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
Municipality
Lyngseidet, southern Lyngen Alps, and Kjosen fjord
Coat of arms Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Lyngen within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 69°41′25″N 20°04′54″E
Country	Norway
County	Troms og Finnmark
District	Nord-Troms
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Lyngseidet
Government
• Mayor (2015)	Dan Håvard Johnsen (Local list)
Area
• Total	812.56 km^2 (313.73 sq mi)
• Land	795.68 km^2 (307.21 sq mi)
• Water	16.88 km^2 (6.52 sq mi)  2.1%
Area rank	141 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,794
• Rank	239 in Norway
• Density	3.5/km^2 (9/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−11.4%
Demonym(s)	Lyngsfjerding[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5424
Official language form	Neutral[2]
Website	lyngen.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 813-square-kilometre (314 sq mi) municipality is the 141st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lyngen is the 239th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,794. The municipality's population density is 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (9.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 11.4% 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 arms show a black horse (a local breed called Lyngshest) on a white/silver background. The silver color symbolizes the sea and fishing industry and the horse represents the local agriculture.[8][9]

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 Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Lyngen	Lyngen Church	Lyngseidet	1782
	Lenangsøyra Chapel	Lyngmo	1996

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.[10]

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.

During the Cold War the Norwegian Army planned to abandon Finnmark and halt the Soviets along the European route E6 highway at the choke point between the Lyngen fjord and the mountains. However, there were always great worries that the Soviets would also advance through Finland and the very sparsely defended extreme north of Sweden (north of Kiruna, south of Treriksröset) and attack the Lyngen position from the rear via Signaldalen.

Geography

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.[11] 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.[12] 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 2020–2023 [13]  

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 2016–2019 [14]  

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 2012–2015 [15]  

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 2008–2011 [14]  

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 2004–2007 [14]  

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 2000–2003 [14]  

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 1996–1999 [16]  

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 1992–1995 [17]  

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 1988–1991 [18]  

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 Russelv—Sør-Lenangsbotn area (Kretsliste for området Russelv—Sør-Lenangsbotn)	2
	Lyngseidet and surroundings local list (Lyngseidet og omegn bygdeliste)	3
Total number of members:		29

Lyngen Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  

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 Russelv—Sør-Lenangsbotn area (Kretsliste for området Russelv—Sør-Lenangsbotn)	2
Total number of members:		29

Lyngen Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  

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 1976–1979 [21]  

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 1972–1975 [22]  

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 1968–1971 [23]  

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 1964–1967 [24]  

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 1960–1963 [25]  

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 1956–1959 [26]  

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 1952–1955 [27]  

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 1948–1951 [28]  

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 1945–1947 [29]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	5
Total number of members:		16

Lyngen Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  

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

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 (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "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. (2019-12-24). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 151.
8. "Troms kommunevåpen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2008-12-07.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
10. "Lyngen kirke" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
11. "Lyngen" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2005-02-27.
12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-18.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)