Alvik
| Ålvik | |
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| Village | |
View of the Elkem Bjølvefossen company in Ålvik
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 Ålvik
Ålvik
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| Coordinates: 60°25′57″N 06°25′54″E / 60.43250°N 6.43167°ECoordinates: 60°25′57″N 06°25′54″E / 60.43250°N 6.43167°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Western Norway |
| County | Hordaland |
| District | Hardanger |
| Municipality | Kvam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.70 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 37 m (121 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 488 |
| • Density | 697/km2 (1,810/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+01:00) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+02:00) |
| Post Code | 5614 Ålvik |
Ålvik is a village in the municipality of Kvam in Hordaland county, Norway. The village "urban area" consists of the settlements of Ytre Ålvik og Indre Ålvik (outer and inner Ålvik) and Vikadal. The settlements are located on either side of a ridge with Vikadal in between. Indre Ålvik has been heavily industrialised since the early 1900s, when Bjølvefossen A/S was established. The village lies along the Ålvik bay on the northern shore of the Hardangerfjord. The 0.7-square-kilometre (170-acre) village has a population (2013) of 488, giving the village a population density of 697 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,810/sq mi).Ålvik Church is located in the village.
The name "Ålvik" is probably derived from Old Norse word ǫlr which means "alder" and the word vik which means "bay". The settlement here dates back at least to 600-700 BC, as documented by bronze artifacts found in the Vikedal area. In medieval times, Ålvik belonged to the estates of Norheim in Norheimsund.
The foundations for Indre Ålvik as an industrial district were laid in 1905, when Bjølvefossen A/S was incorporated to exploit the Bjølvo waterfalls for hydroelectric energy. In 1907, the village still had only 74 inhabitants, as little activity took place until Bjølvefossen A/S was sold to Elektrokemisk A/S in 1913. After this, construction of the Bjølvefossen hydroelectric plant commenced. The construction was however stalled due to concession disputes, as it was claimed that the work on the plant had begun before Norwegian escheat laws had been put in force in 1907.
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Wikipedia