Balsfjord
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Balsfjord kommune Báhccavuona suohkan Paatsivuonon komuuni |
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| Municipality | |||
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 Balsfjord within Troms |
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| Coordinates: 69°18′17″N 19°12′13″E / 69.30472°N 19.20361°ECoordinates: 69°18′17″N 19°12′13″E / 69.30472°N 19.20361°E | |||
| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Troms | ||
| District | Nord-Troms | ||
| Administrative centre | Storsteinnes | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor (2011) | Ole-Johan Rødvei (H) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,496.93 km2 (577.97 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 1,440.69 km2 (556.25 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 56.24 km2 (21.71 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 52 in Norway | ||
| Population (2012) | |||
| • Total | 5,502 | ||
| • Rank | 180 in Norway | ||
| • Density | 3.8/km2 (10/sq mi) | ||
| • Change (10 years) | -2.5 % | ||
| Demonym(s) | Balsfjording | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1933 | ||
| Official language form | Bokmål | ||
| Website | www |
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Balsfjord (Northern Sami: Báhccavuotna or Kven: Paatsivuono) is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storsteinnes. Other villages include Mestervik, Mortenhals, and Nordkjosbotn.
The municipality surrounds two fjords: Malangen and Balsfjorden, surrounded by comparatively rich farmlands under majestic peaks including the southern end of the Lyngen Alps.
Balsfjord was originally a part of the great Tromsøe landdistrikt municipality, but it was separated from this in 1860 to form its own municipality. Balsfjord had an initial population of 3,610. On 1 January 1871, Malangen (population: 1,425) was separated from it, leaving Balsfjord with 2,255 inhabitants. On 1 January 1875, a part of Lyngen (population: 7) was transferred to Balsfjord. On 1 January 1905, a part of Balsfjord (population: 5) was transferred to Målselv.
On 1 January 1964, most of Balsfjord was merged with most of neighboring Malangen to form a new, larger municipality of Balsfjord (population: 6,993). Also on that day, the Skogli ved Heia area (population: 2) was transferred to Målselv and the uninhabited Elvebakken farm was transferred to Storfjord. On 1 January 1966, the Sørelvmo area of Balsfjord (population: 131) was transferred to Målselv.
The municipality is named after the fjord Balsfjorden (Northern Sami: Báhccavuotna). The meaning of the first element is uncertain, but is likely associated with the Norse god Baldr or the Old Norse word bals meaning lump.
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