Balsfjord
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| Missing image Balsfjord_kart.png Image:Balsfjord kart.png | ||
| County | Troms | |
| Landscape | ||
| Municipality | NO-1933 | |
| Administrative centre | Storsteinnes | |
| Mayor (2003) | Gunda Johansen (Ap) | |
| Official language form | Bokmål | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage | Ranked 52 1,496 km² 1,440 km² 0.46 % | |
| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density | Ranked 176 5,611 0.12 % -8.3 % 4/km² | |
| Coordinates | Template:Coor dm | |
| www.balsfjord.kommune.no Data from Statistics Norway (http://www.ssb.no/english/municipalities/1933) | ||
Balsfjord is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.
The municipality consists of two fjords, Malangen and Balsfjord, surrounded by comparatively rich farmlands under majestic peaks. The Sami were the original inhabitants, but around 1800 new settlers came from Southern Norway, from the coast and from Finland, and today very few traces of Sami culture survive. In the early 20th century trappers from Balsfjord were active in the Arctic Hunting from Greenland to Novaya Zemlya.
Today, farming is still the single most important industry, although there is also some manufacturing. Good cheese is made at the dairy. The E6 and the E8 meet at the town Nordkjosbotn, making it a major crossroad in Northern Norway.
Apart from the impressive scenery, attractions include the rock carvings at Tennes (close to the church), the old trading centre of Nordby and the sawmill at Aursfjord.
| Municipalities of Troms | Missing image Troms_vapen.png Troms coat of arms |
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Balsfjord | Bardu | Berg | Bjarkøy | Dyrøy | Gratangen | Harstad | Ibestad | Karlsøy | Kvæfjord | Kvænangen | Kåfjord | Lavangen | Lenvik | Lyngen | Målselv | Nordreisa | Salangen | Skjervøy | Skånland | Storfjord | Sørreisa | Torsken | Tranøy | Tromsø | |