Moskenes is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Nordland Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The municipality comprises the southern part of the island of Moskenesøya in the Districts of Norway, traditional district of Lofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Reine. Other villages include Sørvågen, Moskenes, Sørvågen, Hamnøy, and Å, Moskenes, Å. The municipality is the 321st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Moskenes is the 333rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 982. The municipality's population density is and its population has decreased by 12% over the previous 10-year period. Debt of the municipal government: it owes 100 million Norwegian kroner (as of 2022); the significant debt makes it difficult to find other municipalities that are interested in merging with Moskenes.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old ''Moskenes'' farm ("Muskenes" – 1567), since the first Moskenes Church was built there. The first element is probably derived from the word ''mosk/musk'' which means "sea spray" and the last element is ''nes'' which means "headland". (See also Moskenstraumen.)

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 September 1986. The arms show a white vortex spiral on a blue background. Vortexes or whirlpools, such as the Moskenstraumen, appear in the channel just south of the island of Moskenesøya when the tide comes in, making it a hazardous channel.

History

The municipality was established on 1 July 1916 when the southern part of Flakstad Municipality was separated to become Moskenes. Initially, Moskenes had a population of 1,306. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Flakstad and Moskenes were reunited, this time under the name "Moskenes". Prior to the merger, Moskenes had 2,001 residents and the new municipality of Moskenes had 4,068 residents. This new municipality did not last long because on 1 January 1976, Flakstad broke away again to once again form a separate municipality. This left Moskenes with 1,705 residents.

Culture

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish () within the municipality of Moskenes. It is part of the Lofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Attractions

Moskenes is among the most scenic municipalities in all Norway, and the picturesque fishing villages of Hamnøy, Reine, Sørvågen, Moskenes, Sørvågen, Moskenes, Å, Moskenes, Å, and Tind all have a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks rising above the Vestfjorden (Norway), Vestfjorden. The historic Glåpen Lighthouse is located just east of Sørvågen. Between Lofotodden, the southwestern tip of the Lofoten chain, and the offshore island of Mosken, there is the tidal current of Moskenstraumen. This is better known internationally as the Maelstrom, feared by all sailors. On the isolated northwestern coast of the island, there are also interesting Stone Age cave paintings. The highest mountain is Hermannsdalstinden at .

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Moskenes, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient Health care, health services, old age, senior citizen services, unemployment and other Social work, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a Municipal council (Norway), municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The Municipal council (Norway), municipal council of Moskenes is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The Political party, party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Geography

Moskenes has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification, Köppen ''Dfc''). The municipality of Moskenes lies near the southern end of the Lofoten archipelago on the southern part of the island of Moskenesøya. The Vestfjorden lies to the east, the Moskenstraumen strait lies to the south, and the Norwegian Sea lies to the west. The municipality of Flakstad lies to the north (on the northern part of the island) and the island municipality of Værøy lies about to the south.

Climate

Notable residents

* Birger Eriksen (1875 in Flakstad – 1958) naval commander at Oscarsborg Fortress, where the German cruiser Blücher was sunk in 1940 * Rolv Thesen (1896 in Moskenes – 1966) a Norwegian poet, literary researcher and literary critic * Rolf Bendiksen (born 1938 in Moskenes) a Norwegian politician. Mayor of Moskenes, 1983–1987 * Lillian Hansen (born 1957 in Moskenes) a bus driver, member of parliament, mayor * Hank von Helvete, Hans Erik Dyvik Husby (1972 – ?) known as ''Hank von Hell'', punk rock musician, lived in Moskenes

Gallery

AA lofoten.JPG, Near Å, Moskenes Gunnar Berg Fiskebåter ved Reine.jpg, ''Fiskebåter ved Reine''; by Gunnar Berg (painter), Gunnar Berg. Soervaagen sentrum.JPG, Sørvågen moskenes-1.jpg, Moskenes to the west Djupfjorden, 2010 09.jpg, Djupfjorden in 2010 September.

References

External links

Municipal fact sheet
from Statistics Norway *
Video:Driving the E10 road in Moskenes
{{Use dmy dates, date=April 2015 Moskenes, Municipalities of Nordland Populated places of Arctic Norway Fishing communities 1916 establishments in Norway