Discover Haugesund and districts

Gateway to the fjords Discover Haugesund and districts Norways birthplace By Tor Inge Vormedal 2007

Table of contents Preface: Norway and Norwegians... 6 Haugesund... 10 Karmøy... 44 Tysvær... 66 Bokn... 76 Vindafjord... 82 Etne... 96 Folgefonna Glacier... 108 Walking and Hiking... 112 Sauda... 116 Suldal... 124 Utsira... 134 Sveio... 140 Bømlo... 146 The Triangle Link... 156 Stord - Fitjar... 158 Kvinnherad... 166 Odda... 180 Ullensvang... 192 All Roads Lead to Haugesund... 204 Cycling Holiday... 210 A Round Trip of Karmøy... 213 Cycling in Sunnhordland... 217 The Interior of Haugesund... 221 Round Trip by Car... 224 Golf... 228 Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Life... 232 Winter and Snow... 246

Haugesund Haugesund is the gateway to one of the most beautiful parts of Norway. Using this seaside town as your starting point, you can reach fjords and mountains, eternal snow, historical attractions and unique nature within no time. Hagland FACTS: Inhabitants: 32 303 Area: 72 km 2 www.haugesund.kommune.no Bergstøl Støle Viksefjorden Vikse Bleivik Bakkavt. 47 Klauv Førlandsvågen Førland Førlandsvt. Saltveit Gåsavt. Saltveitvt. Kallandsvt. Kalland Skardstad Røvær Ur Ulvøy Hillerøy Gitterøy Skogland Rotavt. Sandvt. Kvernavt. 0 1 km Bjørkevær Kvalsvik Årabrot Smedasundet Tornesvt. Tornes Haraldshaugen Krosshaugen Hauge Hasseløy Vibrandsøy Risøy Karmsundet Skeisvt. Arka Arkavt. Haugesund Rossabø Ramsdalen Eivindsvt. Hemmingstad Krokavt. Steinsfjellet 227 m Skåredalen E 134 Ørpetveit 47 0 2 km 10

Klauv kardstad Stakkestadvt. vernavt. Haugesund is located by the Karmsund strait, the old king s road, where seafarers have sought a safe fairway and a secure harbour since the Viking Age. This safe fairway, also called Nordvegen, is the origin of the name Norway. A Town Built on Herring Bones From the beginning of the 1800s and 150 years onwards, the coast of western Norway was blessed with vast amounts of Norwegian spring spawning herring every spring. One of the places where the herring abounded was in the waters between Bømlo and Karmøy. A safe harbour and the proximity to these rich fishing grounds, formed the basis of the establishment of Haugesund as a town. Haugesund was granted rights as a small seaport or ladested, i.e. city status, on August 26, 1854. Back then, Haugesund was no more than a small fishing village, with as few as one thousand inhabitants. The extraordinary herring fishery made Haugesund grow at great speed. Around the turn of the century, the small fishing village had become a busy small town nearing 10 000 inhabitants. Today, Haugesund has more than 32 000 inhabitants and is the capital of a region with a population of approximately 150 000 inhabitants. 11

Karmøy Feøy Helganes Kvalavåg Åkrehamn Åkra Visnes Haugesund Lufthavn, Karmøy Vea Sevlandsvik Ytraland Tistreivt. Karmsundet Vikjo Hauske 518 Torvastad Reheia Karmsundbroen Salhus Norheim Bø Avaldsnes Husøy 47 Bygnes Kopervik Stangaland Vormedal Bukkøy Høyevarde K A R M Ø Y With its 38 000 inhabitants, Karmøy is the region s largest municipality. Although the island is full of ancient monuments, Tuastadvt. E 134 Kolnes Fosen Våga Selen Førdesfjorden Tuastad Røyksund Karmøy is a relatively new municipality. Karmøy Municipality was established in 1965 by a merger of the seven previous municipalities: Torvastad, Avaldsnes, Stangaland, Kopervik, Åkra, Skude nes and Skudeneshavn.Karmøy Municipality covers an area of 225 km 2, of which 50 km 2 is located on the mainland. Høvring 47 Snorteland Ferkingstad 511 0 3 km Sandhåland Burmavegen Holmavt. Mjåvt. Stiklevt. Hilleslandsvt. Karmsundet Blikshamn FACTS: Inhabitants: 38 349 Area: 225 km 2 www.karmoy.kommune.no Sandve Hillesland Hovdastad Jarsteinen Syre Skudeneshavn Geitungen fyr Til Kvitsøy/ Mekjarvik 44

From Skudeneshavn Karmøy has both rural villages and towns. Karmøy s three towns are Kopervik, Skudeneshavn and Åkrehamn. There are also twenty something built-up areas of various sizes. The largest one being Norheim, which is located at the mainland. Agriculture and fishery are still important industries in Karmøy. But today, the manufacturing and service industry are more important with regard to employment. Norsk Hydro, Karmøy Fabrikker is the largest industrial work place with around 1500 employees. The municipality also has several companies within the mechanical industry aimed at shipping, fishery and the oil industry. One of the country s largest offshore shipping companies, Solstad Offshore ASA, is located in Skudeneshavn. The company have more than 40 vessels and 1000 employees. The North Sea gas has also had a great impact on employment in Karmøy. While Gassco makes sure the gas from the North Sea is being distributed to Europe, Gasnor attends to the distribution of gas within Norway. Solstad Offshore PHOTO: HEINE BIRKELAND Gassco: 15 per cent of all gas used in Europe comes from Norway, and the main centre for the transportation of Norwegian gas to Europe, Gassco, is located at Bygnes in Karmøy. Gassco has 270 employees and controls the world s largest offshore 45

Skjoldafjorden Tysvær To the east of Haugesund lies Tysvær Municipality, with its 9500 inhabitants and covering an area of 419 km 2. In addition to its stunning scenery of smooth coastal rock and high mountains, Tysvær boasts a beautiful cultivated landscape of well-maintained farms, lined up one after another. E 39 Valhest Stakkestadvt. Sundfør Hodnafjellet Våg E 134 Nesheim Grinde Grindafjorden 513 Førresfjorden Dragavik Aksdalsvt. Aksdal Fuglavt. 515 Erland Skjoldastraumen Stakland T Y S V Æ R E 39 Førland Sagbakken Slogvik Storavt. Hundsnes Yrkje Lammanuten Yrkjefjorden Vassendvik Høie Apeland Hegglifjell Sandbekken Sandvik Lysevt Førresfjorden Hola Heskja Tysværvåg Slåttevik Storavt. Førlandsfjorden Steinsvik Hervik Borgøy Espevik 515 Muslandsvåg Hin Tve Nedstrandfjorden Gismervik Mosvatnet Hesthammar E 39 Susort Falkeid Kårstø Haugsneset Frekasundet Hervikfjorden Stong Liarvåg Toftøy 0 FACTS: Inhabitants: 9 513 Area: 419 km 2 www.tysver.kommune.no 66 Discover Haugesund and District - Norway s Birthplace

Yrkjefjorden assendvik 5 randfjorden Lysevt. Tveit Øvrabø Kvam Nessa Øverland The administrative centre of Tysvær is Aksdal, only 12 km from Haugesund. Here you will find Tysværtunet, the municipality s cultural centre, which has an indoor swimming pool, as well as a cinema and concert hall. Nedstrand With 260 operational farms, farming is still an important industry in the municipality. Around every tenth Holekleiv household in Tysvær carries on some form of agricultural activity. The main place of employment in the Til Jelsa municipality is, however, Statoil s gas processing Til Hanasand complex at Kårstø. This is Europe s largest gas terminal, with 1000 employees. 5 km Kårstø: Though Tysvær has numerous sights in the form of stunning scenery and historical landmarks, it is the gas processing plant at Kårstø that puts the municipality on the map. Gassco is the operator of Kårstø, while Statoil is the technical services provider. Tysvær hit the jackpot when, in 1981, the Norwegian Parliament decided that Statoil could land gas from the Statfjord oil field at Kårstø. From being a poor rural municipality experiencing major depopulation, Tysvær became a wealthy municipality with an influx of new residents. Thanks to the gas terminal at Kårstø, the municipality presently receives property tax from the plant as well as income tax from all those working at the terminal. Of Tysvær s total budget of about NOK 500 million, NOK 100 million is Hinderåvåg Hodnafjellet Mountain 67

Bokn Bokn is a small island-municipality in the middle of the shipping lane at the southern end of the Karmsund strait. With its 800 inhabitants and a surface area covering 47 km 2, Bokn is one of the smallest municipalities in the country. E 39 Ognahabn Ognøy Ognakalven Ognasundet Breivik Trosnavåg Gunnarstadvt. Boknafjellet Ulvånå Nydal Kro Øvrabøneset B O K N Alvestad Føresvik Boknabergvt. Alvestadkroken Austre Bokn Tåganes 0 Våga Nipa Nore Vågaholmen 200 m Nautøy Boknasundet Grønestadvågen Grønestadvt. Sunnalandstraumen Vestre Bokn Vatnaland Vatnalandsvt. Hognalandsvt. Kjeøy Hognåsen Arsvt. Laupland E 39 Arsvågen FACTS: Inhabitants: 793 Area: 47 km 2 www.bokn.kommune.no Klepp Are Til Mortavika Boknafjorden 76 Discover Haugesund and District - Norway s Birthplace

Western Bokn. Bokn consists of three islands: Western and Eastern Bokn and Ognøy. Its administrative centre is located on Western Bokn, which is the largest of the three islands, and where most of the inhabitants live. Bokn was connected to the mainland in 1991 when the new coastal highway, E-39, was built. The ferry service over Boknafjorden used to cross from Skudeneshavn to Tungesnes, but today the ferries go between Arsvågen and Mortavika. Arsvågen is located at the southernmost tip of Western Bokn. If you re going from Stavanger to Haugesund or Bergen by car, you ll have to cross the three islands at Bokn. But Bokn has more to offer than nice freeways. In stead of rushing across the islands at high speed, you should take your time and make a few longer or shorter breaks. 77

Vindafjord Vindafjord got new borders in 2006 when it merged with the neighbouring municipality Ølen. In the debate over the name of the new municipality, Vindafjord drew the longest straw. The new Vindafjord Municipality stretches out from Sunnhordland in the north to Ryfylke in the south. With a surface area of 641 km 2, Vindafjord is the fourth largest municipality in Rogaland. Ålfjorden Gardavika Utbjoa Bjoa Til Sydnes/ Halsnøy Innbjoa Romsaøyene FACTS: Inhabitants: 8 111 Area: 641 km 2 www.vindafjord.kommune.no Årvikhamn Årvik Dalselva Bjoavatnet Haugsfjell 543 Ølensfjorden Dreganes E 134 Ålfjorden Isvik Kvamshamn Haraldseidvågen Skredfjellet Langavt. Vikebygd Bjordal Haraldseid Skjold Vikefjellet 513 Eikås Eikeland Aurdal Velde Knapphus Vatsvt. Solheim 46 Nesheim Otertong Vats Ølensvåg Viland Åmsosen Ilsvåg Gjerdesdalsvt. Ølen V I N D A F J O R D Skjoldafjorden Eide Stokkadalsvt. Hovåsen Oselva 514 Øklandsvt. Stuhaug Sandeid 46 E 134 Rødneelva Sandeidfjorden Horganut Vikedal Hogganvik Låkafossen Mo Imsland Vikedalselva Vindafjorden Fjellgardsvt. Haugland Ølmedalsvt. Stølsm Aksland Vatsfjorden Raunes Yrkjefjorden 0 5 km Stråtveit 82

View of Ølensvåg PHOTO: PEDER LUNDEGÅRD dsvt. Stølsmarka Horganuten Vindafjord is the largest agricultural municipality in the Haugesund district, with nearly 500 operational farms. The municipality s major attractions are beautiful nature and a well-kept cultural landscape. Ølen has always been an important junction in the district with a regular ferry service to Bergen. Today, it s the European route (E-134) between Haugesund and Oslo that makes Ølen an important junction. This is why Ølen was chosen to be the municipality s new administrative centre. Ølen also has a motel, a bank and a shopping centre, as well as primary, secondary and upper secondary schools. Aksland 46 Ropeid T Today, the new Vindafjord Municipality has a little over 8000 inhabitants. As in most other rural municipalities, it has a scattered population. The nine rural communities in Vindafjord are: Vikedal, Imsland, Sandeid, Vats, Skjold, Ølen, Ølensvåg, Bjoa and Vikebygd. Several of these villages used to be independent municipalities. Rønnevik Although Vindafjord is a major agricultural municipality, it also has a fair amount of industry. Large parts of Vindafjord s industry are centred in Ølen and Ølensvåg. Here you ll find both a slaughterhouse, a ship yard and a computer company. Fatland is one of the country s largest privately owned slaughterhouses. Of a total of 500 employees in the Fatland group, 200 work in Ølen. 83

Etne In addition to having one of the world s most majestic and beautiful waterfalls, Etne can offer wild, beautiful and varied nature. Here, you ll find fjords, waterfalls, eternal snow and vital rural communities. Folgefonna FACTS: Inhabitants: 3 858 Area: 708 km 2 www.etne.kommune.no Sandvikevatnet Eikemo Tysse Mosnes Langfoss Fjæra Rulle Rulle Til Matre/ Utåker Åkrafjorden Teigland Markhus Vaulavatnet Sandvik Børkjenes Leknes Taraldsøy Skånevik Ebna Osnes Bjørgjo E 134 Sørstranda Tungesvik 48 Grønstad Etne Stødle Håfoss Kyrping Håland Stordalsvatnet Kvammen Litledalsvatnet Skarstøl Rus Krokavatnet Ilsvatnet E T N E Frette Flåte 0 5 km Forevatn Bjønndalen 96

olgefonna atnet E 134 æra Rullestad Skromme Rullestadvatnet vatnet The statue of King Magnus Erlingsson outside Etne Courthouse. Etne is located 60 kilometres from Haugesund and is surrounded by the municipalities Odda, Sauda, Suldal, Vindafjord and Kvinnherad. This scenic municipality covers a surface area of as much as 708 km 2. Half of the municipality s 3900 inhabitants live in the built-up areas Etne sjøen and Skånevik. Etnesjøen is the municipality s administrative centre. In the north-east, Etne borders Folgefonna National Park and the Folgefonna glacier. (See separate chapter on Folgefonna on page 108-111.) The rich soil has formed the basis for Etne s growth and prosperity for generations. Archaeological findings suggest that there have been settlements at Etnesjøen for thousands of years. Farming is still an important industry in Etne, but not the most important one. Today, there are less than 200 operational farms in Etne, which means that one in seven households is involved in farming. Today, trade, tourism and the public sector are the municipality s major employers. Etne sjøen has a complete offer of all public services for the community s inhabitants, such as nursing home, day-care centre, primary school and lower and upper secondary school. There is also a wide selection of shops, sports installations, a marina and a culture centre with cinema and concert hall. There is even an authentic American saloon on the prairie of Etne; the Old River Saloon, where they strike up the dance music every weekend. 97

Sauda At the innermost end of the Sauda Fjord lies the industrial municipality Sauda with its 4700 inhabitants. The municipality is surrounded by high mountains and covers a surface area of 514 km 2. FACTS: Inhabitants: 4 732 Area: 514 km 2 www.sauda.kommune.no Buer Slettedalen Indrejord S A U D A Slettedalsvt. Minnehaugen Hellandsbygd Kyrkjenuten 1602 N. Berdalsvt. (Vinterstengt) 520 Ø. Berdalsvt. Førstadvt. Breiborg Holmavt. Ø. Sand N. Sa Svartevt. Nordstøldalen Hustveitsåta 1188 Saudasjøen Svandal Svandalsfossen Honganvik Hustveit 520 Saudafjorden Sauda Åbøbyen Ramsnes Vanvik Maldal Storelva Skorvenuten 1124 Reinsnuten 1169 Storli Storlivt. Allmannajuvet 0 5 km Skaulen 1540 116

Ø. Sandvt. N. Sandvt. Svartevt. rg It was the vast water resources that were the foundation for Sauda as an industrial community. Before Aktieselskapet Saudefaldene tamed the waterfalls, Sauda was a poor farming community with only a few hundred inhabitants. In 1913, they started to pipe the waterfalls. Access to vast amounts of cheap energy and an ice-free harbour was the reason why the American company Electric Furnace Products (EFP) built a ferroalloy plant in Sauda. In the golden era from the mid 50s to the mid 60s, the factory had 1300 employees. Since the smelter started producing manganese in 1923, it has had several owners. In 1982, Elkem bought the company and named it Sauda Smelting Plant. Elkem ran the plant until 1999 when they sold it to the French industrial company Eramet. Today, more manganese than ever is being produced in Sauda, but the number of employees has been substantially reduced. Today, around 400 people work in the plant itself, and 200 of these are employed by Eramet. Just like so many other industrial communities, also Sauda has been forced to reorganise. Today, Sauda has several smaller industrial companies and a constantly growing tourist industry. 117

Suldal Suldal is located south-east of Haugesund and is a part of the region Ryfylke in Rogaland County. This widespread municipality is like a small piece of Norway, with sheltered fjord landscapes, deep forests and high mountains. FACTS: Inhabitants: 3 874 Area: 1727 km 2 www.suldal.kommune.no Bratlan Skaulen 1540 Nesf Røynevarden 13 Til Nedstrand Hebnes Foldøy Jelsafjorden Rosseid Kjølvik Til Hanasand Finnvik Marvik Israelsneset 517 Jelsa Ropeid 46 Sandsfjorden 520 Saudafjorden Sand Lovraeid Tysse Vanvik Mo Hålandsdalen Erfjord Hålandstunet Foreneset Erøy 13 Bogsund Suldalseidet Mosvt. Tengesdal Hylsfjorden Sul dals Gullingen 0 5 km Suldalsporten Kvilldal Kolbeinstveit Suldalsosen n låge Lindum Ritland Ulladalen Våge Hylen Hylsskaret Sandsa Sandsavt. Suldalsvt. S U L D Stranddalen 124

Finnabuvt. Bratlandsdalen nevarden Suldalsvt. Nesflaten 13 randdalen Bråtveit Roaldkvam Mostøl L D A L bom Bleskestad Sandvt. bom Sand. Bleskestadmoen Covering a surface area of 1727 km 2, Suldal is the largest municipality in Rogaland. With regard to the number of inhabitants, however, the municipality is small. Suldal has fewer than 4000 inhabitants, of which around 1200 live in the municipal centre of Sand. Farming is the main industry in Suldal and this is why the municipality has such a scattered population. Water Power: Suldal is a power-based municipality, which means that it has exploited its vast water resources in the production of electric Blåsjø power. Today, the municipality earns a lot of money from the power plants. From 1963 to 1987, there were two large power development projects in the municipality. First Røldal-Suldal, and then Ulla-Førre. The latter is the largest development project for hydroelectric power in Northern Europe. The largest reservoir in the Ulla- Førre project is called Blåsjø and contains three billion cubic metres of water. The Blåsjø reservoir has a long-time storage capacity, which means it will contain a water reserve for as much as three years even with no precipitation. The reservoir consists of 11 dams, and the artificial lake covers a surface area 125

Utsira West of Karmøy lies Utsira. Measuring only 6 km 2 and home to 214 residents, Utsira is Norway s smallest municipality by population and smallest but one in size. FACTS: Inhabitants: 214 Area: 6 km 2 www.utsira.kommune.no Til Haugesund 0 500 m Nordevågen Måbjør Austramarka Nordvik Helganes U T S I R A Vestramarka Kvalvik Skare Hovland Austrheim Spannanes Klovning Sørevågen Til Haugesund 134

Sørevågen Utsira is an exotic destination that should be included on your visit to the Haugesund district. In addition to beautiful, but exposed nature, this little island can offer sights such as Norway s most unique birdlife and the world s first wind turbine and hydrogen power plant. A ferry will take you to Utsira three times a day. The crossing takes an hour and ten minutes, and the ferry leaves from Garpeskjærskaien on Risøy, in Haugesund. If you have a bicycle, we recommend that you bring it along, as the roads on Utsira are perfect for biking. For years, combined fishing and farming have been the principle industries of the people of Utsira. Nowadays, the primary employer on the island is the municipality, although there are still those who make a living off the sea. Like most other municipalities, Utsira focuses on tourism. As a result, new types of accommodation and eateries have emerged over the past few years. Nordevågen 135

Sveio North of Haugesund lies Sveio Municipality. With its 4700 inhabitants and a surface area covering 246 km 2, Sveio is one of the smallest municipalities in the Hauge sund district. FACTS: Inhabitants: 4 764 Area: 246 km 2 www.sveio.kommune.no Bømlafjordtunnelen Leirvågen Einstadbøvoll Valevåg Tittelsnes Bjoafjorden E 39 Trollavassnipen 432 moh Bjørgo Bømlafjorden Straumøy Valestrand Hopsfjellet 333 moh Haugsbu Ålfjorden Slettene Liereid Førdespollen Auklandshamn Staupe Tjernagel Vestvik Håvardsholm Til Langevåg Storavatnet Fagerland Langavatnet Førde Dreng 277 moh Buavåg Kinn Emberlandsnipen 271 moh Røykenes Lyngholmen Eltravåg Hovda Færås S V E I O Nordskog Hinderlid Sveio Bjelland Rød Liervassdraget Haukås Våga Børshovda 186 moh Erve Tveit Oa Selåsvika Ålfjorden Sletta Ryvarden fyr Mølstrevåg 541 47 Tveit E 39 Kvalvåg Fjon Flatnes Vikse Vigdarvatnet Lindøy Viksefjorden Ekrene Eilerås 0 5 km 140

fjorden Ryvarden Lighthouse The main road on the west coast of Norway, the coastal trunk road E-39, cuts through the beautiful and varied landscape in Sveio. If you don t step too hard on the throttle, you ll be able to enjoy everything from well-kept smallholdings to fjords and mountains and flat heaths, all from the road. And let s not forget all the small fishing lakes. Ten per cent of the municipality s surface area is covered by large and small freshwater lakes. More precisely, Sveio has 282 lakes, of which Vigdarvatnet is the largest one. In most of the lakes you re permitted to swim, fish and paddle. Today s municipality was established in 1965 after a merger of the municipalities Sveio, Vikebygd and Valestrand. Sveio is the southernmost municipality in Hordaland County and is shaped like a peninsula surrounded by Sletta and Bømlafjorden to the west and Ålfjorden to the east. On the mainland, Sveio borders both Tysvær and Haugesund. Sveio has a scattered population, but the majority lives in and around the two villages Sveio and Førde. The administrative centre is located in the village of Sveio. Agriculture combined with coastal fishery used to be a common source of income in Sveio. Agriculture is still an important industry in the municipality, but today there are only 130 operational farms left. The majority of the working population works outside the municipality, primarily in Haugesund. 141

Bømlo Brandasund Gisøy Bømlo Municipality is an island community in the Haugesund district, consisting of more than one thousand small and large islands. This is a paradise for those who like fishing and boating. Rolvsnes Goddo Erevik Stongarvåg Rogøy Økland Svortland Selsvt. 542 Rubbestadneset Foldrøyhamn Foldrøy Meling B Ø M L O Stokksund Sakseid Kulleseid Siggjo 471 m 541 Håvik Hiskosen Selvåg Røyksund Spissøy Skotningen Lykling Midtøy Børøyvik Børøyfjorden Rutsøy Moster Mosterhamn Tøtland FACTS: Inhabitants: 10 892 Area: 247 km 2 www.bomlo.kommune.no Gissøy 541 Sagvt. Barane Hjartnes Andal 0 Bømlafjorden 5 km Osen Berge Bømlo Eidesvik Langevåg Espevær Til Buavåg Kalavåg 146

Moster Church With 11 000 inhabitants and a surface area of 247 km 2, Bømlo is a typical mid-sized rural municipality. The inhabitants are scattered around the six built-up areas Rubbestadneset, Finnås, Mosterhamn, Langevåg and Svortland (Bremnes). The municipality s administrative centre is located at Svortland, which is the largest of these six built-up areas. Surrounded by ocean on all sides, it goes without saying that maritime industries influence the municipality s working life. Bømlo has shipping industry, a fishing fleet, shipping companies and fish farming. The two major work places at Bømlo is the offshore shipping company Eidesvik A/S and Wärtsilä. Eidesvik A/S is a stock-listed shipping company with around 600 employees and a fleet consisting of 21 modern offshore vessels. The ship engine manufacturer Wärtsilä produces propellers and gear systems for large vessels and has more than 500 employees at Bømlo. Aquaculture and fish farming is also a big industry. When you travel around Bømlo, you will see fish farming facilities for grow-out fish, juvenile fish and shellfish. Bømlo also has some of the country s largest fish harvesting plants. Every day 35 000 salmon is being harvested and exported from Bømlo. That is the equivalent to three per cent of the entire world production. There are several ways to get to the island paradise Bømlo. For those who would like a lovely boat trip through the beautiful skerries, there is an express boat with daily departures from Haugesund to Mosterhamn. You can also arrive 147

Stord - Fitjar The island of Stord is located between Bergen and Haugesund. On the island itself, there are two municipalities, Fitjar and Stord. The two municipalities are almost the same size, with a surface area of 145 and 144 km 2, respectively. As regards the population, however, Stord is the bigger one with its 16 700 inhabitants, while Fitjar has 2 900. Til Halhjem Sandvikvåg E 39 Fodno Årskog Vistvik Fitjar Midtfjell 798 m Tranøy Ivarsøy F I T J A R Melhammer Storavatn Jektevik Til Hodnanes Ålforo Koløyholmen Rydland Kattanakken 724 m Huglo 545 S T O R D Haukanes Dåfjordeid Mennene 500 m Eskeland Breivikjo E 39 Sørstokken FACTS: Inhabitants Stord: 16 850 Inhabitants Fitjar: 2 897 Area: 145 and 144 km 2 www.stord.kommune.no www.fitjar.kommune.no Sagvåg Digernes Leirvik Sponavikjo Skjersholmane Til Ranavik/Sunde 0 5 km 158

o Haukanes The Stord Door, sculpture made by Sissel Tolaas in 2006. Stord Municipality has had city status since 1997, and is today the centre of Sunnhordland. The capital of Stord is called Leirvik. Around 10 000 of the inhabitants live in Leirvik, while 5 000 live around the densely populated area Sagvåg. Although the manufacturing industry has long traditions at Stord, it was agriculture that used to be the municipality s main industry up until the late 1940s. What is today the cornerstone company at Stord, Aker Kværner Stord, was established in 1919 as a herring oil factory. In 1930, the factory went over to the mechanical industry, and from1945, they started building ships. In the 159

Kvinnherad Kvinnherad lies at the entrance to the Hardanger Fjord and has some of the most beautiful fjord landscapes in western Norway, with wild waterfalls, narrow fjords, steep mountains and eternal snow. FACTS: Inhabitants: 13 032 Area: 1 137 km 2 www.kvinnherad.kommune.no 48 49 Gjermundshamn Varaldsøy Varaldsøy Varden 600 m 551 Sildafjorden Sild Maurangerfjorden Ænes Ænesdalen Gjerde Sundal Folg Fonnan 1454 m Hatlestrand Olve 49 K V I N N H E R A D Hardangerfjorden Løfallstrand Rosendal Melderskinn 1424 m FOLGEFONNA Onarheimsfjorden Snilstveitøy 551 Dimmelsvik Malmangernuten 889 m Herøysundet Uskedal Rustefjell 1099 m Husnes Englefjell 1200 m Lykjelsøy Eidsvik Til Skjersholmane Klosterfjorden Fjellberg Kolsøy Fjellbergøy Borgundøy Sunde 544 Sæbøvik Sydnes Høylandssundet Halsnøy Valen Skåneviksfjorden Mjelkhaug 986 m 48 Ulvanåsa 1247 m Utåker Til Skånevik 0 Matrefjorden Matre 5 km Indre Matre Slettefjell 784 m Åkra Til Utbjoa/ Bjoafjorden 166

Gjerde Folgefonntunnelen undal Fonnanuten 1454 m ONNA The Barony of Rosendal Covering an area of 1137 km 2, Kvinnherad is one of the region s biggest municipalities. Kvinnherad has a scattered population structure, and the approximately 13 000 inhabitants live in several smaller villages and rural communities. The largest rural community in Kvinnherad is Husnes with its 2500 inhabitants. Rosendal: Both geographically and as a municipal centre, Rosendal is the centre of Kvinnherad. Rosendal also gets the focus of attention when it comes to tourism. Although Kvinnherad has several beautiful rural communities and villages, none of them can really compare to Rosendal s charm and attractions. In and around the village of Rosendal live just over 1000 inhabitants. The Barony Rosendal: The Barony Rosendal is not only the biggest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad. As one of the smallest castles in Scandinavia, the Barony is also one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Norway. The barony s history dates back to 1650, when the Danish nobleman Ludwig Rosenkrantz came to Bergen as representative for the Danish king. In a ball at the fortress of Bergenhus in Bergen, he met Karen Mowatt, sole heiress to the country s biggest fortune at the time. Her father owned more than 500 farms all over western Norway. When they married in 1658, they were given the farm Hatteberg in Rosendal as a wedding present. A few years after the wedding, Ludwig Rosenkrantz 167

Odda Odda is one of Norway s most renowned industrial towns, surrounded by high mountains and stunning nature. The municipality is located at the innermost end of the Hardanger Fjord and covers a surface area of as much as 1648 km 2. The majority of the 7200 inhabitants live in and around the town of Odda. Sørfjorden Bersåvatnet FACTS: Inhabitants: 7 154 Area: 1648 km 2 www.odda.kommune.no Folgefonntunnelen Tyssedal Ringedalsvatnet Buer Odda Langavatnet Bretavatnet FOLGEFONNA Sandvinvatnet Sandvin Blånut 1526 Solfonn Holmavatnet 13 Brekke Skarsmo Skare Utsikten E 134 Reinsnosvatnet Reinsnos O D D A Bjørnanuten 1613 Valldalsvatnet Valldalseter Hellevatnet Seljestad Store Nupsfonn 1693 Seljestadjuvet Austmannali 0 5 km Røldal Votna Midtleger E 134 Røldalsvatnet Ekkjeskar 520 Botna Breifonn 13 180 Discover Haugesund and District - Norway s Birthplace

Odda has long traditions for tourism. More than one hundred years ago, Odda was one of Europe s most important tourist destinations. net Princes, emperors, aristocrats and the wealthy all came to Odda to see the magnificent nature with its waterfalls, fjords and glaciers. At the most, Odda was visited by around eighty cruise ships every year. In addition came the armada of German warships that escorted William II of Germany on his visits to Odda and the Hardanger Fjord every summer. Back then, Odda was a small village with a few hundred inhabitants making a living of farming and tourism. In the late 1800s, the small village had as many as ten hotels, receiving thousands of tourists from May to August. But it wasn t only the tourists that were attracted to the Hardanger Fjord and the impressive waterfalls. Around the turn of the century, Odda was being explored by engineers and industrialists from abroad. With its access to large waterfalls and excellent harbours, Odda was perfect for industry. A Model Municipality: The first power station was built in the neighbouring village Tyssedal, and was completed in 1908. In very short time, Odda went from being a small, rural romantic village to a hectic industrial town with 4000-5000 inhabitants. The new plants were built with no consideration of 181

Ullensvang In the heart of Hardanger lies the fruit-farming municipality Ullensvang. The small and steep fruit farms in Ullensvang have around 600 000 fruit trees. The fruit blossom in May is a marvellous sight which has made Ullensvang famous both in Norway and abroad. Hardangerfjorden 550 Alsåker Til Kvanndal Hesthamar Utne Utnefjorden Naustflot Trones Langasete Hauso Jåstad Ystanes Røte 13 Eidfjorden Hus Kinsarvik 13 Ringøy Vassdalsnutane Bu Store Flåtten Sovarenuten Sørfjorden 550 Aga Syreflot Åkre ReisæterBleie Nå Lindvik FOLGEFONNA Måge Velure Espe Fresvik Børve Sekse Hovland Lofthus Opedal Ullensvang Frøynes Opesjovt. Sandstå Store Vendelvt. Stavalivt. U L L E N S V A N G Illakleivløkene Veivt. HARDANGERVIDDA NASJONALPARK Nedre Omkjelsvt. Bersavikvt. Hårteigen 0 5 km Øvre Tyssevt. Håvardsvt. FACTS: Inhabitants: 3 416 Area: 1 393 km 2 www.ullensvang.herad.no Litlosvt. Kvennsjøen Valgar Kroka Øvre Bjørnavt. 192 Discover Haugesund and District - Norway s Birthplace

From Lofthus Size-wise, Ullensvang is a large municipality, covering as much as 1393 km 2. Sørfjorden, an arm of the Hardanger Fjord, splits the municipality in two. On the western side, Ullensvang borders Folgefonna, and on the eastern side it borders Hardangervidda. Population-wise, Ullensvang is a small municipality with only 3400 inhabitants. The majority of the population lives near the municipality s administrative centre Kinsarvik. Valgarsvt. Krokavt. Nedre Bjørnavt. Øvre Bjørnavt. It was the monks from the monastery Lyse Kloster in Os outside Bergen who first started growing fruit in Hardanger. Lyse Kloster owned a large farm near Lofthus in Ullensvang where the monks probably planted the first fruit trees some time around the 12-1300 s. The local farmers did not start with large-scale fruit growing until the 1800s. A combination of fertile soil and a favourable climate made the fruit trees along the Hardanger Fjord yield huge quantities of excellent fruit. Today, Ullens vang is the major fruit-farming municipality in Norway. Plums, pears, apples and particularly cherries are grown here. Around 80 per cent of all Norwegian cherries come from Ullensvang. 193

204

All Roads Lead to Haugesund The transport to and from the Haugesund district is excellent. You can reach Haugesund by plane, boat, car or bus. Norway has been a signatory to the Schengen Agreement since 2001. Despite the fact that the intention of the Schengen Agreement was to avoid passport controls between the member countries, foreign citizens arriving Norway must still present a passport. If you arrive in Haugesund directly from another country, either by plane or boat, you must be able to produce your passport. You should also check whether or not there is a visa requirement between your country and Norway. For more information on visa requirements, see: www.udi.no Plane: Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, is located a mere 14 kilometres from the centre of Haugesund. The airline SAS has direct daily flights from Haugesund Airport to Oslo and Bergen. Between Haugesund and Oslo, SAS has 5-6 departures every weekday, two daily departures on Saturdays, and four on Sundays. Between Haugesund and Bergen, SAS have two daily flights Monday to Friday, one departure Sunday and no departures Saturday. Three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) Ryanair has direct flights between Haugesund Airport and Stansted in London. The airline Coast Air has direct flights from both Haugesund and Stord. From Haugesund Airport, Coast Air has direct flights to Copenhagen, Bergen and Sandefjord. From Stord Airport, Coast Air has direct flights to Oslo. The Runway at Haugesund Airport, Karmøy is 2 000 metres. 205