Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the Vestlandet region of Norway. The district consists of the southern coastal regions of Hordaland county. In 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 make up the district of Sunnhordaland. The regional centre of this district is the town of Leirvik in Stord.
Rosendal is the administrative centre of the municipality of Kvinnherad in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of the village of Dimmelsvik and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) straight west of the vast Folgefonna glacier which sits inside the nearby Folgefonna National Park. The village is especially known for the Barony Rosendal, a historic estate located in the village. Kvinnherad Church is also located in this village.
Varaldsøy is an island in the municipality of Kvinnherad in Hordaland county, Norway. The 45.4-square-kilometre (17.5 sq mi) 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 600-metre (2,000 ft) tall mountain Øyefjellet is the highest point on the island.
Blådalsvatnet is a glacial lake in the municipality of Kvinnherad in Hordaland county, Norway. The 2.89-square-kilometre (1.12 sq mi) lake lies just outside the Folgefonna National Park, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north 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.
Juklavatnet is a lake on the border of the municipalities of Kvinnherad and Jondal in Hordaland county, Norway. The 3.61-square-kilometre (1.39 sq mi) 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 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 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.
Onarheimsvatnet or Opsangervatnet is a lake in the municipality of Kvinnherad in Hordaland county, Norway. The 2.25-square-kilometre (0.87 sq mi) lake is located between the villages of Husnes and Sunde.
Gjetingsdalen is a village in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located in the Gjetingsdalen valley, on a hillside overlooking the Maurangsfjorden. The village of Austrepollen lies about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the east, across the fjord. There is only one road leading into and out of the village, 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.
Husnes is the largest village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden on the Folgefonna peninsula, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of the village of Herøysund and immediately north of the villages of Sunde and Valen. The lake Onarheimsvatnet lies along the southwestern part of the village between Husnes and Sunde.
Austrepollen is a village in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Maurangsfjorden, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the village of Gjetingsdalen and about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northeast of the village of Sundal. The western end of the Folgefonna Tunnel is located in Austrepollen, taking it from an isolated rural village before the opening of the tunnel, to a village along a main regional highway. The village of Nordrepollen and the Jondal Tunnel are located just a short distance to the northwest. The Mauranger power station is also located in the village.
Uskedal or Uskedalen is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located in a small valley along the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southwest of the village of Dimmelsvik and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of the village of Herøysund.
Hatlestrand is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located along the Hardangerfjorden, northeast of the villages of Husa and Ølve. The village has 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.
Skånevik is a village in Etne municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located along the Skånevikfjorden, near the entrance to the Åkrafjorden. The village lies across the fjord from the village of Utåker in neighboring Kvinnherad municipality. The municipal centre of Etnesjøen lies about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) straight south across a mountain, although one must drive about 22 kilometres (14 mi) around the mountain to get there.
Sæbøvik is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the narrow, western part of the island of Halsnøya, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of the village of Høylandsbygd and immediately east of the village of Eidsvik. The village is located at the southern end of the Halsnøy Tunnel.
Sunde is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located along the Hardangerfjorden, just north of the island of Halsnøya. The northern entrance to the Halsnøy Tunnel is located in Sunde. The large urban village of Husnes lies just to the north of Sunde, on the other end of the lake Onarheimsvatnet.
Dimmelsvik is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the south shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the municipal centre of Rosendal and about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of the village of Uskedal.
Åkra is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the north side of the Åkrafjorden, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northeast of the village of Skånevik. The village sits in the far southeastern corner of the municipality. It sits at the end of Norwegian County Road 40, a road running from Dimmelsvik to Åkra where it ends. The village area is fairly isolated, with only one road in and out, sitting in a small valley with mountains and a fjord surrounding it. Åkra Church is located in the village.
Herøysund is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about half-way between the villages of Husnes and Uskedal. The 0.48-square-kilometre (120-acre) village has a population (2013) of 486, giving the village a population density of 1,013 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,620/sq mi).
Ølve Church is a parish church in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ølve. The church is part of the Ølve parish in the Sunnhordland deanery in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in 1861 using plans by the architect Hans Linstow. The church was consecrate on 13 October 1861. The church seats about 350 people. The church was built on the site of a medieval stave church.
