The 19-square-kilometre (7.3 sq mi) municipality is the 352nd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Værøy is the 348th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of only 683. The municipality's population density is 36.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (95/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 12.1% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]
General information
MåstadLocation of Værøy
Værøy Municipality was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1928, the southern district of Værøy (population: 731) was separated to become the new Røst Municipality. The borders have not changed since that time.[7]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Værøya (Old Norse: Veðrøy) since the first Værøy Church was built there. The first element is the word veðr which means "weather" (here referring to harsh weather and the exposed and unsheltered position of the island). The last element is øy which means "island".[8] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Værø. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Værøy.[9]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 7 October 1988. The official blazon is "Azure, a puffin argentarmedgules" (Norwegian: I blått en sølv lundefugl). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a puffin. The puffin has 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 also "armed gules" which means that the beak and feet are colored red. The blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea. The churge is a puffin to represent the fact that they nest in large numbers in the area and historically, they held great importance for the island municipality, both for meat and down feathers. The arms were designed by John Digernes.[10][11][12]
The island municipality is made up of many islands, the two largest islands being Værøya and Mosken. It is located at the end of the Lofoten archipelago. The Norwegian Sea lies to the northwest and the Vestfjorden lies to the southeast. The Moskenstraumenmaelstrom lies to the north between Værøya and Moskenesøya. The highest point in the municipality is the 450.13-metre (1,476.8 ft) tall mountain Nordlandsnupen, on the south side of the village of Nordland.[1]
Climate
The weather in Værøy can be very changeable. Sunshine, rain, wind, and mist may interchange rapidly. The winter climate is mild and the temperature seldom drops much below 0 °C (32 °F) even in mid-winter. This makes conditions for stockfish exceptionally good.
Røst and Værøy are among the most northern locations in the world where there is no meteorological winter because the average temperature generally stays above freezing all year. The winter temperatures in southern Lofoten represent the highest temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. However, the winter weather is rather windy.[13]
The polar night occurs from 13 to 29 December and the midnight sun occurs from 28 May to 15 July.
Værøy has a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) with short, cool summers and long, but not very cold, winters. The all-time low of −9.5 °C (14.9 °F) since recording started in 2005 is extremely mild for a location north of the Arctic Circle, and even milder than the record low for Madrid, Spain or Jacksonville, Florida.
Climate data for Værøy 1991-2020 (precipitation 61-90, extremes 2005-2023)
The municipal council(Kommunestyre) of Værøy is made up of 13 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Værøy is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position (incomplete list):[35]
Helicopter transport is available from Bodø at the Værøy Heliport in Sørland. There was airplane service at Værøy Airport, but it was discontinued after the Værøy accident in 1990 in which five people died. The airport was determined to be in a bad position, due to the location next to a mountain and the frequent presence of strong and unpredictable winds, which made takeoffs and landings dangerous.[36]Ferry service is also available from Bodø, Moskenes, and Røst.
Tourist attractions
View of the southern part of the island of Værøya, the abandoned village of Mostad is located hereNorwegian Lundehund looking out at the ocean on the north side of the island Værøya. The island on the top, in the middle, is "Mosken"
Turstien is a floodlit track which was opened in 1999. The surface is suitable for bikers, prams, and wheelchairs.
Breivika is situated on the road between Sørland and Nordland, and is the location of the Skarsursanden beach. From the main road there is a signposted path going up Breivikdalen.
Heia has views of the island. It can be reached via a step path called Bjørka, or by following the tarred road up Rømdalen. About halfway there is an old eagle trapping site.[citation needed]
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 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 is Værøy's highest mountain. One must reach it by walking up Breiviksdalen and turning right at the end of the valley.
Mollbakken in Nordland consists of smoothly ground round stones. Here, many burial sites from the Viking Age have been found.
Old Værøy Church in the village of Nordland 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 - the Garden of Nordland - is a popular area for the outdoor life.[citation needed] The midnight sun can be seen here from 30 May to 13 July.
Måstad is located in the south. The mountainside more or less hangs right over the old, abandoned village of Måstad. This is where the puffin dog originated. Often people will walk from Nordlandshagen.
Norwegian Lundehund or Puffin dog is one of Norway's seven breeds 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.
Sanden is a beach with a 400-metre (1,300 ft) tall wall of rock towers over the spot, making it incredibly warm on fine summer days. Access is only by boat.