Harstad

Toppen (mountain on Grytøya, October 2009).

The municipality is located on many islands in southern Troms og Finnmark county. Most of the municipality is located on the large island of Hinnøya, which is Norway's largest coastal island (three islands in the Svalbard archipelago are larger). The northern part of the municipality is located on the smaller islands of Grytøya, Bjarkøya, Sandsøya, Helløya, Flatøya and Krøttøya and many even smaller islands between the Andfjorden (to the west) and the Vågsfjorden (to the east). The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman, Helløya, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Flatøya, Meløyvær, Måga, Rogla, Lille Rogla and Åkerøya.

Harstad is bordered by the municipality Kvæfjord to the west and Tjeldsund (in Nordland county) to the south. To the southeast, the Tjeldsund Bridge connects Hinnøya with Skånland municipality and the mainland across Tjeldsundet, and to the northeast is the Vågsfjorden, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad municipality. The city itself is located on the northeastern part of on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle (The pearl of Vågsfjorden).

The highest mountain in Harstad is Sætertinden, which is 1,095 m (3,593 ft) above sea level.[8] It is located near the village of Sandtorg in southern Harstad. The 412-metre (1,352 ft) tall mountain, Nupen, is located in the northwestern part of the municipality on the border with Kvæfjord.

The town of Harstad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1904 when it was separated from the municipality of Trondenes because it had just been declared a ladested (small seaport). The initial population of the town of Harstad was 1,246. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the town of Harstad (population: 3,808) was merged with neighboring municipalities of Sandtorg (population: 7,512) and Trondenes (population: 6,567) to form a new, larger municipality of Harstad with a population of 17,882. Prior to the merger, the town of Harstad had 3,808 residents.[11] On 1 January 2013, the municipality of Bjarkøy (to the north) was merged with Harstad, forming a new, larger municipality of Harstad. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the new Troms og Finnmark county which replaced the old Troms county.

In recent years, a 3000-year-old bronze axe[12] and a 2600-year-old bronze collar[13] have been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. These, together with the burial cairns built close to the sea, are indications of a well-developed Bronze Age culture in the Harstad area.

There is also substantial archeological evidence of a well-developed Iron Age culture in the area, around 200 AD.

Trondenes is mentioned in the Heimskringla as a power centre in the Viking Age and a place to meet and discuss important issues (Trondarting). In 2020 archeologist concluded that Sandtorg, located along the Tjeldsundet strait, south of Harstad town, was the location of the only known Viking age trading place in Northern Norway.[14] The Tjeldsundet strait was very likely an important ship lane back then as it still is today.

Trondenes Church, the world's northernmost medieval church, which dates back to the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town.

Adjacent to the church is the Trondenes Historical Center and nearby is the Adolf Gun, an enormous land-based cannon from World War II, and the last of four cannons originally constructed by the Nazis. Harstad is one of the few towns in this part of Norway which were left largely undamaged by World War II.

• 
  Sandtorg, where a trading place from the Viking age was located
• 
  Harstad Kulturhus (culture house)
• 
  Rikard Kaarbø was the founder of Harstad.
• 
  Trondenes Church at Trondenes.
• 
  Northern part of Harstad at night, early August. View towards north-west from Gangsåstoppen

All municipalities in Norway, including Harstad, 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.[19] The municipality falls under the Trondenes District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

The oil industry of North Norway is centered in Harstad; including Statoil's main office for a new operational area for Northern Norway,[45] the DNV office for Northern Norway,[46] as well as other regional offices including TotalEnergies,[47] Det Norske Oljeselskap ASA[48] and Aibel.[49][50] Harstad also has shipyards and other industries that are important for the economy. Harstad and the surrounding area have traditionally been among the most productive agricultural regions in Northern Norway,.[51] The old seabed, now dry land due to isostatic rebound (up to 60 to 80 metres or 200 to 260 feet above sea level), creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming.[52]

Agricultural area in Harstad; 1930.

Harstad Stadium; June 2007

The city hosts the annual week-long Festival of North Norway in June.[53] It is also the home of the Arctic Moving Image and Film Festival, held in October each year.[54]

Harstad University College, with approximately 1,100 students,[55] has a thriving foreign exchange program with students from all over the world. The hospital in Harstad is part of the University Hospital of North Norway.

The most successful local football team is Harstad Idrettslag (a.k.a. HIL),[56] and the most successful basketball team is the Harstad Vikings.[57]

Harstad is home port for the Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner, also known as the sailing queen of Norway.[58]

Harstad Camping is a campsite located in the municipality.

Harstad traditionally has strong ties with the Norwegian Armed Forces. Kystjegerkommandoen (Coastal Ranger Command) has its home base at Trondenes, Harstad. Marinejegerkommandoen is based in Ramsund in Tjeldsund on the mainland south of Harstad. General Carl Gustav Fleischer led the field operations of the Norwegian Armed Forces in WW2, among them the 7,500 soldiers which from the north pushed the Nazi Germans back to Narvik and participated in retaking Narvik on 28 May 1940. A street in Harstad is named Gen. Fleischers Gate in his honour.

Operation Judgement, Kilbotn took place on 4 May 1945, when the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy attacked a U-boat base at Kilbotn, a village in the Harstad district, sinking two ships and a U-boat.

Harstad is also the hometown of the Norwegian army band "Forsvarets Musikkorps Nord Norge" with professional musicians.

Coastal Express ship MS Kong Harald in Harstad

The towns airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, located on the mainland, 44 kilometres (27 mi) by road from the town center. The airport offers daily flights to Oslo, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø and Andenes.[59]

Every morning a northbound and a southbound Hurtigruten ship stop in Harstad.[60]

High-speed craft regularly go between Harstad and Tromsø, Finnsnes, Senja and other places.[61]

There are several ferries and buses in the district, and in Harstad there are local buses.[61]

The leading helicopter company in Northern Norway, Heli-Team, is located in Harstad.[62]

Street: Strandgata, 4 May 2008.

Street: Hvedings gate, February 2005. View towards west from a Hurtigruten ship.

Villages north/west of the city

Alvestad, Aune, Elgsnes, Ervik, Grøtavær, Hagan, Kasfjord, Kilhus, Kjøtta, Lundenes, Mustaparta, Nergården, Røkenes, Steinnes, Stornes, Storvassbotn, Sørlia, Tennvassåsen, Tømmeråsen, Undlandet, Vika and Årnes.

City neighbourhoods

Bergseng, Blåbærhaugen, Breivika, City Center, Eineberget, Gangsås, Grønnebakkan, Harstadbotn, Harstadåsen, Heggen, Holtet, Kanebogen, Kilbotn, Medkila, Ruggevika, Sama, Seljestad, Skaret, Stangnes, Trondenes and Åsby.

Villages south of the city

Brokvik, Fauskevåg, Gausvik, Halsebø, Haukebø, Melvik, Nordvik, Sandtorg and Sørvika.

• 
  Northeastern part of Harstad seen from Eineberget; 4 May 2008
• 
  View from Harstad towards the Vågsfjord and Andørja island; May 2008
• 
  Harstad university college

• List of schools in Harstad

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harstad.

• Harstad travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Information in English Harstad municipality
• Visit Harstad
• Culture
• Old history of Harstad
• Harstad pictures
• Green and black aurora over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
• Particularly rare purple auroral corona over Harstad NASA astronomy picture of the day
• Web-cam Showing various parts of the town
• Photo presentation on YouTube
• The Adolf Cannon
• Art of the States: Frozen Horizon Musical work inspired by the Harstad landscape
• Harstad Tidende (Harstad Times) Newspaper for the district (in Norwegian)
• iHarstad.no Information portal (in Norwegian)
• Live weather station located in Harstad (in Norwegian)
• About Hinnøy (in Norwegian)
• Magnars garden at 69 degrees north (in Norwegian)