FROYA & HITRA ISLANDS

LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS

Frøya and Hitra are neighbouring islands situated off the coast of Central Norway, Hitra is closest to the mainland , whilst Frøya is the outermost one facing the North Atlantic.

Hitra is now connected to the mainland by the world’s deepest underwater tunnel, 264m under sea level.

Both islands can easily be reached by fastmoving catamaran boats from the town of Trondheim, and there is a ferry link between the islands. Within the islands people mainly use private cars for transport purposes.

GEOGRAPHY

These islands are quite similar in many ways, but with considerable differences as to size and topography in particular. Hitra is the largest one, comprising 707 sq. km. The countryside is varied with valleys, slopes, hills, boggy land and hundreds of fresh-water lakes. The size of Frøya is only 147 sq. km. consisting mainly of broken country with moorland and stretches of boggy soil and fresh-water lakes between rocky hills. The summit of Hitra is 345m above sea level, in sharp contrast to Frøya’s 78m. Central parts of Hitra are covered with pine forest, whilst almost all trees of any kind on Frøya have been planted there. Both islands are surrounded by smaller islands of different sizes, Frøya by approx. 4000 of them. Climate is mild but periodically quite wet and stormy, normally with mild winters and not very high summer temperatures.

POPULATION AND MAJOR CENTRES

A large number of prehistoric sites tells us that both islands have been more or less occupied since the Stone Age. The population has been gradually reduced after the world war to 4,300 on each island. This decrease in population brought both islands into serious economic difficulties for a long period.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Both islands have a numerous and varied oceanic flora in a rather unsheltered landscape and a real rich bird life, mainly sea-birds, but also other kinds from eagles to the more tiny ones. Wild geese and swans are regular guests each year. Hitra has a wider range of fauna, with the country’s largest stock of deer as well as smaller game. Frøya’s fauna is poorer, with mink, otter and hare as the most common kinds and a few deer. The Froan archipelago north of Frøya has the largest stock of seals on the Norwegian coast, and constitutes a 400 sq. km. game and landscape preservation area. Also Hitra has a nature preservation area consisting of boggy land with lakes and streams — a paradise for birds.

HISTORY

Several Viking graves on Hitra indicate early settling and activity, but from the Viking age up to the 13th century we know very little about the island’s evolution.

During the 13th and 14th centuries both islands belonged to the Church, but after the Reformation in 1537 they became Crown land governed by Officials on behalf of the ‘King by Grace of God’ residing in Copenhagen.

From approximately 1660, much of the land was handed over to rich landowners, but during the period from 1750 to 1850 a great part of the land was gradually divided into smaller freehold farms.

In spite of the German occupation and presence of a large number of troops on Frøya during World War II, some secret connections to British territories were maintained. Amongst others, a Navy link between Shetland and Frøya was kept open, carrying couriers and arms supplies to the illegal Norwegian resistance movement.

PLACES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST

Within the most well-known fishermen’s village on Frøya and its surroundings you’ll find a tall monument outside the village church in memory of a disaster at sea in 1899, also the highest light-house on the Norwegian coast, Norway’s first wind-power station and a German fort that recalls bad memories from the time of war. On Hitra an old renovated business site which was a centre for trade, shipping and industry is well worth a visit. A miniature town with 1,200 buildings of different kinds is another attraction.

GOVERNMENT

Since 1837 the islands have been self-governed with their own local council and administration in accordance with the Norwegian government system. The islands formed one community up to 1876 when they separated The public budgets are mainly financed by income tax, public fees and some State support.

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The language is Norwegian. The written version is quite similar to Danish, because Norwegians as well, were forced to use Danish as the official language during the long period Norway belonged to the Danish Crown. The old Norwegian language is today used in Iceland. On the islands people normally speak regional dialect.

Both islands have a rich cultural life with a wide range of different activities of which singing, music and theatre seem to be the most popular. But there is also a fast-growing interest in cultural heritage and traditions.

ECONOMY

Economic life is still based on fisheries and fish processing industry, but as coastal fisheries are strongly restricted, fish farming has become an important and fast increasing industry in both communities. There are different kinds of fish processing factories on both islands manufacturing a wide range of seafood, fresh, deep-frozen, canned for domestic sale and export. Furthermore there is a sea-weed mill in Frøya, and the largest processing factory there is one of the most modern ones along the coast. As there are still hundreds of fishing vessels recorded in this area there are shipyards and engineering workshops on both islands, but mainly on Hitra. Other occupations are farming, commerce and different kinds of industry. Tourism is increasing and holiday resorts are getting more and more attractive.

SPORTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

There are several sports clubs on both islands, offering different sports activities. Facilities include football grounds, shooting ranges, indoor swimming pool and, on Hitra, a sports hail as well. The most popular sports are football, handball, shooting, and on Frøya volleyball as well. During winter indoor activities are most popular, but also cross-country skiing in snow-rich winters. All teams play in district leagues, which makes difficulties with fund-raising to cover transport expenditure. Besides sports the islands are eminently suitable for other leisure time activities such as boating, sailing, diving, deep-sea fishing or freshwater angling. During the hunting season Hitra is an attractive destination for hunters.

Arnold Myreng