Østerøya
View of a vacation home at Yxnøy
View of a vacation home at Yxnøy
Østerøya is located in Vestfold
Østerøya
Østerøya
Location of the peninsula
Østerøya is located in Norway
Østerøya
Østerøya
Østerøya (Norway)
Coordinates: 59°05′35″N 10°18′09″E / 59.09292°N 10.30255°E / 59.09292; 10.30255
LocationVestfold, Norway
Offshore water bodiesMefjorden and Tønsbergfjorden

Østerøya (lit. 'East Island') a peninsula in Sandefjord Municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is one of two long, narrow peninsulas located south of the city of Sandefjord. The peninsula lies between the Mefjorden and Tønsbergfjorden and it sits across the fjord from the Vesterøya peninsula. The Tønsberg Barrel is located on the southern end of the peninsula. The Tønsberg Barrel is an old sea mark that is mentioned in Sverris saga.[1][2] It has been described as one of the most beautiful sites in Sandefjord.[3]: 56, 57, 297 

Østerøya has a large number of beaches, campgrounds, recreational areas, and vacation homes. The peninsula has a length of 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), and is between 1–2 kilometres (0.62–1.24 mi) in width. It was previously known as Yxnøy, a name which now is used for the southernmost point of the peninsula. Yxnøy, also spelled Yxney, is now a recreational area home to several beaches, forests, sloping rocks, hiking trails, and Tønsberg Barrel.[4]: 101  The peninsula is now named Østerøya ("east island") since it is located east of the centre of the city of Sandefjord.[5] The southern end of the peninsula contains public areas for outdoor activities, recreation, fishing and swimming. A preserved area with black alder swamp forest (containing ramsons, iris pseudacorus and early purple orchid) is located here.

During the Viking Age, ocean water levels were about 3 metres (9.8 ft) higher, which meant both Vesterøya and Østerøya peninsulas were islands surrounded by ocean waters.[6]

There are 20 kilometres (12 mi) of hiking trails on Østerøya, which is an extension of the 25 kilometres (16 mi) coastal path at Vesterøya. The combined hiking trail is part of the international North Sea Trail.[7][8]

Head Above Water ("Hodet over vannet") by film director Nils Gaup was filmed at the southern tip of Østerøya and features Ertsvika at Yxnøy.[4]: 74 [9]

Yxnøy

Tønsberg Barrel is located at Yxnøy, the southern tip of Østerøya.[10]

Yxnøy is one of the largest undeveloped areas found along the Vestfold coast.[11] The 5 metres (16 ft) tall Tønsberg Barrel is an old beacon mentioned in Sverris saga from around year 1200. Many ships have sunk near the landmark,[2] which is located at Yxnøy (Yxney) on the southern tip of Østerøya. The seamark (navigation mark) sits on the mountain Tønneberget (Stenbåken) with ocean-views in all directions. It has an elevation of 37 metres (121 ft) and marks the entry point for the city of Tønsberg. Its circumference is at its most 12 metres (39 ft), and it is painted in white and black. The beacon originally consisted of a barrel, hence the name, but was replaced with the current seamark in 1900.[4]: 98–100 

Yxnøy and the area surrounding Tønsberg Barrel were fortified by the German occupation forces during World War II. Bunkers, trenches and other remains from the war can still be seen in the surrounding area. A number of ships have also sunk here, including ships such as Wilhelm Tell in 1851 and Bjørgvin in 1961, which lies 70 metres (230 ft) from the Tønsberg Barrel.[4]: 98–101  In 1907, the ship Union sunk here and its crew of eight men drowned.[11] The coastal hiking trail from Tønsberg Barrel to Skjellvika Beach is about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long. It is part of the international North Sea Trail.[3]: 294 

Yxnøy is the only place in Norway where the plant species Marsh valerian (Valeriana dioica) occurs.[4]: 101  Strandvika Nature Preserve is located at Yxnøy. It is home to a black alder swamp forest containing ramsons, iris pseudacorus and early purple orchid. The nature preserve was established in 1980.[12][13]

History

Østerøya was fortified during World War II.[4]: 98–101 

Beaches

Skjellvika Beach.

Beaches on East Island include:[14][15][16]

  • Skjellvika
  • Flautangen
  • Nordre Trubervika
  • Strandvika
  • Yxnøy
  • Ertsvika
  • Hagaløkka
  • Tallakshavn

References

  1. ↑ Gjerseth, Simen (2016). Nye Sandefjord. Liv forlag. p. 43. ISBN 9788283301137.
  2. 1 2 "The coastal path at Østerøya and Yxney". Archived from the original on 9 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. ISBN 9788293057130.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Davidsen, Roger (2008). Et Sted i Sandefjord (in Norwegian Bokmål). Sandar Historielag. ISBN 9788299456753.
  5. ↑ Holm, Henry (1984). Sommerkysten. 2: Fra Verdens Ende til Lista. Gyldendal. p. 18. ISBN 8205142785.
  6. ↑ Sandberg, Tore; Arveschoug, Cato (2001). Sandefjord zoomet inn av fotograf Tore Sandberg. C. Arveschoug and Magne Helland. p. 5. ISBN 9788299616706.
  7. ↑ "Sandefjord Brochure" (PDF). Sandefjord.kommune.no. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Mšbius, Aaron; Mšbius, Michael (2014). Norwegen. DuMont Reiseverlag. p. 168. ISBN 9783770167326.
  9. ↑ Head Above Water at IMDb
  10. ↑ "The coastal path at Østerøya and Yxney". Archived from the original on 9 December 2017.
  11. 1 2 Schandy, Tom; Helgesen, Tom (2012). Naturperler i Vestfold (in Norwegian). Forlaget Tom & Tom v/Schandy. p. 177. ISBN 9788292916148.
  12. ↑ "Strandvika naturreservat" (PDF) (in Norwegian and English). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Naturbase faktaark".
  14. ↑ "Badestrender i Sandefjord". Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Bådeplasser i Sandefjord kommune". Oslofjorden.com (in Norwegian).
  16. ↑ "Sandefjord - Badeplasser". Sandefjord kommune (in Norwegian).

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