- Kvæfjord
Infobox_Kommune
name=Kvæfjord
county=Troms
landscape=Hålogaland
idnumber=1911
capital=Borkenes
governor=Lillian Hessen (V)
governor_as_of=2005
arearank=205
area=513
arealand=498
areapercent=0.16
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=266
population=3,072
populationpercent=0.07
populationdensity=6
populationincrease=-9.8
language=Neutral
lat_deg=68| lat_min=42| lat_sec=7| lon_deg=16| lon_min=8| lon_sec=49
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7621582 |utm_easting=0546497| geo_cat=adm2nd
munwebpage=www.kvafjord.kommune.noKvæfjord is a municipality in the county of
Troms ,Norway .Kvæfjord was established as a municipality
January 1 ,1838 (seeformannskapsdistrikt ). The districtGodfjorden was transferred from Kvæfjord toSortland municipality (inNordland county)January 1 ,2000 .Together with
Harstad , the two municipalities cover most of the island ofHinnøya in the southern parts of the county.Kvæfjord consists mostly of mountains and fjords. The fjord Kvæfjord is a central part.Kvæfjord is also where the Norwegian national cake originally comes from.
The name
The municipality is named after the fjord (Norse "Kviðjufjörðr"). The first element is the genitive case of the name of the island "*Kviðja" (now
Kveøya ), the last element is "fjörðr" m 'fjord'. The name of the island is maybe derived from the word "kviðr" m 'belly, stomach'.Until 1889 the name was written "Kvædfjord".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1986). It shows a
strawberry plant.(See also the coat-of-arms of
Norddal .)Economy
The municipality is known for agriculture and farming. The quality of the strawberries is famous. The long hours of daylight, combined with relatively low summer temperatures, make the strawberries more tasteful than berries grown in warmer climates.
Geography
The landscape of today was largely formed during the last ice age. When the ice retreated, the terrain rose by 50 meters. It is in this belt of old seabed the agriculture is located.
One former large institution for the mentally handicapped has influenced Kvæfjord, that earlier had a large number of health workers. There are four county roads connecting the municipality: two to the north and one each to the east and south.
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