Kinsarvik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kinsarvik | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 View of the village | |
 Interactive map of Kinsarvik | |
| Coordinates: 60°22′32″N 6°43′10″E / 60.37567°N 6.71948°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Western Norway |
| County | Vestland |
| District | Hardanger |
| Municipality | Ullensvang Municipality |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2025)[1] | |
• Total | 591 |
| • Density | 844/km2 (2,190/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Post Code | 5780 Kinsarvik |
Kinsarvik[3] is a village in Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of a small bay at the confluence of the Sørfjorden and the Eidfjorden, where they join to form the main branch of the Hardangerfjorden. The village lies along the Norwegian National Road 13 and it has a ferry port with regular routes that connect it to Utne and Kvanndal across the fjord.[4]
The 0.7-square-kilometre (170-acre) village has a population (2025) of 591 and a population density of 844 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,190/sq mi).[1]
Due to its important location along the Hardangerfjorden, Kinsarvik has been an important location since the Viking Age. Kinsarvik has been the site of Kinsarvik Church since the 12th century, serving the people of the whole region. The parish of Kinsarvik was made into a municipality in 1838. Kinsarvik Municipality existed as a municipality off and on from 1838 until 1964 when it was merged into Ullensvang Municipality. This village was the administrative centre of Ullensvang Municipality until 2020 when the municipality was enlarged and the administrative centre was moved to the town of Odda.
Kinsarvik sits at the end of the Husedalen valley. The wild Kinso river runs through the village, and the rivers is what gives name to Kinsarvik. Its name stems from "kinn" which means "steep mountainside" (the valley has steep mountainsides) and so "Kinsarvik" simply means "The Bay of Kinso". The Kinso River drops 3,600 feet (1,100 m) from the vast Hardangervidda plateau through the Husedalen valley before emptying into the sea level fjord at Kinsarvik. Along the way there are 4 spectacular waterfalls. The waterfalls can be viewed over the course of 4–6 hours of hiking. Kinsarvik is also a major access point many longer treks into the Hardangervidda National Park.
Tveitafossen falls, 338 feet
Nyastølfossen falls, 591 feet
Nykkjesøyfossen falls, 160 feet
Søtefossen falls, 807 feet
Economy
The Hardanger Bestikk factory has been producing cutlery (flatware) in Kinsarvik since 1958.[5] The factory employs about 50 people.[6]
Tourism
The history of Kinsarvik tourism has been one of dramatic changes. Up until the 1970s, the village was the busiest ferry port in Norway and a crucial junction on the only all-year road connecting the main cities of Bergen and Oslo. More recently, however, alternative routes have eroded its importance a little. In 2006 the Norwegian Parliament approved the Hardanger Bridge, a monumental bridge located only 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Kinsarvik. The bridge was completed in 2013 and since then, Kinsarvik is no longer part of the dominant route and tourist stop for both east–west and north–south traffic.
Kinsarvik functions as a base camp for tourists visiting the surrounding areas and has several camping grounds and a hotel. Kinsarvik Båthavn is a small marina located in the village..
The shores of the fjords in this area are thick with fruit trees, primarily cherry and apple trees. There are spikes in tourism for the flowering and harvest of these trees.
