Country Norway District Central Hålogaland Area rank 209 in Norway Area 495.1 km² Population 2,972 (2012) | County Troms Administrative centre Evenskjer Demonym(s) Skånlending Local time Thursday 11:17 PM Official language form Bokmål | |
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Weather -8°C, Wind SW at 3 km/h, 80% Humidity Points of interest Stensland Klyngetun, Tovikstranda, Skávhlegáddi | ||
Skånland (Northern Sami: Skánit) is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is part of the Central Hålogaland region, just southeast of the city of Harstad. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Evenskjer. Other villages include Grovfjord, Renså, Sandstrand, and Tovik.
Contents
- Map of SkC3A5nland Municipality Norway
- General information
- Name
- Coat of arms
- Churches
- Economy
- Geography
- Government
- Municipal council
- References
Map of Sk%C3%A5nland Municipality, Norway
The Tjeldsund Bridge in Skånland connects the island of Hinnøya (the largest coastal island in Norway) to the Norwegian mainland.
General information
Skånland was established on 1 July 1926 when the large municipality of Trondenes was divided into three municipalities: Sandtorg, Skånland, and Trondenes. Skånland's initial population was 2,443. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipality of Astafjord (population: 1,120) was merged into Skånland. On the same date, the part of Skånland on the island of Rolla (population: 143) was transferred to neighboring Ibestad municipality.
Name
The municipality, and the parish, is named after the old Skånland farm (Old Norse: Skánøyjarland), since the first church (Skånland Church) was built there (in 1870). The first element is the genitive case of an old name Skánøy (but the meaning of this is uncertain) and the last element is land which means "land" or "farm". The name might be of Sami origin, meaning "small mountains" (skánit).
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1988). They show a black auger on a gold background. This was chosen since the production of augers, and their use in construction of boats, has long roots in the municipality.
Churches
The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Skånland. It is part of the Trondenes deanery in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Economy
Agriculture is important in Skånland, and there are also many people working in Harstad or at the Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes.
Geography
The municipality includes the western and northern part of the Ofoten peninsula, which is bordered by Ofotfjord in the south, Tjeldsundet in the west, and the Astafjorden and Vågsfjorden in the north. Neighbouring municipalities are Evenes to the south, Narvik in the southeast, Tjeldsund in Nordland to the southwest. Harstad in the northwest, across the Tjeldsundet, and Gratangen in the northeast, are located in Troms county. Evenskjer, located in the lowland bordering the Tjeldsundet strait, is the largest village. In the northern part is the smaller village of Grov. Other villages are Renså, Tovik and Sandstrand.
The largest lake is Skoddebergvatnet, and the highest mountain is Skittendalstinden at 1,306 metres (4,285 ft) in the mountainous center of the peninsula. There are calcareous pine forests near Skoddebergvatnet. The lake Niingsvatnet is located on the border with Evenes.
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Skånland, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Skånland is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to every four years. Currently, the party breakdown is as follows: