- Giske
Infobox_Kommune
name=Giske
idnumber=1532
county=Møre og Romsdal
landscape=Sunnmøre
capital=Valderøy
governor=Knut Støbakk (KrF)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=422
area=40
arealand=39
areapercent=0.01
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=150
population=6,578
populationpercent=0.14
populationdensity=167
populationincrease=6.5
language=Nynorsk
lat_deg=62| lat_min=33| lat_sec=45| lon_deg=6| lon_min=6| lon_sec=7
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6940204 |utm_easting=0351060| geo_cat=adm2nd
munwebpage=www.giske.kommune.noGiske is an island and municipality in the county of
Møre og Romsdal ,Norway . It lies north-northwest of the city ofÅlesund .The municipality was separated from Borgund January 1, 1908. The municipality of
Vigra was merged with Giske January 1, 1964.The name
The municipality is named after the farm and island Giske (
Old Norse "Gizki"), since the first church was built there. The name is (probably) identical with the word "gizki" m 'tablecloth, rag' (the island is small and flat).Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1985) - but it has old roots: It is based upon the old seal of
Erling Vidkunnsson from 1343.Geography
The municipality is composed of four islands: Giske, which gives its name to the municipality because of its historical importance,
Vigra , which is where Ålesund's airport is located,Valderøy , where the municipal administration is located, andGodøy . There are also many smaller islands within its boundaries.History
Giske is also the place where, according to
Snorre Sturlason ,Harald Fairhair cut his hair after uniting Norway.The villages (population centers) of Giske include:
*Alnes , which lies in Giske municipality on Godøy island
*Roald is a village on Vigra Island in Giske municipality
* Valkvjet, which lies in Giske municipality on Valderøy island
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