Målselv


Målselv is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moen. The main commercial centre of the municipality is the Bardufoss area. Other villages in the municipality include Alappmoen, Fossmoen, Holmen, and Skjold. Besides bordering Sweden to the east and the ocean to the northwest, it borders the municipalities of Balsfjord, Storfjord, Bardu, Sørreisa, and Lenvik.
The municipality is the 11th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Målselv is the 147th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,640. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 2% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of Maalselven was established in 1848 when it was separated from the large Lenviken Municipality. The initial population of Maalselven was 2,616. In 1891, some parts of the Maalsnes area were transferred to neighboring Malangen municipality. On 1 January 1904, an area with 5 inhabitants was transferred from Balsfjord Municipality to Maalselven. The spelling of the name was changed to Målselv in 1918. On 1 July 1925, the eastern district of the municipality was separated from Målselv to form the new Øverbygd municipality. This left Målselv with 3,531 residents.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Øverbygd, the municipality of Målselv, the Naveren and Målsnes areas of Malangen, and the "Skogli ved Heia" farm in Balsfjord were all merged to form a new, larger municipality of Målselv with a new population of 6,936. On 1 January 1966, the Sørelvmo/Aursfjordbotn area was transferred from Balsfjord to Målselv. Then on 1 January 1972, the "Blomli i Fagerfjell" area of Målselv was transferred to Lenvik Municipality.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.

Name

The municipality is named after the river Målselva. The first element is the genitive case of the old uncompounded name of the Malangen fjord: Malr and the last element is the finite form of elv which means "river". The old name of the fjord is identical with the Old Norse word malr which means "bag" or "sack". Prior to 1918, the name was written "Maalselven".

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times; they were granted on 1 February 1985. The arms show a white river on a green background. They are a canting that represent the Målselva river which runs through the municipality.

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes ' within the municipality of Målselv. It is part of the Indre Troms prosti in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Parish 'Church NameLocation of the ChurchYear Built
MålselvMålselv ChurchMålselv1978
ØverbygdØverbygd ChurchØverbygd1867
ØverbygdKirkesnesmoen ChapelKirkesnesmoen1977

Geography

Målselv was settled by farmers from southern Norway, especially Østerdalen from 1788 and onwards. They were attracted by the vast forests and areas of fertile land in the broad Målselvdalen. The valley and municipality take their name from the river Målselva. The river is well known for its salmon, and forms the Målselv waterfall, which has been selected as Norway's national waterfall. The Målselva empties into the Malangen fjord north of Olsborg. There are several mountains in the municipality: Njunis is the highest and Istind is popular among hikers. There are many lakes such as Andsvatnet, Finnfjordvatnet, Rostojávri, Lille Rostavatn, and Takvatnet. One of the rarest orchids in Europe, Lysiella oligantha, is found in Målselv. Øvre Dividal National Park is located in the easternmost part of Målselv, near the border with Sweden.

Media gallery

Climate

Målselv has a dry-summer subarctic climate.
Målselv is fairly sheltered from the coastal weather, and has a somewhat inland climate. Mean annual precipitation is at Moen, at Bardufoss and only in the Divi valley, which sits at above sea level. April through June is the driest period.
There is on average 93 days each winter with daily low or colder, and 28 days with low or colder. The winter season sees on average 68 days with at least snow cover on the ground, 126 days with at least snow cover, and 179 days with at least snow cover. In the warm season there is on average 116 days each year when the daily average high reaches or warmer and 22 days with daily average high above. Precipitation is fairly moderate, there is on average 75 days per year with at least precipitation and 15 days per year with at least precipitation. This is based on data from Met.no with 1971–2000 as base period.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Målselv, are responsible for primary education, outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Senja District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council of Målselv is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Mayors

The mayors of Målselv :
  • 2019–present: Bengt-Magne Luneng
  • 2015-2019: Nils Foshaug
  • 2011-2015: Helene Rognli
  • 2003-2011: Viggo Fossum
  • 1995-2003: Lars Nymo
  • 1993-1995: Helge Paulsen
  • 1990-1993: Vidkunn Haugli

    Economy

A local newspaper, Nye Troms, covering Målselv, Bardu, and Balsfjord, has its main office in the Olsborg/Moen area. The municipality administration is located at Moen, about east of Olsborg.
Further south along European route E6 is the Bardufoss region, which encompasses the local communities Andselv, Andslimoen, and Heggelia, the latter including the Norwegian army's 6th division. Near Andselv is the Bardufoss Airport and the Bardufoss Air Station of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, including the 337th and 339th Air Force helicopter squadrons. Målselv municipality, together with neighbouring Bardu, has the largest concentration of army bases in the country.
Moving further up the valley, another local community is Rundhaug, and moving eastwards, closer to Øvre Dividal National Park, is the community of Øverbygd, housing two more sub-communities Skjold and Holt. The former also houses the Skjold base for mechanized infantry and combat engineers.
Tourism is a growing industry in Målselv, with the opening of Målselv Fjellandsby, an alpine ski destination. Målselv is also home to Målselvfossen, Norway's national waterfall and a mecca for salmon fishermen. Bardufoss concentration camp was located here during World War II.

Notable people