Location Troms, Norway Width 5.5 km (3.42 mi) Highest point Storheia Elevation 486 m Local time Sunday 1:12 PM | Length 10 km (6 mi) Highest elevation 486 m (1,594 ft) County Troms Area 42.92 km² Municipality Karlsøy | |
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Weather -5°C, Wind SW at 18 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
Helgøya is an island and former fishing village in the municipality in Karlsøy in Troms county, Norway. It is surrounded by a number of islands: Vannøya to the northeast; Karlsøya and Reinøya to the southeast; Ringvassøya to the south; and Nordkvaløya to the west.
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Map of Helg%C3%B8ya, 9130 Hansnes, Norway
Historically, the island was an active hub for the parish and municipality of Helgøy. It was a large fishing village and the home of the historic Helgøy Church. The church has been located on Helgøya since the 13th century, but has not been regularly used for some time. No one has permanently lived on Helgøya since 1999 when the post office was closed and regular ferry service was ended. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church and ferry rides are organized. The island of Helgøya is now a more or less abandoned village of picturesque wooden houses with a historic church that is used on special occasions. The houses are sometimes still used, but only as vacation homes.
Name
The island is named Helgøya (Old Norse: Helgøy) since it is the location of the main church for the parish, Helgøy Church. The name means den hellige øy or "the holy island" since the first element helgi means "sanctuary" or "holy" and the second part øy is identical for the word "island".