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Torsken

Torsken kommune
Doaskku suohkan
Municipality
Medby, Torsken
Medby, Torsken
Coat of arms of Torsken kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Torsken kommune
Troms within
Norway
Torsken within Troms
Torsken within Troms
Coordinates: 69°17′47″N 17°2′11″E / 69.29639°N 17.03639°E / 69.29639; 17.03639Coordinates: 69°17′47″N 17°2′11″E / 69.29639°N 17.03639°E / 69.29639; 17.03639
Country Norway
County Troms
District Midt-Troms
Administrative centre Gryllefjord
Government
 • Mayor (2007) Fred Flakstad (Gryllefjord bygdeliste)
Area
 • Total 243.20 km2 (93.90 sq mi)
 • Land 235.08 km2 (90.76 sq mi)
 • Water 8.12 km2 (3.14 sq mi)
Area rank 308 in Norway
Population (2012)
 • Total 892
 • Rank 407-408 in Norway
 • Density 3.8/km2 (10/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years) -21.0 %
Demonym(s) Torskeværing
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code NO-1928
Official language form Bokmål
Website www.torsken.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Torsken is a municipality on the western coast of the large island of Senja in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Gryllefjord. Other larger villages in Torsken municipality include the village of Torsken, Medby, and Flakstadvåg.

The historic Torsken Church in the village of Torsken dates back to the 18th century. Ånderdalen National Park is located partially in Torsken and neighboring Tranøy municipalities.

The municipality of Torsken was established on 1 January 1902 when it was separated from the municipality of Berg. The initial population of Torsken was 1,229. On 1 January 1964, the Rødsand area of Torsken (population: 160) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Tranøy.

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Torsken farm (Old Norse: Þoskar), since the first church (Torsken Church) was built there. The farm is named after Torsken mountain, and that name is probably derived from Norse þo(r)skr which means "cod". (Several mountains in Norway are named after their likeness with a fish.)

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 23 March 1990. The arms show a gold-colored anchor cross (Norwegian: ankerkors) on a black background. It is a symbol for both Christianity and the importance of the local harbor. The economy of Torsken is largely dependent on its harbors and an anchor is an appropriate symbol.


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