Å, Ibestad

Å
Village
Å

Location in Troms

Coordinates: 68°50′08″N 17°11′09″E / 68.83556°N 17.18583°E / 68.83556; 17.18583Coordinates: 68°50′08″N 17°11′09″E / 68.83556°N 17.18583°E / 68.83556; 17.18583
Country Norway
Region Northern Norway
County Troms
District Central Hålogaland
Municipality Ibestad
Elevation[1] 18 m (59 ft)
Time zone CET (UTC+01:00)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+02:00)
Post Code 9454 Ånstad

Å is a village in the municipality of Ibestad in Troms county, Norway. It is located about 26 kilometres (16 mi) east of the city of Harstad on the southwest side of the island of Andørja, along the Bygda strait which goes between the Vågsfjorden and the Astafjorden. The village of Å and the neighboring villages of Laupstad and Ånstad altogether have a total population (2001) of 205 residents.[2]

The village is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Sørvika where the undersea Ibestad Tunnel connects Andørja island to Rolla island, where Hamnvik, the municipal center is located. The village is named after the river Å-elva, which flows past it from the nearby mountains of Snøtinden, Ristindend, and Åtindenall of which are more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level.

The name

The village (originally a farm) was first mentioned in 1375 ("Aam"). The name was originally the plural of Old Norse á, which means "(small) river". (There is just one river here, so the plural form might be explained by the fact that the farm was divided in two parts.)

References

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