Kvinnherad Municipality

municipality in Vestland, Norway

The Hardangerfjord () is the fifth longest fjord in the world and the second longest fjord in Norway. It is located in the Hardanger region of Vestland county in western Norway. The fjord stretches from the Atlantic Ocean into the mountainous interior of Norway along the Hardangervidda plateau. The innermost point of the fjord reaches the town of Odda.

national park

Folgefonna is a collective term for three plateau glaciers in the Hardanger region of Vestland county, Norway. They are located on the Folgefonna peninsula in Ullensvang Municipality, Kvinnherad Municipality, and Etne Municipality. The three glaciers are: Nordre (northern) Folgefonna, with an area of Midtre (central) Folgefonna, with an area of Søndre (southern) Folgefonna, with an area of , making it the third largest glacier in the mainland of Norway.

settlement in Kvinnherad Municipality, Norway

road tunnel in Norway

Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western region of Norway. The district consists of the southern coastal regions of the old Hordaland county (now part of Vestland county). It includes the areas that surround the mouth of the Hardangerfjorden and the surrounding islands. The municipalities of Sveio, Etne, Stord, Bømlo, Fitjar, Kvinnherad, and Tysnes (and sometimes Austevoll) make up the district of Sunnhordaland. The regional centre of this district is the town of Leirvik in Stord Municipality.

Bondhusbrea is a glacier in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The glacier is an offshoot of the vast Folgefonna glacier, and it lies inside the Folgefonna National Park. The glacier has a length of around and a height difference of about from its highest to its lowest points. thumb|left|Lake Bondhus, glacier Bondhusbrea in the background as a part of the Folgefonna Glacier

Husnes is the largest village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden on the Folgefonna peninsula, about south of the village of Herøysund and immediately north of the villages of Sunde and Valen. The lake Opsangervatnet lies along the southwestern part of the village between Husnes and Sunde.

Uskedalen is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in a small valley along the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about southwest of the village of Dimmelsvik and about east of the village of Herøysund. The village is the site of Uskedal Church.

Herøysund is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about half-way between the villages of Husnes (to the south) and Uskedalen (to the north).

Dimmelsvik is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the south shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about south of the municipal centre of Rosendal and about northeast of the village of Uskedalen.

Sæbøvik is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the narrow, western part of the island of Halsnøya, about west of the village of Høylandsbygda and immediately east of the village of Eidsvik. The village is located at the southern end of the Halsnøy Tunnel.

Gjetingsdalen is a village in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in the Gjetingsdalen valley, on a hillside overlooking the Maurangsfjorden. The village of Austrepollen lies about to the east, across the fjord. There is only one road leading into and out of the village (from the village of Nordrepollen), making it rather isolated, but its close proximity to the Jondal Tunnel and Folgefonna Tunnel, give it good access to nearby urban areas. There is a hydroelectric power plant located along the river which runs through this valley.

Halsnøya is an island in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies between the Hardangerfjorden and Skånevikfjorden. The island has about 2,600 inhabitants (2024) and it is the most populated island in Kvinnherad Municipality. Prior to 2008, it was the most populated island in Norway without a direct connection to land, but the Halsnøy Tunnel opened that year, finally connecting it to the mainland by road. There is a regular ferry connection from southern Halsnøya to the neighboring islands of Fjelbergøya and Borgundøya, located just south of Halsnøya.

cultural property

Varaldsøy is an island (and village) in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island is the largest island in the Hardangerfjorden. Most of the inhabitants live on the southern tip of the island in the village of Varaldsøy, where Varaldsøy Church is located. The tall mountain Øyefjellet is the highest point on the island.

church building in Rosendal, Norway

road tunnel in Norway

Hatlestranda is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located along the Hardangerfjorden, northeast of the villages of Husa and Ølve. The north end of the village is the site of a ferry port called Gjermundshamn, which has regular ferry connections to the island of Varaldsøy and to Årsnes on the opposite side of the fjord. Hatlestrand Church is located in the village.

Juklavatnet is a lake on the border of Kvinnherad Municipality and Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The lake lies just outside Folgefonna National Park and immediately to the west of the Nordre Folgefonna glacier. The only road access comes from the small village of Nordrepollen in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad municipality, about south of the lake. There is a dam on the western end of the lake which regulates the depth of the water so that it can be used for hydroelectric power generation. The lake is the largest reservoir that feeds into the Mauranger power station.

building in Kvinnherad, Vestland, Norway

Melderskin is a mountain peak in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The tall mountain lies about northeast of the village of Rosendal and the Barony Rosendal. The mountain lies inside Folgefonna National Park.

Blådalsvatnet is a glacial lake in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The lake lies just outside the Folgefonna National Park, about northeast of the village of Indre Matre. The lake is formed by the glacial runoff from the large Folgefonna glacier located just north of the lake. The lake is part of the water system used to power the Blåfalli kraftverk hydroelectric power station.

Kvinnheringen is a Norwegian regional newspaper for Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county. In print since 1973, it is currently released bi-weekly with more than 7000 readers and a circulation of 4 400 as of January 2021. Since 2003, the paper has been published both on paper and digitally. In 2015, the newspaper was awarded the European Newspaper Award in the category of local newspaper.

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

settlement in Kvinnherad Municipality, Norway

village in Kvinnherad Municipality, Norway

Åkrafjorden is a fjord in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in Etne Municipality and Kvinnherad Municipality. The long fjord reaches a maximum depth of . The fjord flows from the southern part of the Folgefonna National Park, draining the huge Folgefonna glacier. The fjord then flows to the southwest before emptying into the Skånevikfjorden near the village of Utåker. The Langfossen waterfall runs down the steep cliffs on the south side of the fjord, just west of Fjæra.

church building in Kvinnherad Municipality, Norway

settlement in Kvinnherad Municipality, Norway

Skånevikfjorden is a fjord in Norway. The long fjord runs through Etne Municipality and Kvinnherad Municipality (in Vestland county) and in Vindafjord Municipality (in Rogaland county). The fjord is fed by several smaller fjords such as the Åkrafjorden, Etnefjorden, and Matersfjorden and it flows to the southwest into the main Hardangerfjorden. Some villages along the fjord include Utåker and Skånevik. The islands of Halsnøya, Fjelbergøya, and Borgundøya lie on the northwestern side of the fjord.

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

Borgundøya or Borgundo is an island in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies in the Hardangerfjorden, immediately south of the island of Fjelbergøya. The island has about 55 residents (in 2024), with about four larger village areas spread out around the island. The island is dominated by the tall mountain Borgundnuten.

thumb|Gjetingsdalen seen from the farm Bakka. thumb|The Folgefonna Tunnel seen from [[Austrepollen.]] Mauranger is the northernmost district of Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The district is centered on the Maurangsfjorden on the western side of the vast Folgefonna glacier. Mauranger consists of the villages of Sunndal, Austrepollen, Nordrepollen, and Gjetingsdalen. The scenery is characterised by its closeness to Folgefonna, several valleys, and precipitous mountainsides. The main industries in Mauranger are tourism, agriculture, fish farming and power production.

Opsangervatnet or Onarheimsvatnet is a lake in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The lake is located between the villages of Husnes and Sunde.

village in Kvinnherad, Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

Fjelbergøya is an island in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies on the south side of the Hardangerfjorden, between the islands of Borgundøya (to the south) and Halsnøya (to the northeast). These three neighboring islands are located very close together, only a few hundred meters separate them at certain points. Historically, this island was the centre of the old Fjelberg Municipality. Today, the islands of Fjelbergøya and Borgundøya are still often collectively referred to as Fjelberg.

Ølve is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located along the Kvinnheradsfjorden in the western part of the municipality. It is the site of Ølve Church. The village of Husa lies about to the northeast.

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

Ænes is a village in Kvinnherad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern shore of the Hardangerfjorden at the mouth of the Maurangsfjorden. Ænes Church is located in the village. There has been a church located here since the Middle Ages.

glacier in Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

newspaper

building in Kvinnherad, Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway

church building in Kvinnherad, Norway