Location: | Troms, Norway |
Coordinates: | 68.8149°N 17.2948°W |
Area Km2: | 135 |
Length Km: | 15 |
Width Km: | 14.5 |
Elevation M: | 1276 |
Highest Mount: | Langlitinden |
Country: | Norway |
Country Admin Divisions Title: | County |
Country Admin Divisions: | Troms |
Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Municipality |
Country Admin Divisions 1: | Ibestad Municipality |
Population: | 205 |
Population As Of: | 2001 |
Density Km2: | 1.5 |
or [1] is an island in Ibestad Municipality in Troms county, Norway. The 135km2 island lies about east of the town of Harstad. The island is located entirely within Ibestad Municipality, although the island itself was a separate municipality (Andørja Municipality) from 1926 until 1964. The largest population area on Andørja island is the Å - Ånstad - Laupstad area on the west coast with 205 residents (2001).[2] Andørja Church is located in Engenes on the northwestern tip of the island.
The Vågsfjorden lies to the north and west of the island and the Astafjorden flows along the southeastern coast. The Bygda strait sits between Andørja and the neighboring island of Rolla to the west and the Mjøsundet strait sits between Andørja and the Norwegian mainland to the east.
The Mjøsund Bridge connects Andørja to the mainland (across the Mjøsundet strait) and the Ibestad Tunnel is an undersea road tunnel that connects Andørja to the neighboring island of Rolla.
The highest point on the 135km2 island is the 1276m (4,186feet) tall mountain Langlitinden. In Norway proper (excluding Svalbard), this is the highest mountain situated on an island. The 8km (05miles) long Straumbotn fjord cuts into the middle of the island from the north side.
The island is named "Andørja" (Norse, Old: Andyrja). The meaning of the name is not certain, but one theory is that the first element Norse, Old: and which means "against". The last element is Norse, Old: yrja which means "gravel" or "rocks", possibly referring to the waves from the sea hitting against the rocky shores.[3] [4]
. Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt . 1911 . W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri . 17 . Kristiania, Norge . 49 . no . Oluf Rygh.