Jomfruland

Jomfruland is a small Norwegian island, which is upstream of the coast of Kragerø in the landscape Telemark. Jomfruland is about 7.5 km long and an average of one kilometer wide. The island acts as a breakwater for some small islands in Kragerø archipelago in the sea area of the Skagerrak. The name of the Virgin island was first mentioned in 1520.

In the time of World War II operated groups of the Norwegian resistance in the sea area off Kragerø among others to spy on the ship positions of the German occupation forces Jomfruland from.

Landmarks

In the middle of the island located on the south side of the old and the new lighthouse on the island. The new lighthouse is in operation and is visible from all sides of the island. The old lighthouse was lit for the first time in 1839 and was the first visual landmark for ships bound for Kragerø. The tower is 22 meters high brick and white-brick. In 1874, he was additionally equipped with a foghorn, then the first machine- powered foghorn Norway. The new cast-iron lighthouse was built several hundred years later, in 1939 and measures 37 meters.

The old lighthouse now represents one of the most important cultural monuments in the Telemark and houses a small museum, which is open during the summer months. He is partially open to the public and offers a good view over Jomfruland, the surrounding sea and the archipelago.

On the island there was also a highly visible transmission tower of a long and very long wave transmitter for maritime navigation. The transmitter radiated on frequency 71.5833 kHz with a power of 30.8 dBW navigation signals. Since the operation was stopped and the tower was structurally unsafe, it was demolished in 2006.

Flora, fauna and geology

The island is part of a moraine that extends from the Baltic Sea through Sweden and further along the Norwegian coast. Jomfruland belongs to Gea Norvegica Geopark. Geologic characteristic is the stone beach on the south, the sea -facing side. On the mainland facing pages you will find a coastline with sandy beaches varying width.

Jomfruland is also known for its rich bird life with over 300 recorded species. The Jomfruland Fuglestasjon is a traditional establishment on the island and was built by members of the Telemark section of Norsk Ornitologisk Forening 1969. The station is located in Øitangen at the northern tip of the island.

Avivauna

The spring and autumn bird migration follows the coastline; many singing, robbery and seabirds will pass the northernmost point of the island.

The structure- rich vegetation of the island offers many Norwegian Brutvöeln good nesting sites. In a census in March 2006, 92 species have been recorded as breeding birds on Jomfruland, of which the Norsk Ornitologisk Forening of 40-50 annually breeding species originates. On Jomfruland the only regular breeding record of the Barred Warbler for Norway is available. Species such as Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia ), the fireplace Gimpel (Rose Fink) (Carpodacus erythrinus ) and the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio ) are regular breeding birds. In contrast, broods of green warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides ) were (1992 - the only proven breeding in Norway ) and the Dove ( Columba oenas ) registered on Jomfruland, but are not annually. Shoveler (Anas clypeata ) and a pair of nuns crossing (Branta leucopsis ) breed sporadically in the vicinity of the island. In the sea area around Jomfruland numerous sea birds are sighted regularly is eg black guillemot ( Cepphus grylle ) registered.

Flora

Much of the island is covered with open oak forest, which occur again and again open, probably grubbed grass and pastures. Ornithologists NOF collaborate with local and state regulatory nature it back the increasing encroachment of ungrazed areas.

The flowering of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) in the airy oak woods every spring attracts many tourists. Therefore, in 1995 the island was selected as the venue for the Norwegian film " Kristin Lavransdatter " ( producer Sigrid Undset ).