Utsira

Visit Utsira, Norway’s smallest municipality with a population of approximately 210 inhabitants. The island is located 18 km out to sea west from Karmøy. There are daily ferry departures from Garpaskjærskaien Quay in Haugesund. The ferry trip takes about 70 minutes and is an exotic voyage in itself. Utsira can offer the visitor a preserved cultural landscape, marked hiking tracks in the wild terrain, and Norway’s highest located lighthouse - 68 metres above sea level. The island also has a very rich birdlife with a total of 326 various bird species. Seagull catching was carried on prior to 1945. The Seagull houses are very special to Utsira with nothing similar registered anywhere else in Norway. Two of the Seagull houses were restored in conjunction with the 1997 Year of Culture. There is a Seagull catch exhibition on view in one of the rooms at the lighthouse. Utsira was also the first municipality to have a female lord mayor, Aasa Helgesen. The municipal council consisted then of 11 women and 1 man who held office between 1926 and 1928.

 

An exciting activity on the island is Geocaching, a treasure hunt that provides refreshing experiences in nature. Following small tracks across wind-blown crags, between the lighthouse and windmills, with GPS or Smartphone and some clues, you will become really well acquainted with the island. Renowned international artists (Stik, JPS, 3F, Pichi&Avo, ATM, and LaStaa) have painted more than 70 beautiful pieces of art along the roads of Utsira. The island has also got its own indoors JPS Gallery that is open to the public all year.

www.utsira.kommune.no