 View of Ombo from Jøsneset in Hjelmeland | |
 Location in Rogaland county | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Rogaland, Norway |
| Coordinates | 59°15′51″N6°00′30″E / 59.2641°N 6.0083°E Coordinates: 59°15′51″N6°00′30″E / 59.2641°N 6.0083°E |
| Area | 57.5 km2 (22.2 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 513 m (1,683 ft) |
| Highest point | Bandåsen |
| Administration | |
| County | Rogaland |
| Municipalities | Finnøy, Hjelmeland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 241 (2014) |
| Pop. density | 4.2 /km2 (10.9 /sq mi) |
Ombo is the largest island in the Ryfylke region on the southwestern coast of Norway, and is the second largest island in Rogaland county. The 57.5-square-kilometre (22.2 sq mi) island of Ombo is divided between the municipalities Hjelmeland and Finnøy. There are several villages on the island including Jørstadvåg, Atlatveit, and Eidssund in the western part of the island which belongs to Finnøy municipality. The villages of Tuftene, Skipavik, Skår, and Vestersjø are located on the southeastern part of the island which belongs to Hjelmeland municipality. [1] Jørstad Church is located in the village of Jørstadvåg.
Ryfylke is a traditional district in the northeastern part of Rogaland county, Norway. The 4,546-square-kilometre (1,755 sq mi) district is located northeast of the city of Stavanger and east of the city of Haugesund and it encompasses about 60% of the county's area. It includes the mainland located northeast and east of the Boknafjorden and east of the Høgsfjorden. It also includes the islands located on the south side of the Boknafjorden. To the east, Ryfylke borders the districts of Setesdal and Sirdal, to the south is Jæren, and to the west is Haugalandet. Ryfylke is one of the 15 districts in Western Norway.
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe whose territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula; the remote island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard are also part of the Kingdom of Norway. The Antarctic Peter I Island and the sub-Antarctic Bouvet Island are dependent territories and thus not considered part of the kingdom. Norway also lays claim to a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land.
Rogaland[²ruːɡɑlɑn](
The island is at the northeastern edge of a large group of islands in the Boknafjorden. Ombo is located north of the islands of Randøy and Halsnøya, northeast of the island of Finnøy, and east of the Sjernarøyane archipelago. The highest point on the island is the 515-metre (1,690 ft) tall Bandåsen. Ombo is surrounded by fjords that are connected to the main Boknafjorden. The Ombofjorden to the east, Gardssundfjorden to the south, Gapafjorden to the west, and Jelsafjorden to the north.
Randøy is an island in Hjelmeland municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The 16.7-square-kilometre (6.4 sq mi) island lies just off the mainland between the Jøsenfjorden and the Årdalsfjorden. The large island of Ombo lies to the north and the island of Halsnøya lies to the west.
Finnøy is an island in Finnøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The 25-square-kilometre (9.7 sq mi) island is one of the largest in the island municipality. The administrative centre, Judaberg, is located on the eastern shore of the island. The island is located on the southern side of the Boknafjorden, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of the city of Stavanger. The village of Hesby, on the western coast, is a historical seat of power dating back to the Middle Ages. Hesby is also the site of Hesby Church which dates back to around the year 1100.
Sjernarøyane is an island group in Finnøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The islands are located in the Nedstrandsfjorden, west of the large island of Ombo and north of the large island of Finnøy. As of 2014, the islands were home to 365 residents. The islands were historically part of the municipality of Sjernarøy before merging into the municipality of Finnøy in 1965. The Aubøsund strait, which runs between the islands of Aubø and Bjergøy was a historically important trading post.
After the road was built around the island of Ombo, a distinctive rock formation was visible from the new road. The rock formation looks like a face, and was originally named Adam. Among the local residents, this is also called "Ombo-gubben".
There are no outside road connections to Ombo—it is only accessible by boat. There are regular ferry connections that stop at Eidssund on the west coast from Judaberg, Sjernarøyane, Nedstrand, Jelsa, Halsnøya, and Fogn. There are also regular ferry connections from Skipavik on the eastern shore of the island to Nesvik and Hjelmelandsvågen on the mainland.
Judaberg is the administrative centre of Finnøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern shore of the island of Finnøy. The island is located on the south side of the Boknafjorden, northeast of the large city of Stavanger.
Nedstrand is a village in Tysvær municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern coast of the Nedstrand peninsula, at the confluence of the Nedstrandsfjorden and Vindafjorden. The village of Hindaråvåg lies just west of Nedstrand, and Nedstrand Church is located there. The 0.32-square-kilometre (79-acre) village of Nedstrand has a population (2014) of 240, giving the village a population density of 750 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,900/sq mi).
Jelsa is a village in Suldal municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located along the inner part of the Boknafjorden, near the mouths of the Sandsfjorden and Erfjorden. The village is the site of a school, store, gas station, and some small stores. There was a barrel factory here until it closed in 2009. Jelsa Church is located in this village.
