Lødingen

Lødingen was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Tysfjord (1869) and Tjeldsund (1909). The area of Efjorden was transferred to Ballangen January 1, 1962.

1 The name
2 Coat-of-arms
3 Geography
4 2007 Local Election
5 Some points of interest
6 External links

[edit] The name

Near the village of Lødingen

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Lødingen (Norse Lödueng), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of laða f 'grain/hay barn', the last element is eng f 'meadow'. boy

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1984). The figure represents Lødingen as a meeting point, in Midtre Hålogaland, between five districts: Lofoten, Ofoten, Salten, Vesterålen and Sør Troms; and between five fjords: Vestfjord, Ofotfjord, Tysfjord, Tjeldsundet and Gullesfjord.

[edit] Geography

View north into Tjeldsundet from just north of Lødingen village

The municipality encompasses the southern part of Hinnøya. The terrain is mountainous, with several small islands and fjords. The centre of the municipality is the village Lødingen, located at the inner part of Vestfjord at the southern entrance of Tjeldsundet. The nearest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, 90 km away by road. Lødingen is an important ferry harbor, the car ferry to/from Bognes in Tysfjord leaves 12 times/day and takes 60 min.

[edit] 2007 Local Election

The 2007 Local Election was won by Fremskrittspartiet FRP, but because Venstre V, Sosialistisk Ventreparti SV and Arbeidepartiet AP went together and Venstre's Vibeke Boy Tveit became the new Mayor.