Hard ...
on Sula island. Some other villages in Solund include
Kolgrov on Ytre Sula,
Hersvikbygda
Hersvikbygda is a village in Solund Municipality in Vestland county, Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost porti ...
on Sula, and
Losnegard
Losnegard is a very small village in the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. Constituting the easternmost point of the municipality, it is located near the mouth of the Sognefjorden, about northeast of the municipal center of Hardb ...
on
Losna.
The municipality is the 295th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Solund is the 345th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 768. The municipality's
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
is and its population has decreased by 9.8% over the previous 10-year period.
In 2016, the chief of police for
Vestlandet
Western Norway ( nb, Vestlandet, Vest-Norge; nn, Vest-Noreg) is the region along the Atlantic coast of southern Norway. It consists of the counties Rogaland, Vestland, and Møre og Romsdal. The region has no official or political-administrati ...
formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Solund be closed.
General information
![07 Ospa Narrows (5671768385)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/07_Ospa_Narrows_%285671768385%29.jpg)
''Utvær'' was established as a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in 1858. The two sub-parishes, or ''sokn'', of Solund and Husøy were separated from the
Gulen
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Vestland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik. Other villages in Gulen include Brekke, Byrkne ...
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
''(
prestegjeld
A ''prestegjeld'' was a geographic and administrative area within the Church of Norway (''Den Norske Kirke'') roughly equivalent to a parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a di ...
)'' to form the new municipality and parish of ''Utvær'' at that time. The initial population of Utvær was 1,384. On 1 January 1888, the Krakken farm (population: 17) on the extreme northeastern part of Sula island was transferred from
Hyllestad Municipality
Hyllestad is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in the Counties of Norway, county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the Districts of Norway, traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the Hyllestad (village), vi ...
and eight farms in the
Hersvikbygda
Hersvikbygda is a village in Solund Municipality in Vestland county, Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost porti ...
area (population: 317) on northern Sula island were transferred from
Askvoll Municipality
is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Askvoll. Other villages in the municipality include Holmedal, Kvammen, and Stongfjorden. The ...
and they were all added to the municipality of Utvær.
On 1 July 1890, the municipal name of ''Utvær'' was changed to ''Sulen''. The spelling was later altered to ''Solund'' by royal decree on 16 November 1923. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the
Schei Committee The Schei Committee ( no, Schei-komitéen) was a committee named by the Government of Norway to look into the organization of municipalities in Norway post-World War II.
It convened in 1946, and its formal name was (The 1946 Committee on Municip ...
. On 1 January 1964, the island of
Losna (population: 40) was transferred from
Gulen Municipality
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Vestland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik. Other villages in Gulen include Brekke, Byrknes ...
to Solund.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly created
Vestland
Vestland is a county in Norway established on 1 January 2020. The county is located in Western Norway and it is centred around the city of Bergen, Norway's second largest city. The administrative centre of the county is the city of Bergen, where t ...
county after
Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane (; English: "Sogn and Fjordane") was, up to 1 January 2020, a county in western Norway, when it was merged to become part of Vestland county. Bordering previous counties Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland, the cou ...
and
Hordaland
Hordaland () was a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland counties. Hordaland was the third largest county, after Akershus and Oslo, by population. The county government was the Hordaland County Munici ...
counties were merged.
Name
The name ( non, Sólund or which is the plural) originally belonged to the island of
Sula. The meaning of the name is unknown. In Old Norse times, the sea between
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
and
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
was called ''Sólundirhaf'' which means "the sea ''(haf)'' of Solund." The municipality was named ''Utvær'' from 1858 until 1 July 1890 when it was changed to ''Sulen''. The spelling was altered to ''Solund'' on 16 November 1923.
Coat of arms
The
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
were granted on 16 February 1990. The blue and gray arms have a design of five blue diamonds in a row across the central part of the shield. The arms were inspired by the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
of the now-extinct medieval noble family from the island of
Losna.
Churches
The
Church of Norway has one parish () (made up of three churches) within the municipality of Solund. It is part of the
Nordhordland prosti
Nordhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway. The district consists of the northern portion of the old Hordaland county (now in Vestland county), north of the city of Bergen. It includes the municipalities Alver, Austr ...
(
deanery) in the
Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Solund, are responsible for
primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient
health services,
senior citizen
Old age refers to ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and is thus the end of the human life cycle. Terms and euphemisms for people at this age include old people, the elderly (worldwide usage), OAPs (British usage ...
services,
unemployment
Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work during the refere ...
and other
social services,
zoning
Zoning is a method of urban planning in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones. Zones may be defined for a si ...
,
economic development
In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and ...
, and municipal
road
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
s. The municipality is governed by a
municipal council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
of elected representatives, which in turn elect a
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
.
The municipality falls under the
Sogn og Fjordane District Court
Sogn og Fjordane District Court ( no, Sogn og Fjordane tingrett) is a district court (Norway), district court located in Vestland county, Norway. This court is based at two different courthouses which are located in Førde (town), Førde and Sognd ...
and the
Gulating Court of Appeal
The Gulating Court of Appeal ( no, Gulating lagmannsrett) is one of six Court of appeal (Norway), courts of appeal in the Norway, Kingdom of Norway. The Court is located in the city of Bergen (city), Bergen. The court has jurisdiction over the cou ...
.
Municipal council
The
municipal council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
of Solund is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The
party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often featur ...
breakdown of the council is as follows:
Mayor
The
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. The mayors of Solund (incomplete list):
*2015–present: Gunn Åmdal Mongstad (
Sp)
*2011-2015: Ole Gunnar Krakhellen (
H)
*2003-2011: Gunn Åmdal Mongstad (Sp)
*1999-2003: Steinar Krakhellen (H)
*1991-1999: Vigdis Midtbø (
Ap)
*1988-1991: Sveinung Kråkås (H)
*1981-1987: Reidar Engevik (
KrF
The Christian Democratic Party ( nb, Kristelig Folkeparti, nn, Kristeleg Folkeparti, se, Risttalaš Álbmotbellodat, , KrF) is a Christian-democratic political party in Norway founded in 1933. The party is an observer member of the European Pe ...
)
*1976-1981: Steinar Krakhellen (H)
Population
Solund is one of the least populated municipalities in all of
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. The population of Solund is scattered among the islands in small villages as follows:
*
Hardbakke
Hardbakke ( en, "Hard Hill") is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the west side of the island of Sula, just across the strait from the island of Steinsundøyna. Hard ...
- 246 inhabitants
*Storøy/Dalesund - 139 inhabitants
*Nesefjord - 89 inhabitants
*
Kolgrov/Trovåg - 62 inhabitants
*Hjønnevåg - 59 inhabitants
*Strand/Oddekalv - 53 inhabitants
*Færøy/Leknessund - 52 inhabitants
*
Hersvikbygda
Hersvikbygda is a village in Solund Municipality in Vestland county, Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost porti ...
- 42 inhabitants
*Austrefjord/Dumbefjord - 26 inhabitants
*Indrevær/Utvær - 11 inhabitants
*Krakhella - 6 inhabitants
*
Losnegard
Losnegard is a very small village in the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. Constituting the easternmost point of the municipality, it is located near the mouth of the Sognefjorden, about northeast of the municipal center of Hardb ...
- 4 inhabitants
Geography
![Lågøystolane i Solund](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/L%C3%A5g%C3%B8ystolane_i_Solund.jpg)
Solund is a municipality made up of many islands. The two largest islands are
Sula and
Ytre Sula. Other islands are
Losna,
Steinsundøyna,
Nesøyna,
Ospa,
Rånøyna,
Færøyna,
Lågøyna, and
Hågøyna. The westernmost point in Norway is
Holmebåen Holmebåen is a point on the tiny island of Steinsøy in an archipelago of small islands northwest of the Utvær islands in the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. It lies about west of the municipal center of Hardbakke. Holmebåe ...
in the tiny Utvær islands which are mostly uninhabited.
Utvær Lighthouse is located at Utvær.
Solund is bordered to the north by the municipality of
Askvoll
is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Askvoll. Other villages in the municipality include Holmedal, Kvammen, and Stongfjorden. The ...
, to the east by
Fjaler
Fjaler is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Dale. Other places in Fjaler include Espedal, Flekke, Folkestad, Guddal, and Hellevik ...
and
Hyllestad
Hyllestad is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Hyllestad. Other villages in the municipality include Sørbøvågen and Leirvik. Hyl ...
, to the south by
Gulen
is a municipality in the southwestern part of Vestland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Eivindvik. Other villages in Gulen include Brekke, Byrkne ...
, and to the west by the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
. The
Sognesjøen
Sognesjøen is a strait in Vestland county, Norway. The strait is the outermost part of the large Sognefjorden. It runs along the border between Solund and Gulen municipalities. The long strait begins around the village of Rutledal on the mai ...
strait runs along the southern border of the municipality. It is the main connection between the sea and the large
Sognefjorden
The Sognefjord or Sognefjorden (, en, Sogn Fjord), nicknamed the King of the Fjords ( no, Fjordenes konge), is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway. Located in Vestland county in Western Norway, it stretches inland from the ocean to the smal ...
. The mouth of the Sognefjorden lies just east of Solund.
Economy
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
is the most important
industry
Industry may refer to:
Economics
* Industry (economics), a generally categorized branch of economic activity
* Industry (manufacturing), a specific branch of economic activity, typically in factories with machinery
* The wider industrial sector ...
in Solund
Solund Verftis the largest industrial business with 21 employees working on the maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of
ship
A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...
s. Solund is popular with boaters with its myriad exciting islands and also attracts numerous tourists looking for outdoor recreation and fishing. Utvær island and the
Utvær Lighthouse is a popular destination for tourists during the summer.
Attractions
Gåsvær
Gåsvær is among the outermost islands of northern Solund. It is far west out at sea between the Lågøyfjorden and the Gåsværosen river outlet. The
fishing bank
An ocean bank, sometimes referred to as a fishing bank or simply bank, is a part of the seabed that is shallow compared to its surrounding area, such as a shoal or the top of an underwater hill. Somewhat like continental slopes, ocean bank sl ...
s are just off the island's coastline, and Gåsvær most probably has a long history of trade. In 1767, the island had both its own guesthouse and pub. Over the past century, the islanders have made their living from fishing and agriculture, and in more modern times, taking passengers over the waters and tourism. The oldest section of the characteristic main house dates back to the 18th century, while another section was built using timber from a shipwrecked sailing ship.
Utvær
One cannot travel any further west in Norway and still be on solid ground. There are no longer any permanent residents on the island of
Utvær
Utvær is an island group in Solund Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is the westernmost archipelago in Norway. The main residential area on the rocky islands is also called Utvær. It lies on the western side of the Sognesjøen which ...
, but there are always two people on duty at the
lighthouse. To visit Utvær one has to travel by boat. There is a service available on request from
Kolgrov all year round. In the summer season there is a scheduled service with departures from
Hardbakke
Hardbakke ( en, "Hard Hill") is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the west side of the island of Sula, just across the strait from the island of Steinsundøyna. Hard ...
,
Eivindvik
Eivindvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gulen in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, along the north shore of the Gulafjorden. It is also located about south of the village of Dingja (and the ...
, and Korssund.
The
County Governor of
Vestland
Vestland is a county in Norway established on 1 January 2020. The county is located in Western Norway and it is centred around the city of Bergen, Norway's second largest city. The administrative centre of the county is the city of Bergen, where t ...
declared Utvær to be a nature reserve. This decision applies to the Utvær island group and surrounding sea. An exception is made for the island of Utvær itself and the sea immediately around it. The Norwegian Riksantikvar (preservation of Norwegian heritage) has made a proposal to preserve the lighthouse itself.
In the Middle Ages,
Utvær Chapel was located to the south of the existing settlement. It is somewhat uncertain when the chapel was built. The first written references to if appear in the work of Bjørgynar Kalveskinn from 1320. The chapel had an income from gifts and fishing tithes. In the 17th century the chapel owned 15 cows and 27 sheep that were rented out. Later on in the 17th century the chapel of Utvær was robbed by
Scottish pirates.
The chapel was made of timber and was approximately , and it could seat a congregation of about 120. The chapel bell from 1641 is currently exhibited at the Heibergske Samlingar exhibition in Kaupanger. Four sermons a year were held in the chapel and the priest had to come by boat from
Eivindvik
Eivindvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gulen in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, along the north shore of the Gulafjorden. It is also located about south of the village of Dingja (and the ...
. He was often stranded on the islands nearer the mainland as a result of bad weather. In 1718 the chapel was moved into the island of Husøy (
Husøy Chapel). It was pulled down at the end of the 19th century when Straumen church was inaugurated.
The
lighthouse burned down in February 1945 during an allied air attack during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The lighthouse was reconstructed from 1948 to 1952. The lighthouse itself took on a different form from previously and the "balcony" on the top was one storey lower.
Arboretum
The Coastal Arboretum in
Hardbakke
Hardbakke ( en, "Hard Hill") is the administrative centre of the municipality of Solund in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the west side of the island of Sula, just across the strait from the island of Steinsundøyna. Hard ...
is a collection of trees and plants of largely indigenous species. There are 60 different species planted there. The
rhododendron collection is a sight to behold in early summer. Integrated into the arboretum, there is a long footpath over a variety of terrain with a wonderful view over the outer
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord or Sognefjorden (, en, Sogn Fjord), nicknamed the King of the Fjords ( no, Fjordenes konge), is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway. Located in Vestland county in Western Norway, it stretches inland from the ocean to the smal ...
. There is also a marked footpath up to the top of Ravnenipa mountain.
Notable people
*
Mimi Sverdrup Lunden
Mimi Sverdrup Lunden (13 June 1894 – 8 January 1955) was a Norwegian educator, non-fiction writer and proponent for women's rights
Personal life
Lunden was born in Sulen, Sogn og Fjordane, a daughter of Lutheran theologian Edvard Sv ...
(1894 in Sulen – 1955) a Norwegian educator, non-fiction writer and proponent for women's rights
*
Einar Sverdrup (1895 in Solund – 1942) a Norwegian mining engineer, killed in action during
Operation Fritham
*
Paul Vårdal (1925 in Solund – 2010) a Norwegian accountant and a pioneer of accountant education in Norway
References
External links
Municipal fact sheetfrom
Statistics Norway Official website: Solund KommuneNorway’s far-flung isle with a Viking spirit
{{use dmy dates, date=October 2022
Municipalities of Vestland
1858 establishments in Norway