Karlsøy

2335 ( March 31, 2013 )

Karlsøy is a commune in the province (county ) Troms in Northern Norway.

It is located on several islands in the North Sea scattered, including a part of Ringvassøy, the sixth largest island in Norway. On Ringvassøy located with the Skogsfjordvatn also the largest lake located on an island in Norway. The other main islands are Vannøya, Reinøy and Rebbenesøy, but which are all only with its northern half belong to Karlsøy; its southern part belongs to the city of Tromsø. A vote on the belonging to Tromsø half of the island Reinøy in which decisions should be made via a connection to Karlsøy, resulted in a stalemate votes, so that the status quo has been maintained.

Karlsøy is dominated by fishing and is one of the world's largest exporters of stockfish. Markets are especially Portugal, Spain and Brazil.

The rugged island are breeding ground for many species of birds. The island North Fugløy houses a large puffin colony.

Karlsøy, the eponymous island, and the settlements Burøysund and Torsvåghat on Vannøya are picturesque villages with old wooden houses. The island Helgøy was once an independent municipality, but today is almost uninhabited. On the north east coast of Ringvassøy is the administrative headquarters Hansnes, which is dominated by newer commercial buildings. Hansnes is connected by a tunnel with the provincial capital Tromsø and is also the system port for ferries to Vannøy, Reinøy and Karlsøy. The ferry on the inhabited only by a handful of people island Rebbenesøy invests in Mikkelvik on the west side of Ringvassøy.