Værøy Municipality
Værøy kommune
Municipality
Værø herred  (historic name)
The islands and islets of Værøy
The islands and islets of Værøy
Flag of Værøy Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Værøy Municipality
Coat of arms
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Værøy within Nordland
Værøy within Nordland
Coordinates: 67°40′23″N 12°40′09″E / 67.67306°N 12.66917°E / 67.67306; 12.66917
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictLofoten
Established1 Jan 1838
Administrative centreSørland
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Susann Berg Kristiansen (LL)
Area
 • Total18.64 km2 (7.20 sq mi)
 • Land18.61 km2 (7.19 sq mi)
 • Water0.03 km2 (0.01 sq mi)  0.2%
 • Rank#351 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total688
 • Rank#347 in Norway
 • Density37/km2 (100/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −8.8%
DemonymVærøyværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1857[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Værøy is an island municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Lofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sørland on the main island of Værøya. The other village in Værøy is Nordland. Most of the residents live in the Sørland area surrounding the main harbor. The old Værøy Lighthouse sits at the end of that harbor.

The 19-square-kilometre (7.3 sq mi) municipality is the 351st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Værøy is the 347th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of only 688. The municipality's population density is 36.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (95/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 8.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

Måstad
Location of Værøy

The municipality of Værøy was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1928, the southern district of Værøy (population: 731) was separated to become the new Røst Municipality.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Værøya (Old Norse: Veðrøy) since the first Værøy Church was built there. The first element is the word veðr which means "weather" (here referring to harsh weather and the exposed and unsheltered position of the island). The last element is øy which means "island".[7] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Værø. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Værøy.[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 7 October 1988. The official blazon is "Azure, a puffin argent armed gules" (Norwegian: I blått en sølv lundefugl). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a puffin. The puffin has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The charge is also "armed gules" which means that the beak and feet are colored red. The blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea. The churge is a puffin to represent the fact that they nest in large numbers in the area and historically, they held great importance for the island municipality, both for meat and down feathers. The arms were designed by John Digernes.[9][10][11]

Churches

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

Churches in Værøy
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
VærøyVærøy ChurchSørland1939
Old Værøy ChurchNordland1799

Geography

Looking south at Mosken and then Værøya (from Moskenes)

The island municipality is made up of many islands, the two largest islands being Værøya and Mosken. It is located at the end of the Lofoten archipelago. The Norwegian Sea lies to the northwest and the Vestfjorden lies to the southeast. The Moskenstraumen maelstrom lies to the north between Værøya and Moskenesøya.

Climate

The weather in Værøy can be very changeable. Sunshine, rain, wind, and mist may interchange rapidly. The winter climate is mild and the temperature seldom drops below 0 °C (32 °F). This makes conditions for stockfish exceptionally good.

Røst and Værøy are among the most northern locations in the world where there is no meteorological winter because the average temperature generally stays above freezing all year. The winter temperatures in southern Lofoten represent the highest temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. However, the winter weather is rather windy.[12] The polar night occurs from December 13–29 and the midnight sun occurs from May 28- July 15.

Værøy has a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) with short, cool summers and long winters.

Climate data for Værøy 1991-2020 (precipitation 61-90, extremes 2005-2023)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.9
(48.0)		 8.4
(47.1)		 7.9
(46.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 19
(66)		 21.1
(70.0)		 22.7
(72.9)		 23.1
(73.6)		 17.4
(63.3)		 15.2
(59.4)		 11.4
(52.5)		 9.7
(49.5)		 23.1
(73.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)		 1.5
(34.7)		 1.8
(35.2)		 3.5
(38.3)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.3
(48.7)		 12.2
(54.0)		 12.1
(53.8)		 10.1
(50.2)		 7.1
(44.8)		 5
(41)		 3.3
(37.9)		 6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) −8
(18)		 −9.5
(14.9)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −2
(28)		 1.5
(34.7)		 6.5
(43.7)		 4.2
(39.6)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 −9.5
(14.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 96
(3.8)		 75
(3.0)		 74
(2.9)		 59
(2.3)		 40
(1.6)		 43
(1.7)		 57
(2.2)		 64
(2.5)		 98
(3.9)		 130
(5.1)		 104
(4.1)		 110
(4.3)		 950
(37.4)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[13]

Government

All municipalities in Norway are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[14] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Værøy is made up of 13 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Værøy kommunestyre 2023–2027 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Værøy List (Værøylista)7
 Common List for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)4
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 2019–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Værøy List (Værøylista)4
 Common List for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)2
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
 Værøy List (Værøylista)3
 Common List for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)5
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Common List for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)8
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Common list for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)6
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Common list for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)7
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
 Common list for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)5
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Common list for Værøy (Felleslista for Værøy)6
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
 Free voters' list (Frie Velgeres lista)1
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
 Cooperation List (Samarbeidsliste)6
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:13
Værøy kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:13
Værøy herredsstyre 1959–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:13
Værøy herredsstyre 1955–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:13
Værøy herredsstyre 1951–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:12
Værøy herredsstyre 1947–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
Total number of members:12
Værøy herredsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Værøy herredsstyre 1937–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Værøy (incomplete list):

Transportation

Helicopter transport is available from Bodø at the Værøy Heliport in Sørland. There was airplane service at Værøy Airport, but it was discontinued after the Værøy accident in 1990 in which five people died. The airport was determined to be in a bad position, due to the location next to a mountain and the frequent presence of strong and unpredictable winds, which made takeoffs and landings dangerous.[34] Ferry service is also available from Bodø, Moskenes, and Røst.

Tourist attractions

View of the southern part of the island of Værøya, the abandoned village of Mostad is located here
Norwegian Lundehund looking out at the ocean on the north side of the island Værøya. The island on the top, in the middle, is "Mosken"
  • Sportfishing for cod, coalfish, and halibut is practiced here.
  • Turstien is a floodlit track which was opened in 1999. The surface is suitable for bikers, prams, and wheelchairs.
  • Breivika is situated on the road between Sørland and Nordland, and is the location of the Skarsursanden beach. From the main road there is a signposted path going up Breivikdalen.
  • Heia has views of the island. It can be reached via a step path called Bjørka, or by following the tarred road up Rømdalen. About halfway there is an old eagle trapping site.
  • Eagle trapping is a tradition peculiar to the Værøy islanders. They caught eagles with their bare hands. Ancient sites can still be seen, at Rømdalen, for instance.
  • Gjerdeheia forms a vast and completely flat plateau on top. It can be reached from Breiviksdalen by turning left at the end of the valley or following the path going up Rømdalen and turning right before passing Hornet.
  • Nordlandsnupen is Værøy's highest mountain. One must reach it by walking up Breiviksdalen and turning right at the end of the valley.
  • Mollbakken in Nordland consists of smoothly ground round stones. Here, many burial sites from the Viking Age have been found.
  • Old Værøy Church in Nordland is the oldest church in Lofoten, built around 1740. The altarpiece dates back to about 1714 and features alabaster figures made in England in 1430.
  • Nordlandshagen - the Garden of Nordland - is a popular area for the outdoor life. The midnight sun can be seen here from May 30 to July 13.
  • Mostad is located in the south. The mountainside more or less hangs right over the old, abandoned village of Mostad. This is where the puffin dog originated. Often people will walk from Nordlandshagen.
  • Norwegian Lundehund or Puffin dog is one of Norway's seven breeds of dogs, and the rarest one. It has an extra toe, is small, and very agile. Puffin dogs were used solely for the puffin hunt and because the hunt was of such great importance to the islanders, this race of dogs managed to survive in Værøy.
  • Sanden is a beach with a 400-metre (1,300 ft) tall wall of rock towers over the spot, making it incredibly warm on fine summer days. Access is only by boat.

In literature

Notable people

  • Willy Arne Wold (1929 in Værøy – 1996), a Norwegian politician who was twice Mayor of Værøy in 1960s & 1970s
  • Bernhard-Jens Eggesbø (born 1931 in Værøy), a Norwegian military officer and civil servant who worked for NATO
  • Guri Ingebrigtsen (1952 in Værøy – 2020), a Norwegian politician who was Mayor of Vestvågøy from 1999 to 2007

References

  1. ↑ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ↑ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ↑ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "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. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 351.
  8. ↑ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 24. 1908.
  9. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Vaeroy, Nordland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 2 December 1988. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Lofoten Temperature Anomalies". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Norwegian Meteorological Institute".
  14. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  18. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  34. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  35. ↑ Fisher, Benjamin F., ed. (2004). The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Spark Educational Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 1-59308-064-6.
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