Lyngen

Lyngen (Northern Sami: Ivggu suohkan; Kven: Yykeän komuuni) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet. Other villages include Furuflaten, Lattervika, Nord-Lenangen, and Svensby.

Lyngen kommune
Ivggu suohkan
Yykeän komuuni
The peninsula as seen by Sentinel-2
Flag of Lyngen kommune
Official logo of Lyngen kommune
Lyngen within Troms og Finnmark
Lyngen within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 69°41′25″N 20°04′54″E
CountryNorway
CountyTroms og Finnmark
DistrictNord-Troms
Established1 Jan 1838
  Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreLyngseidet
Government
  Mayor (2015)Dan Håvard Johnsen (Local list)
Area
  Total812.71 km2 (313.79 sq mi)
  Land795.13 km2 (307.00 sq mi)
  Water17.58 km2 (6.79 sq mi)  2.2%
  Rank#141 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
  Total2,729
  Rank#240 in Norway
  Density3.4/km2 (9/sq mi)
  Change (10 years)
Decrease −9.9%
DemonymLyngsfjerding[1]
Official language
  Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5424
WebsiteOfficial website

The 813-square-kilometre (314 sq mi) municipality is the 141st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lyngen is the 240th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,729. The municipality's population density is 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (8.8/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 9.9% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

View of Bensnes

The parish of Lyngen was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1867, the southern part of Karlsøy Municipality (population: 862) surrounding the Sørfjorden (innermost part of the Ullsfjorden) was transferred to Lyngen.

Then on 1 January 1875, a small part of Lyngen (population: 7) was transferred to the neighboring Balsfjord Municipality. On 1 January 1902, the Sørfjorden area (population: 1,139) was separated from Lyngen to form a new municipality called Sørfjord. This left Lyngen Municipality with 5,102 residents. In 1929, the large municipality of Lyngen was divided into three parts. The northwestern part (population: 2,225) remained as Lyngen municipality. The northeastern part (population: 2,482) became the new Kåfjord Municipality. The southern part (population: 1,499) became the new Storfjord Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Lyngen (population: 2,761) was merged with the northern part of the Lyngen peninsula that was part of Karlsøy Municipality (population: 1,001) and with the Svensby area of Ullsfjord Municipality (population: 171) to form a new, larger Lyngen Municipality. Then on 1 January 1992, the part of Lyngen Municipality located on the eastern shore of the Lyngenfjorden was removed from Lyngen. The Nordnes village area (population: 38) in the northern part of this area was transferred to the neighboring Kåfjord Municipality, and the unpopulated southern part was transferred to the neighboring Storfjord Municipality.[5]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[6]

Name

The municipality is named after the Lyngen fjord (Old Norse: Lygnir). The name of the fjord is derived from the word logn which means "quiet", "still", or "calm".[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 September 1987. The official blazon is "Argent, a horse forcene regardant sable" (Norwegian: I sølv en oppreist svart hest med hodet vendt bakover). This means the arms have a field (background) with 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 a black horse (specifically, a local breed called Lyngshest). The horse is standing on its hind legs and its head is turned so it is looking backwards. The silver or white color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea and fishing industry and the horse represents the local agriculture. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Lyngen. It is part of the Nord-Troms prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Lyngen
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
LyngenLyngen ChurchLyngseidet1782
Lenangsøyra ChapelLyngmo1996

History

Lyngseidet as it looked around 1890

The Lyngen Church was built at Karnes in 1731, and was moved to its present location at Lyngseidet in 1740. In 1775, the church was rebuilt in its current cruciform shape, with the material from the old church used for a boathouse in Oldervik. Finally in 1840–1845, the church was renovated with a new tower, galleries, windows and panelling.[11]

Other interesting buildings include the large wooden school in Solhov, which was built in 1924 to strengthen the Norwegian influence in this area which was largely populated by the Sami and Kven people.

Lyngen has also lent its name to the Lyngen line, a defensive line at the pinch point between the Lyngen fjord and the mountains. The line was first established during the German occupation of Norway and the main purpose was to halt a Soviet invasion.[12] During the Cold War the Norwegian Army continued to reinforce the Lyngen lined against a possible invasion from the east. However, there were always worries that the Soviets could also advance through Finland and the sparsely defended extreme north of Sweden (north of Kiruna, south of Treriksröset) and attack the Lyngen position from the rear via Signaldalen.

Geography

Lake Blåvatnet in Lyngen Alps

The municipality is situated on the Lyngen peninsula, with the Lyngen fjord to the east and Ullsfjorden to the west. The municipal centre is the village of Lyngseidet, a pretty settlement on an isthmus that almost cuts the peninsula in the middle. Other villages include Furuflaten, which has various industries, and Svensby. Nord-Lenangen faces the open sea, and is largely a fishing village. The municipality has its own shipping company, operating the car ferries west to Breivikeidet in Tromsø and east to Olderdalen in Kåfjord meeting European route E6. There is also a road going south along the shore of the fjord connecting to the main E6 road, giving ferry-free access to the main road network.

The Lyngen peninsula is a very scenic and mountainous area, known as the Lyngen Alps, with the highest peaks in Troms county. The highest peak is Jiehkkevárri, reaching 1,833 metres (6,014 ft). Another prominent mountain is Store Lenangstind. The Strupbreen lies in this mountain range, northwest of Lyngseidet. The Lyngen Alps are presently being discovered by off-piste skiers from around the world.

Climate

Rv 91 road in Lyngen, May 2009.

Winters in Lyngen are long and snow-rich, but not very cold considering the very northerly latitude. Average 24-hr temperatures are below freezing from November to early April, with a January average of −4.5 °C (24 °F). May is cool, with an average of 5.5 °C (42 °F); summer temperatures usually arrives in June. July is the warmest month with 24-hr average of 12.5 °C (55 °F); August's average is 11.6 °C (53 °F) and October's is 3.5 °C (38 °F). The average annual precipitation varies from 500 millimetres (19.7 in) in Lyngseidet (half that of Tromsø) to 950 millimetres (37.4 in) in the northern part of the peninsula (Nord-Lenangen).

Spring often sees much sunshine and is the driest season; average monthly precipitation is approximately 30 millimetres (1.2 in) from March to June, while October is the wettest month.[13] In the mountains of the Lyngen Alps, the average temperatures typically remain below freezing from October to May, and snow accumulation can exceed 5 metres (16.4 ft)

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Lyngen, 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.[14] The municipality falls under the Nord-Troms District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lyngen is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Lyngen kommunestyre 20202023 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Lyngen Cross-Party List (Lyngen Tverrpolitiske liste)5
 Together Lyngen (Samhold Lyngen)1
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 20162019 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Lyngen Cross-Party List (Lyngen Tverrpolitiske liste)4
 Together Lyngen (Samhold Lyngen)2
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 20122015 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 List for the Russelv - Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området Russelv - Sør-Lenangsbotn)
1
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 20082011 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Local list for the Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn)
1
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 20042007 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Local list for the Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn)
2
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 20002003 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Inner Lyngen Local List (Indre Lyngen Bygdeliste)2
 Local list for the Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn)
2
Total number of members:19
Lyngen kommunestyre 19961999 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Inner Lyngen Local List (Indre Lyngen Bygdeliste)5
 Local list for the Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for omr. Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn)
2
 Common list for Sør-Lenangsbotn, Lanangsøyra and Jægervatn
(Fellesliste for Sør-Lenangsbotn, Lenangsøyra og Jægervatn)
1
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19921995 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
 Inner Lyngen Local List (Indre Lyngen Bygdeliste)5
 Local list for the Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området Russelv/Sør-Lenangsbotn)
2
 Common list for Sør-Lenangsbotn, Lanangsøyra and Jægervatn
(Fellesliste for Sør-Lenangsbotn, Lenangsøyra og Jægervatn)
2
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19881991 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for the RusselvSør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området RusselvSør-Lenangsbotn)
2
 Lyngseidet and surroundings local list
(Lyngseidet og omegn bygdeliste)
3
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19841987 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 17
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for the RusselvSør-Lenangsbotn area
(Kretsliste for området RusselvSør-Lenangsbotn)
2
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19801983 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Local list for Outer Lyngen (Kretsliste for Ytre Lyngen)4
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19761979 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Independent common list (Uavhengig Samlingslist)4
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19721975 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 17
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19681971 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 19
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:29
Lyngen kommunestyre 19641967 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:29
Lyngen herredsstyre 19601963 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:19
Lyngen herredsstyre 19561959 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:19
Lyngen herredsstyre 19521955 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Lyngen herredsstyre 19481951 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:16
Lyngen herredsstyre 19451947 [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 5
Total number of members:16
Lyngen herredsstyre 19381941* [32]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 2
Total number of members:16
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.

Notable people

Just Qvigstad, 1934
  • Just Knud Qvigstad (1853 in Lyngseidet – 1957) a Norwegian philologist, linguist, ethnographer, historian and cultural historian; headmaster in Tromsø and Mayor of Tromsø
  • Joachim Giæver (1856 in Jøvik – 1925) an American civil engineer, designed major structures in the USA
  • Leonhard Seppala (1877 in Lyngen – 1967) a sled dog breeder, trainer and musher, competed in the 1932 Winter Olympics
  • Ola Krogseng Giæver (1885 in Lyngseidet – 1945) a farmer and politician, Mayor of Lyngen for four periods 1913-1925
  • Ingvald Jaklin (1896 in Lyngen – 1966) a Norwegian politician and Mayor of Tromsø
  • Runo Isaksen (born 1968 in Lyngen) a Norwegian writer
  • Trond Olsen (born 1984 in Lyngen) a Norwegian former footballer with over 400 club caps
  • Maria Nysted Grønvoll (born 1985 in Furuflaten) a retired Norwegian cross-country skier

References

  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  6. Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (24 December 2019). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 151.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  9. "Lyngen, Troms (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 September 1987. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  11. "Lyngen kirke" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  12. The Lyngen Line
  13. "Lyngen" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 February 2005.
  14. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  16. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

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