Kinsarvik

Kinsarvik
Village
View of the village
Kinsarvik Show map of Hordaland Kinsarvik Show map of Norway Location in Hordaland county
Coordinates: 60°22′32″N 06°43′10″E / 60.37556°N 6.71944°E / 60.37556; 6.71944Coordinates: 60°22′32″N 06°43′10″E / 60.37556°N 6.71944°E / 60.37556; 6.71944
Country	Norway
Region	Western Norway
County	Hordaland
District	Hardanger
Municipality	Ullensvang
Area
• Total	0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2013)
• Total	519
• Density	895/km2 (2,320/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01:00)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02:00)
Post Code	5780 Kinsarvik

Kinsarvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Ullensvang in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of a small bay at the confluence of the Sørfjorden and Eidfjorden where they join to form the main branch of the Hardangerfjorden. The village lies along the Norwegian National Road 13 and it has a ferry port with regular routes that connect it to Utne and Kvanndal across the fjord. The 0.58-square-kilometre (140-acre) village has a population (2013) of 519, giving the village a population density of 895 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,320/sq mi).

Due to its important location along the Hardangerfjorden, Kinsarvik has been an important location since the Viking age. Kinsarvik has been the site of Kinsarvik Church since the 12th century, serving the people of the whole region. The parish of Kinsarvik was made into a municipality in 1838. Kinsarvik Municipality existed as a municipality off and on from 1838 until 1964 when it was merged into Ullensvang.

Kinsarvik sits at the end of the Husedalen valley. The wild Kinso river runs through the village, and the rivers is what gives name to Kinsarvik. Its name stems from "kinn" which means "steep mountainside" (the valley has steep mountainsides) and so "Kinsarvik" simply means "The Bay of Kinso". The Kinso River drops 3,600 feet (1,100 m) from the vast Hardangervidda plateau through the Husedalen valley before emptying into the sea level fjord at Kinsarvik. Along the way there are 4 spectacular waterfalls. The waterfalls can be viewed after 4–6 hours of hiking. Kinsarvik is also a major access point many longer treks into the Hardangervidda National Park.