Senja
{{Short description|The second largest island in Norway}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox islands
|name = {{native name list|tag1=no|name1=Senja|tag2=se|name2=Sážžá}}
|native_name =
|native_name_link =
|sobriquet =
|image_name = Sörreisa Lenvik IMG 4917 senja solbergfjorden reisfjorden.JPG
|image_size =
|image_caption = View of the island towards the top of the picture
|coordinates = {{coord|69.0806|16.8031|display=inline,title|region:NO_type:isle}}
|archipelago =
|area_km2 = 1586.3
|rank =
|length_km =
|width_km =
|coastline_km =
|elevation_m = 1017
|highest_mount = Breidtinden
|country = Norway
|country_admin_divisions_title = County
|country_admin_divisions = Troms
|country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Municipality
|country_admin_divisions_1 = Senja Municipality
|country_largest_city = Silsand
|country_largest_city_population = 1,583
|population = 7,864
|population_as_of = 2017
|density_km2 = 4.96
|density_footnotes =
}}
{{native name|no|Senja}} or {{native name|se|Sážžá}}{{cite web|url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/381035|title=Informasjon om stadnamn|website=Norgeskart|publisher=Kartverket|language=no|accessdate=2024-07-13}} is an island in Senja Municipality in Troms county, Norway in northern Europe. With an area of {{convert|1586.3|km2}}, it is the second largest island in Norway (outside of the Svalbard archipelago). It has a wild, mountainous outer (western) side facing the Atlantic, and a mild and lush inner (eastern) side.Mathematics and Archaeology edited by Juan A. Barcelo, Igor Bogdanovic. p.346 The island is located entirely within Senja Municipality, which was established on 1 January 2020. The island of Senja had 7,864 inhabitants as of 1 January 2017. Most of the residents live along the eastern coast of the island, with Silsand being the largest urban area on the island. The fishing village of Gryllefjord on the west coast has a summer-only ferry connection to the nearby island of Andøya: the Andenes–Gryllefjord Ferry.
The island sits northeast of the Vesterålen archipelago, surrounded by the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, the Malangen fjord to the northeast, the Gisundet strait to the east, the Solbergfjorden to the southeast, the Vågsfjorden to the south, and the Andfjorden to the west. Ånderdalen National Park is located in the southern part of the island.
Etymology
The Old Norse form of the name is believed to have been Senja or perhaps Sændja. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it might be related to the verb sundra, which means to "tear" or "split apart", possibly because the west coast of the island is torn and split by numerous small fjords. It might also be derived from a Proto-Norse form of the word Sandijōn, meaning "(area) of sand" or "sandy island".{{cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/135714/bidragti.pdf|publisher=Helsingfors Universitet|title=Bidrag till Fennoskandiens språkliga förhistoria i tid och rum|language=Swedish|accessdate=2015-12-27}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://snl.no/Senja|title=Senja|editor-first=Geir|editor-last=Thorsnæs|accessdate=2018-08-25|date=2018-05-09|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|language=Norwegian}} The Northern Sámi name {{lang|se|Sážžá}} is likely a loanword from Norwegian, from an earlier form *{{lang|no|Sanja-}} or *{{lang|no|Sandjan}}.{{Cite book |last=Aikio |first=Samuli |title=Davvisámi báikenamat: oktan čilgehusaiguin |trans-title=Northern Sámi placenames: with explanations |language=Northern Sami |publisher=ČálliidLágádus |isbn=978-82-8263-220-1 |page=158 |quote=[...] Sážžá livččii loatna Senja-nama vuođđoskandinávlaš hámis *Sanja-. [...] vuolggasátnin heive vuođđoskandinávalaš sáddo namahus ja das šaddan maŋit vuođđoskandiánvalaš namma *Sandjan 'sáttoeana'. |trans-quote=[...] Sážžá may be a loan of the name Senja from the Old Scandinavian form *Sanja-. [...] the Old Scandinavian term for sand fits as an original name and that is where the later Old Scandinavian name *Sandjan 'sand ground' came from.}}
Geography
{{stack|File:View from a ridge between Segla and Hesten, Senja, Norway, 2014 August.jpg}}
The island of Senja is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town, located on the mainland, just east of the island. Senja is connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. Historically, Senja was divided between Lenvik Municipality (part of which is on the mainland), Berg, Torsken Municipality, and Tranøy Municipality, but on 1 January 2020, the four municipalities were merged into Senja Municipality.
The northern coasts of Senja face the open sea, the western coast faces the islands of Andøya and Krøttøya, and the southern coast faces the islands of Andørja and Dyrøya, Tromwestern coast, steep and rugged mountains rise straight from the sea, with some fishing villages (like Gryllefjord and Husøy) tucked into the small lowland areas between the mountains and the sea. The eastern and southern parts of the island are milder, with rounder mountains, forests, rivers, and agricultural land.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Senja is often referred to as "Norway in miniature", as the island's diverse scenery reflects almost the entire span of Norwegian natural geography. Senja is known domestically for its scenery and is marketed as a tourist attraction.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
=Climate=
Laukhella is near Silsand on Senja island, facing the mainland towards the east. The Eastern part of Senja has an atypical boreal climate, as the wettest season is autumn and winter, and winters are also milder than typical for this climate. The western part of Senja facing the Norwegian Sea has a more subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) like the Hekkingen lighthouse.
{{Weather box
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Laukhella, Senja 1991-2020 (3 m, extremes 1997-2011)
|width=auto
|Jan record high C = 8.3 | Jan record low C = -22.3
|Feb record high C = 8.3 | Feb record low C = -23.7
|Mar record high C = 11.2 | Mar record low C = -22
|Apr record high C = 16.2 | Apr record low C =-17.7
|May record high C = 25.7 | May record low C = -6
|Jun record high C = 26.7 | Jun record low C = 0.4
|Jul record high C = 28.3 | Jul record low C = 2.4
|Aug record high C = 27.6 | Aug record low C = -1.3
|Sep record high C = 22.2 | Sep record low C = -5.3
|Oct record high C = 16.2 | Oct record low C = -14.7
|Nov record high C = 12.6 | Nov record low C = -16.5
|Dec record high C = 9.7 | Dec record low C = -21.8
|Jan mean C=-3.9
|Feb mean C=-3.8
|Mar mean C=-2
|Apr mean C=1.8
|May mean C=6.4
|Jun mean C=10.6
|Jul mean C=13.5
|Aug mean C=12.5
|Sep mean C=8.4
|Oct mean C=3.3
|Nov mean C=-0.3
|Dec mean C=-2.4
|year mean C=
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm=102
|Feb precipitation mm=85
|Mar precipitation mm=97
|Apr precipitation mm=63
|May precipitation mm=51
|Jun precipitation mm=57
|Jul precipitation mm=66
|Aug precipitation mm=77
|Sep precipitation mm=117
|Oct precipitation mm=114
|Nov precipitation mm=88
|Dec precipitation mm=105
|year precipitation mm=1120
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute{{cite web|url=http://eklima.met.no|title=eKlima Web Portal|publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no|archive-date=2004-06-14}}
}}
Hekkingen island in Senja municipality is closer to the open sea, has milder winters, and has a subpolar oceanic climate like western Senja.
{{Weather box
|collapsed=yes
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Hekkingen 1991-2020 (33 m)
|width=auto
|Jan high C = 1.2
|Feb high C = 0.8
|Mar high C = 1.8
|Apr high C = 4.5
|May high C = 8.6
|Jun high C = 11.5
|Jul high C = 14.4
|Aug high C = 14.1
|Sep high C = 11.2
|Oct high C = 6.7
|Nov high C = 4
|Dec high C = 2.4
|Jan low C = -2.7
|Feb low C = -3
|Mar low C = -1.9
|Apr low C = 0.5
|May low C = 4
|Jun low C = 7.3
|Jul low C = 9.9
|Aug low C = 10
|Sep low C = 7.5
|Oct low C = 3.5
|Nov low C = 0.6
|Dec low C = -1.3
|Jan mean C=-1
|Feb mean C=-1.4
|Mar mean C=-0.2
|Apr mean C=2.4
|May mean C=6
|Jun mean C=9
|Jul mean C=11.8
|Aug mean C=11.7
|Sep mean C=9.1
|Oct mean C=4.9
|Nov mean C=2.1
|Dec mean C=0.3
|year mean C=
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=100
|Feb precipitation mm=71
|Mar precipitation mm=77
|Apr precipitation mm=51
|May precipitation mm=45
|Jun precipitation mm=43
|Jul precipitation mm=63
|Aug precipitation mm=87
|Sep precipitation mm=111
|Oct precipitation mm=110
|Nov precipitation mm=90
|Dec precipitation mm=83
|year precipitation mm=
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute{{cite web |url=http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39080&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |title=eKlima |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215002/http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39080&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-09-11}}
|source 2= Meteostat Hekkingen{{cite web |url=https://meteostat.net/en/station/01015/climate|title=Meteostat}}
}}
Older climate data from the village Gibostad on the eastern shore of the island; facing the mainland, during 1961-1990.
{{Weather box
|collapsed=yes
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Gibostad, Lenvik 1961-1990
|width=auto
|Jan high C=-1.9
|Feb high C=-1.8
|Mar high C=0.2
|Apr high C=3.6
|May high C=8.4
|Jun high C=12.9
|Jul high C=15.0
|Aug high C=14.6
|Sep high C=10.5
|Oct high C=5.8
|Nov high C=1.5
|Dec high C=-0.7
|year high C=5.7
|Jan mean C=-4.4
|Feb mean C=-4.2
|Mar mean C=-2.3
|Apr mean C=1.0
|May mean C=5.5
|Jun mean C=9.7
|Jul mean C=12.3
|Aug mean C=11.6
|Sep mean C=7.5
|Oct mean C=3.3
|Nov mean C=-0.8
|Dec mean C=-3.2
|year mean C=3.0
|Jan low C=-7.1
|Feb low C=-7.0
|Mar low C=-5.5
|Apr low C=-2.1
|May low C=2.5
|Jun low C=6.8
|Jul low C=9.1
|Aug low C=8.3
|Sep low C=5.1
|Oct low C=1.3
|Nov low C=-3.1
|Dec low C=-5.8
|year low C=0.2
|precipitation colour=
|Jan precipitation mm=85
|Feb precipitation mm=80
|Mar precipitation mm=60
|Apr precipitation mm=54
|May precipitation mm=39
|Jun precipitation mm=47
|Jul precipitation mm=62
|Aug precipitation mm=71
|Sep precipitation mm=91
|Oct precipitation mm=119
|Nov precipitation mm=94
|Dec precipitation mm=98
|year precipitation mm=900
|unit precipitation days= 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days=13.4
|Feb precipitation days=12.4
|Mar precipitation days=11.5
|Apr precipitation days=10.7
|May precipitation days=9.2
|Jun precipitation days=10.6
|Jul precipitation days=13.2
|Aug precipitation days=12.4
|Sep precipitation days=14.3
|Oct precipitation days=16.0
|Nov precipitation days=14.7
|Dec precipitation days=15.6
|year precipitation days=154.0
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute{{cite web|url=http://eklima.met.no|title=eKlima Web Portal|publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14}}
}}
Economy
Naturally, the fishing industry is dominant on Senja, notably the Nergård Group at Senjahopen and Brødrene Karlsen at Husøy. Skaland has some graphite mining. Another important industry is ArtNord and Tromspotet at Silsand, which specializes in potato and potato products. Sollia has a stair factory and the world's northernmost fibreglass insulation factory, Nicopan AS, which has customers throughout Norway, and exports abroad.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Transportation
The residents of Senja have the Gisund Bridge as a ferry-free road connection to the mainland across Gisundet to the town of Finnsnes. The town serves as a trading center for the entire Mid-Troms region, including the island of Senja. The island is also connected with the other towns in the county. At Lysnes on northern Senja is a fast boat connection with the city of Tromsø, a trip that takes about 50 minutes. From the villages of Flakstadvåg and Skrolsvik on the west and south sides of the island, there are also ferries to the town of Harstad to the south. During the summer there is a ferry between northern Senja and the island of Kvaløya, between southern Senja and Harstad, and between Gryllefjord and Andenes.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Senja has four main roads. The main road is Norwegian County Road 86 which crosses the Gisund Bridge from Finnsnes, Sørreisa, and Bardufoss. It extends across the island to Torsken and Gryllefjord. From Silsand, Norwegian County Road 861 goes north along Gisundet to Gibostad and northern Senja. Norwegian County Road 860 goes from Stonglandseidet to Silsand, Norwegian County Road 862 goes from Straumsbotn, via Senjahopen to Botnhamn.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Governance
{{main article|Senja Municipality}}
In March 2017, the Parliament of Norway voted to merge Berg, Torsken Municipality, Lenvik Municipality, and Tranøy Municipality. The new municipality was established on 1 January 2020 as Senja Municipality ({{langx|no|Senja kommune}}).{{cite web|url=http://senja2020.no/|title=Senja kommune 2020|language=NOrwegian|accessdate=2017-09-09}}{{cite news|newspaper=ABC Nyheter|url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/politikk/2017/03/29/195291385/stortingsflertallet-gjor-fire-senja-kommuner-til-en|title=Stortingsflertallet gjør fire Senja-kommuner til én|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2017-09-09|first=Thomas|last=Vermes|date=2017-03-29}} It is located in the traditional district of Hålogaland. The administrative centre of the municipality became the town of Finnsnes. The municipality includes all of the islands of Senja, the smaller surrounding islands, and part of the mainland between the Gisundet strait and the Malangen fjord.
Attractions
Among the sights of the island are Ånderdalen National Park, with coastal pine forests and mountains,{{cite web|url=http://www.dirnat.no/nasjonalparker/anderdalen|publisher=Directorate for nature management|title=Ånderdalen National Park|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2010-04-04}} traditional fishing communities, and previously the Senja Troll, the world's largest troll statue (which burned down 28 March 2019).{{Cite web|title=Senjatrollet – Hulder- og Trollparken|url=http://senjatrollet.no/en/|access-date=2021-05-26|language=en-GB}} The southern part of the island is the site of a number of small museums documenting local history, notably the Halibut Museum ("Kveitmuseet") in Skrolsvik.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
In popular culture
The island of Senja is mentioned in David Armine Howarth's World War II book, and true story, We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance. It has a namesake island in the MMORPG Tibia.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The Norwegian musician Moddi comes from the island and his music is said to have been influenced by its beauty.{{cite web|url=http://www.propellerrecordings.no/artists/moddi|publisher=Propeller Recordings|title=Moddi|accessdate=2013-01-03}}
The Norwegian musician Biosphere lives in Senja (as of 2018-19) and his 2019 album The Senja Recordings,{{Cite web|url=https://biosphere.bandcamp.com/album/the-senja-recordings|title=The Senja Recordings, by Biosphere}} which was recorded in Senja, refers to several places in Senja (Bergsbotn, Steinfjord, etc.).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Gallery
Bergsfjorden on Senja.jpg|Bergsfjorden, Senja
Senjahusoy.jpg|Husøy, Northern Senja
View from a ridge between Segla and Hesten, Senja, Norway, 2014 August.jpg| View from a ridge between Segla and Hesten, Senja
Kistefjellet i Lenvik (3).jpg|View from Gibostad towards Kistefjellet on the mainland
Senja(4).jpg|Seashore on Senja
Okshornan Senja.JPG|Ersfjorden and nearby mountains
Silsand1.JPG|Silsand
Okshornan from Tungeneset, 2015 September - 3.jpg|Okshornan peaks viewed from Tungeneset
See also
References
{{reflist|1}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Senja (island)}}
- {{Wikivoyage-inline|Senja}}
- [https://senjanesia.org/ Senjanesia] {{in lang|no}}
{{authority control}}