Tromøya
| Tromøy kommune | |
|---|---|
| Former Municipality | |
View of Tromøy
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| Nickname(s): The pearl of Southern Norway | |
| Coordinates: 58°26′59″N 08°51′51″E / 58.44972°N 8.86417°ECoordinates: 58°26′59″N 08°51′51″E / 58.44972°N 8.86417°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Aust-Agder |
| District | Sørlandet |
| Municipality ID | NO-0921 |
| Adm. Center | Tromøy |
| Area | |
| • Land | 29 km2 (11 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 95 m (312 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2008) | 6,000 |
| Created from | Austre Moland in 1878 |
| Merged with | Arendal in 1992 |
Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway, a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, and is currently an important part of the present-day municipality of Arendal.
The island is located directly across the harbor from the town of Arendal. Tromøy Bridge (Tromøybroa) a 400-metre (1,300 ft) long suspension bridge connected it to the mainland in 1961. There is a passenger ferry that takes six minutes to transport riders from Skilsø to Arendal. The highest point on the island is the 95-metre (312 ft) tall Vardåsen. The company Aker Pusnes is located in Pusnes. It is a designer and supplier of all types of deck machinery and mooring systems for marine and offshore applications.
The municipality (originally the parish) of Tromø (Old Norse: Þruma) which means "rim", "edge", or "border".
The municipality of Tromøy was established on 1 May 1878 when the municipality of Austre Moland was divided into three separate municipalities: Tromøy (population: 2,320), Barbu (population: 4,874), and Austre Moland (population: 2,524). The municipality of Tromøy included several smaller islands, including Merdø, Skilsø, and Tromlingene.
On 1 January 1992, the municipality of Tromøy was incorporated into the municipality of Arendal, along with Moland, Øyestad, and Hisøy. Prior to the merger, the municipality had a population of 4,711.
Tromøy is known for having once hosted many Viking kings. According to the Ynglinga saga, Harald Granraude, the King of Agder, had his headquarters at Tromøy. It also says that his daughter, Queen Åsa Haraldsdatter, took her one-year-old son, Halfdan Svarte back to Tromøy after the death of Gudrød Veidekonge. There are several place names in Tromøy derived from the Viking era including Kongshamn and Hove.
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Wikipedia