Country Norway County Troms Municipality Kvæfjord Area 109 ha Population 1,567 (2013) | Region Northern Norway District Central Hålogaland Elevation 29 m (95 ft) Local time Thursday 2:30 PM | |
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Weather -4°C, Wind NE at 10 km/h, 64% Humidity | ||
Borkenes is a village in the municipality of Kvæfjord in Troms county, Norway. The village is the administrative centre of the municipality. The village contains mostly farmers. It is located on the island of Hinnøya, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of the city of Harstad. It is located along the Kvæfjorden (an arm of the Gullesfjorden), looking across the fjord at the island of Kvæøya.
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Map of 9475 Borkenes, Norway
Kvæfjord Church is located in the village centre near the local school. The village is built along the small river Råelva. The 1.09-square-kilometre (270-acre) village has a population (2013) of 1,567. The population density is 1,438 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,720/sq mi).
Economy
Earlier Borkenes was an industrial center with the production of herring oil as the main industry. Later the center for people with mental retardation at Trastad, in the northwestern part of Borkenes became a principal industry for the village. In the 1990s, the government decided to close all institutions of this scale. People who had been living there for many years could choose to move home or continue living in new housing at Borkenes. Many stayed on, and working with the mentally handicapped continues to be a viable employment opportunity in the community.
Today the village is home to a horticultural school which is part of the Rå videregående skole (high school). There is some agriculture in the area, where strawberries and potatoes are grown by local farmers. Wildlife and fishing are available in the mountains and lakes close to residential areas, and boats are available for sea excursions.