Samsø
| Nickname: "The island in the middle" | |
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An old map of Samsø, Denmark
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| Geography | |
| Location | Kattegat |
| Coordinates | 55°52′00″N 10°37′00″E / 55.86667°N 10.61667°ECoordinates: 55°52′00″N 10°37′00″E / 55.86667°N 10.61667°E |
| Area | 112 km2 (43 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Highest point | Ballebjerg |
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Denmark
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| Region | Central Denmark Region |
| Municipality | Samsø Municipality |
| Largest settlement | Tranebjerg (pop. 829) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3,806 (2013) |
| Pop. density | 34.0 /km2 (88.1 /sq mi) |
Samsø (Anglicized: "Samso" or "Samsoe") is a Danish island in the Kattegat 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) off the Jutland Peninsula. Samsø is located in Samsø municipality. The community has 3,806 inhabitants (2013) called Samsings and is 114 km² in area. Due to its central location, the island was used during the Viking Age as a meeting place. The etymology of the island's name is unknown.
In 1997, Samsø won a government competition to become a model renewable energy community. Now 100% of its electricity comes from wind power and biomass.
The island is popular among French, Welsh and Irish people for strawberry picking during the months of June and July every year. In Denmark, the island is well known for its early harvest of new potatoes. The first few pounds of these potatoes usually fetch prices around £100, and are considered a great delicacy. Ballen's beach and village are popular with visitors. The island is served by a bus service which runs around the island, including the two ferry terminals in Sælvig and Ballen. In clear weather, the peninsula of Helgenæs to the north is visible. Geographically, the island divides into three areas:
The North Island is divided from the South Island by the artificial Kanhave canal. Here a larger part of the countryside is uncultivated and it presents a wavy landscape of meadows and small patches of woodland and heath. Like the rest of Samsø, the coastline is characterized by steep cliffs and stony beaches, with some sandy beaches in between suited for bathing. Issehoved is Samsø's northernmost point and presents what have been described as a miniature of Skagens "Grenen". The small towns of Nordby, Mårup and Langør is situated on the North Island. Just north of Nordby is the worlds biggest permanent labyrinth named 'Labyrinten', founded in the year 2000. It comprise a 60,000-square-metre (645,835-square-foot) patch of conifer woodland, grown on a previous christmas tree plantation. Northwest of Nordby, is the hill of Ballebjerg, Samsøs highest point, reaching 64 m. Near the village of Mårup is the harbour of Mårup Havn. In the summer months (17 June to 22 August) the old wooden freight-ship M/S Tunø, ferry passengers back and forth from here to the island of Tunø just west of Samsø, two days a week. Other two days of the week, the same boat is offering seal-safaris from Langør at Stavns Fjord.
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Wikipedia