Værøy

Infobox_Kommune
name=Værøy
idnumber=1857
county=Nordland
landscape=Lofoten
capital=Værøy
governor=Harald Adolfsen (H)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=428
area=18
arealand=18
areapercent=0.01
population_as_of=2008
populationrank=418
population=743
populationpercent=0.02
populationdensity=43
populationincrease=-7.7
language=Bokmål
lat_deg=67| lat_min=40| lat_sec=23| lon_deg=12| lon_min=40| lon_sec=9
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7508290 |utm_easting=0401207| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.varoy.kommune.no

Værøy is a municipality and an island in the county of Nordland, Norway.

Værøy was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Røst was separated from Værøy July 1, 1928.

The name

The Norse form of the name was "Veðrøy". The first element is "veðr" n 'weather' (here referring to harsh weather - and the exposed and unsheltered position of the island). The last element is "øy" f 'island'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1988). It shows a puffin.

portfishing

Sportfishing after cod, coalfish and halibut is popular as well.

Tourist attractions

Turstien

Turstien is a floodlit track which has been very popular ever since its opening in 1999. The surface is suitable for bikers, prams and wheelchairs.

Breivika

Breivika is situated on the road between Sørland and Nordland, and here you find the beach Skarsursanden. From the main road there is a signposted path going up Breivikdalen.

Heia

Heia offers a magnificent view of the island. It can be reached via a step path called Bjørka, or by following the tarred road up Rømdalen. About halfway up you pass by an old eagle trapping site.

Eagle trapping

Eagle trapping is a tradition peculiar to the Værøy islanders. They caught eagles with their bare hands. Ancient sites can still be seen, at Rømdalen, for instance.

Gjerdeheia

Gjerdeheia forms a vast and completely flat plateau on top. It can be reached from Breiviksdalen by turning left at the end of the valley or following the path going up Rømdalen and turning right before passing Hornet.

Nordlandsnupen

Nordlandsnupen is Værøy's highest mountain. One must reach it by walking up Breiviksdalen and turning right at the end of the valley.

Mollbakken

Mollbakken in Nordland consists of smoothly ground round stones. Here, many burial sites from the Viking Age have been found.

Old Værøy Church

Old Værøy Church in North Værøy is the oldest church in Lofoten, built around 1740. The altarpiece dates back to about 1714 and features alabaster figures made in England in 1430.

Nordlandshagen

Nordlandshagen - the Garden of Nordland - is a popular area for the outdoor life. The midnight sun can be seen here from May 30 to July 13.

Mostad

Mostad. In the south. The mountainside more or less hangs right over the old, derelict village of Mostad. This is where the puffin dog originated. Often people will walk from Nordlandshagen.

Norwegian Lundehund

The Norwegian Lundehund is one of Norway's seven species of dogs, and the rarest one. It has an extra toe, is small, and very agile. Puffin dogs were used solely for the puffin hunt and because the hunt was of such great importance to the islanders, this race of dogs managed to survive in Værøy.

anden

Sanden is a beach with a 400-metre tall wall of rock towers over the spot, making it incredibly warm on fine summer days. Access is only by boat.

Climate

The weather in Værøy can be very changeable. Sunshine and rain, and wind and mist may interchange rapidly. The winter climate is mild and the temperature seldom drops below zero degrees Celsius. This makes conditions for stockfish exceptionally good.

Røst and Værøy are rather famous with meteorologists, as it is the most northern location in the world were there is no meteorological winter, as the average temperature is mostly above freezing all winter. The winter temperatures in southern Lofoten represent the highest temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude due to the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean. However the winter weather is rather windy and damp, so it does not feel so mild.

Transport

Helicopter transport is available from Bodø, although the airport is closed for airplane traffic after a crash in 1990, due to difficult winds, in which five people lost their lives [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900412-0] . Ferry also available from Bodø and Moskenes.