Skutvika or Skutvik[2] is a small village in Hamarøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is situated at the southwestern extreme of the Hamarøya peninsula, about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of the town of Bodø, 95 kilometres (59 mi) southwest of the town of Narvik, and 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of the town of Svolvær. To the west and south of Skutvik is the Økssundet, a sound connecting the Sagfjorden and Vestfjorden. The landscape in the immediate vicinity of the village is dominated by hills, while further north a row of mountains rises up to 950 metres (3,120 ft) above sea level.

Skutvika
Skutvik
Village
View of the village, ferry port, and "Old-Skutvik"
View of the village, ferry port, and "Old-Skutvik"
Map
Skutvika is located in Nordland
Skutvika
Skutvika
Skutvika is located in Norway
Skutvika
Skutvika
Coordinates: 68°00′55″N 15°19′55″E / 68.0154°N 15.3319°E / 68.0154; 15.3319
CountryNorway
RegionNorthern Norway
CountyNordland
DistrictSalten
MunicipalityHamarøy Municipality
Elevation5 m (16 ft)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
8290 Skutvik
Økssundet merges with Vestfjord at Øksnesodden

The 0.27-square-kilometre (67-acre) village had a population (2000) of 201 and a population density of 744 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,930/sq mi). Since 2000, the population and area data for this village area has not been separately tracked by Statistics Norway.[3] In 2007, there were 212 residents in the village.[4] Skutvik has a grocery shop, cafeteria with accommodation, electronics business, school and kindergarten among other things. The main employer is Mainstream Norway with its salmon-processing plant. The name Skutvik(a) literally means "(the) ship cove".

Transportation

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The ferry Vågan approaching Skutvik

The two-hour ferry ride from Skutvik goes through a varied landscape, first between the mountains of Steigen and the Hamarøya peninsula, and then the crossing of the open ocean of the Vestfjorden, that on a clear day provides the view over the entire Lofoten mountain range. To call at the tiny island of Skrova, the ferry goes between islets and rocks.

Tourist attractions

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Hamarøyskaftet
  • Hamarøyskaftet (The Hamarøy Mountain) is a peak which could be viewed from the county road about 7 to 8 kilometres (4.3 to 5.0 mi) from Skutvik, known for its special shape (almost vertical sides).
  • Nesstraumen (The Ness Current), located outside Ness, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Skutvik, is one of the most powerful sea currents in Northern Europe with a maximum speed of up to 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph).
  • Artscape Nordland: The sculpture "Stella Maris" by Steinar Christensen is located next to the beach towards Økssundet.

Accommodations

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  • Ness Camping is located in the tiny village Ness, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Skutvik
  • Skutvik Fiskecamp (Fish Camp) is located next to the ferry port
  • Skutvik Gjestegård (Guesthouse)

References

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  1. ^ "Skutvik, Hamarøy (Nordland)". yr.no. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  2. ^ "Informasjon om stadnamn". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  3. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2022-04-03). "04859: Area and population of urban settlements (US) 2000 - 2021".
  4. ^ "Population by age, sex, marital status and foreign citizenship) 04317 Statistical unit 18490112". Statistics Norway: StatBank. Archived from the original on 2007-02-17.
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