112-462: Damsgårdsfjellet is a mountain in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway . The 284-metre (932 ft) tall mountain lies west of Melkeplassen and it is one of the seven mountains surrounding the city center of Bergen. This article related to Bergen , Norway is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a mountain, mountain range, or peak in Vestland
224-523: A bus rapid transit . The plans launched by the city administration most closely resembled the Environmental Tram, with slight changes. The initial plans involved a line from the city center via Nesttun to the airport at Flesland . It became part of a political compromise, the Bergen Program, which ensured a number of road investments at the same time as the light rail system, all financed through
336-580: A limited company wholly owned by Vestland County Council. This company is responsible for the maintenance of the right-of-way and the vehicles, and for extensions. Light rail operations are based on contracts granted after public tender competitions held by Bybanen AS. The time tables are decided by Skyss, another unit in Vestland County Council that administers all public transport in Vestland, including buses, boats and ferries. The light rail operation
448-492: A 3 kilometer long tunnel to the Fyllingsdalen terminal. Plans for the expansion northwards from the city center to Åsane have not been conclusive, due to disagreements on which path to follow through the city center. The proposed construction along Bryggen is formally adopted by the city council of Bergen, but controverses and continuing debates on an alternative tunnel solution has paused the process. An important stop mid-way
560-518: A Dutch merchant and treasure fleet supported by the city's garrison. Accidental fires sometimes got out of control, and one in 1702 reduced most of the town to ashes. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen remained one of the largest cities in Scandinavia , and it was Norway's biggest city until the 1830s, being overtaken by the capital city of Oslo . From around 1600, the Hanseatic dominance of
672-449: A corresponding increase of public transport. Further out is a large corporate center with many of Bergen's largest employers, such as Telenor , Equinor and BKK. The area was built without sufficient roads or public transport. Building the light rail line to Flesland has greatly improved the access to the airport from the city, offering a reasonably priced service for locals and employees at the airport. Another incentive to build to Flesland
784-419: A garage with place for three. There is sufficient area for further expansion, but tracks have not been laid. When the light rail line is expanded to Flesland, a new main depot is planned in an area with cheaper land, and Kronstad depot will be converted to a pure overnighting facility. As of 2024, there are 35 stops along the two lines. The stations and the visual profile of the system as a whole are designed by
896-412: A growth rate of 1.8%. Ninety-six percent of the population lives in urban areas. As of 2002, the average gross income for men above the age of 17 is 426,000 Norwegian krone (NOK), the average gross income for women above the age of 17 is NOK 238,000, with the total average gross income being NOK 330,000. In 2007, there were 104.6 men for every 100 women in the age group of 20–39. 22.8% of
1008-463: A length of 42 meters (137 ft 10 in). The early vehicles got extended, and the first 42-meter tram was put in traffic on 4 August 2016. During the following year, all trams were extended to 42 meters, and from then, all new trams are 42 meters at time of purchase. All stations are built for extended trams. There is a slightly elevated driver's cab at each end. Eight motors provide a total of 360 kW (480 hp) for three bogies. This allows
1120-430: A massive investment in motorways. This included European Route E39 north and south of the center, the road to the airport, and west to Loddefjord and Storavatnet. Bridges were constructed to Lindås , Askøy and Sotra , and large parking garages were built in the city center. Despite this congestion continued, and it was no better in the 2000s than in the 1970s. Proposals to build bus lanes and traffic signal preemption
1232-427: A maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), limited to 50 km/h (31 mph) in city streets and 25 km/h (16 mph) in the depots. Acceleration is 1.25 m/s/s (2.8 mph/s), and they are capable of operating on a 7.0% gradient . Current is collected via a pantograph, at 750 volts direct current . Each tram is sufficiently powerful to haul another unit in case of emergencies. Maximum capacity
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#17328552173681344-434: A more extensive system, the Environmental Tram, which more closely resembles the current proposals. From the city center, it would run northwards via Åsane to Flaktveit and southwards via Rådal to the airport (not via Nesttun). The southern section would have branches from Hop to Nesttun and Midttun , and from Minde westwards to Fyllingsdalen and Loddefjord. Later, Bergen Sporvei's successor, Gaia Trafikk , proposed building
1456-465: A non-Western immigrant background in Bergen. In 2006, this figure had increased to 14,630, so the non-Western immigrant population in Bergen was five times higher than in 1986. This is a slightly slower growth than the national average, which has sextupled during the same period. Also in relation to the total population in Bergen, the proportion of non-Westerns increased significantly. In 1986, the proportion of
1568-507: A separate county on the same date, and Bergen is now a municipality , in the county of Vestland . The city's history is marked by numerous great fires. In 1198, the Bagler faction set fire to the city in connection with a battle against the Birkebeiner faction during the civil war. In 1248, Holmen and Sverresborg burned, and 11 churches were destroyed. In 1413 another fire struck
1680-716: A significant presence of marine insurance companies, including Norwegian Hull Club . A number of banks maintain large corporate banking divisions in connection with shipping and aquaculture in the city. Bergen is the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy (at Haakonsvern ) and its international airport Flesland is the main heliport for the Norwegian North Sea oil and gas industry, from where thousands of offshore workers commute to their work places onboard oil and gas rigs and platforms. Bergen Light Rail Bergen Light Rail ( Norwegian : Bybanen )
1792-494: A similar form existed where the local administrations had less power than previously. (Pertaining to the table above: The acreage figures include fresh water and uninhabited mountain areas, except: 1 The borough Bergenhus is 8.73 km (3.37 sq mi), the rest is water and uninhabited mountain areas. 2 The borough Årstad is 8.47 km (3.27 sq mi), the rest is water and uninhabited mountain areas.) Former borough: Sentrum Sentrum (literally, "Centre")
1904-698: A single ticket is NOK 44. The tickets are part of the same ticketing system as the buses in Bergen and Vestland. In 2007, the Planning Office ordered 12 Variobahn trams from Stadler Rail , with an additional four on option. The first tram arrived on 7 December 2009, and was used for testing in the months leading up to the opening. Before the opening, five more trams were in place. The first trams were 32.180 m (105 ft 6.9 in) long and 2.65 meters (8 ft 8 in) wide, weighing 35.7 tonnes (35.1 long tons; 39.4 short tons). They had five articulated sections, and were expandable with another two modules to
2016-477: A trading settlement had already been established in the 1020s or 1030s. Bergen gradually assumed the function of capital of Norway in the early 13th century, as the first city where a rudimentary central administration was established. The city's cathedral was the site of the first royal coronation in Norway in the 1150s, and continued to host royal coronations throughout the 13th century. Bergenhus fortress dates from
2128-504: A transition from tar covered houses, as well as the remaining log houses , to painted and some brick-covered wooden buildings. The last half of the 19th century saw a period of rapid expansion and modernisation. The fire of 1855 west of Torgallmenningen led to the development of regularly sized city blocks in this area of the city centre. The city limits were expanded in 1876, and Nygård , Møhlenpris and Sandviken were urbanized with large-scale construction of city blocks housing both
2240-450: A year bringing nearly a half a million passengers to Bergen, a number that has doubled in 10 years. Almost half of the passengers are German or British. The city's main football team is SK Brann and a unique tradition of the city is the buekorps , which are traditional marching neighbourhood youth organisations. Natives speak a distinct dialect, known as Bergensk . The city features Bergen Airport, Flesland and Bergen Light Rail , and
2352-459: Is berg (n.) or bjǫrg (n.), which translates as 'mountain(s)'. The last element is vin (f.), which means a new settlement where there used to be a pasture or meadow. Bergen is often called "the city among the seven mountains". The playwright Ludvig Holberg , inspired by the seven hills of Rome , decided that his home town must be blessed with a corresponding seven mountains, though locals debate which seven they are. In 1918, there
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#17328552173682464-402: Is 280 passengers. The entire tram is step-free , including between the cars and the platforms. Seats are designed for travel times up to 60 minutes. There are five slide and plug doors on each side; three are double, with a total width of 1,300-millimeter (4 ft 3 in), while the last is a single 800-millimeter (2 ft 7 in) door. Stop buttons are only available at the doors, but
2576-494: Is Bergen's highest mountain, at 987 metres (3,238 ft) above mean sea level . Bergen is far enough north that during clear nights at the solstice, there is borderline civil daylight in spite of the sun having set. Bergen is sheltered from the North Sea by the islands Askøy , Holsnøy (the municipality of Meland ) and Sotra (the municipalities of Fjell and Sund ). Bergen borders the municipalities Alver and Osterøy to
2688-620: Is a light rail system in Bergen , Norway . The first stage of the project was a twenty-station stretch between the city center and Nesttun , where the first 15 stations comprising a 9.8-kilometre (6.1 mi) stretch opened in 2010, and the second was a 3.6-kilometre (2.2 mi) stretch from Nesttun to Lagunen which opened in June 2013. A third stretch from Lagunen to Bergen Airport, Flesland opened in 2017. The second line between Kaigaten and Fyllingsdalen opened on 21 November 2022. Further plans for
2800-455: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bergen Bergen ( Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈbæ̀rɡn̩] ), historically Bjørgvin , is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway . As of 2022 , its population was roughly 289,330. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway after the national capital Oslo . The municipality covers 465 square kilometres (180 sq mi) and
2912-519: Is also well known in Norway for the Isdal Woman ( Norwegian : Isdalskvinnen ), an unidentified person who was found dead at Isdalen ("Ice Valley") on 29 November 1970. The unsolved case encouraged international speculation over the years and it remains one of the most profound mysteries in recent Norwegian history. The rural municipalities of Arna , Fana , Laksevåg , and Åsane were merged with Bergen on 1 January 1972. The city lost its status as
3024-411: Is currently handled by Tide Buss og Bane AS. Stadler has the responsibility for maintenance of the trams for the first seven years, as part of the purchase contract. The line is operated on a four/five-minute headway by all-stops trams, with an eight-minute headway in off-peak times and a 20 minutes headway at night. The travel time from Byparken to Bergen airport is 44 minutes. In 2024, the full price of
3136-471: Is divided into eight boroughs, as seen on the map to the right. Clockwise, starting with the northernmost, the boroughs are Åsane , Arna , Fana , Ytrebygda , Fyllingsdalen , Laksevåg , Årstad and Bergenhus . The city centre is located in Bergenhus . Parts of Fana, Ytrebygda, Åsane and Arna are not part of the Bergen urban area, explaining why the municipality has approximately 20,000 more inhabitants than
3248-460: Is financed by the state, the remainder by the county, the municipality and through the toll ring. The arguments for light rail were mainly related to the environment , urban development and reduction in road congestion. Light rail is estimated to increase the use of public transport from Fana, reducing both local and global pollution. The roads do not have capacity for further growth, and any increase in public transport would need to be taken along
3360-518: Is located on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen . The city centre and northern neighbourhoods are on Byfjorden , 'the city fjord'. The city is surrounded by mountains, causing Bergen to be called the "city of seven mountains ". Many of the extra-municipal suburbs are on islands. Bergen is the administrative centre of Vestland county. The city consists of eight boroughs: Arna , Bergenhus , Fana , Fyllingsdalen , Laksevåg , Ytrebygda , Årstad , and Åsane . Trading in Bergen may have started as early as
3472-551: Is pronounced in English / ˈ b ɜːr ɡ ən / or / ˈ b ɛər ɡ ən / and in Norwegian [ˈbæ̀rɡn̩] (in the local dialect [ˈbæ̂ʁɡɛn] ). The Old Norse forms of the name were Bergvin [ˈberɡˌwin] and Bjǫrgvin [ˈbjɔrɡˌwin] (and in Icelandic and Faroese the city is still called Björgvin ). The first element
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3584-414: Is supplied from six rectifiers , specified so the system can operate with two rectifiers out of service. In the city center the overhead wire has been designed to minimize the number of poles, while in the suburban areas a conventional system has a carrier wire above the power wire. The line is double track, allowing visual signaling and speed adjustment on all at-grade stretches. In city streets S60 track
3696-525: Is the Norwegian School of Economics . The terminus will probably be Åsane Senter or Nyborg; the former shopping center has set aside areas for a station. At Åsane, a major bus terminal would allow connections to the northern parts of Bergen, suburbs further north and areas in Nordhordland . An important political argument for prioritizing this line is to share the investments and effects with all parts of
3808-604: Is the largest denomination in Bergen, with 201,006 (79.74%) registered adherents in 2012. Bergen is the seat of the Diocese of Bjørgvin with Bergen Cathedral as its centrepiece, while St John's Church is the city's most prominent. As of 2012, the state church is followed by 52,059 irreligious, 4,947 members of various Protestant free churches , 3,873 actively registered Catholics, 2,707 registered Muslims, 816 registered Hindus, 255 registered Russian Orthodox and 147 registered Oriental Orthodox . The city centre of Bergen lies in
3920-599: Is the oldest school in Bergen and was founded by Pope Adrian IV in 1153. The " Bergen School of Meteorology " was developed at the Geophysical Institute beginning in 1917, the Norwegian School of Economics was founded in 1936, and the University of Bergen in 1946. The University of Bergen has 16,000 students and 3,000 staff, making it the third-largest educational institution in Norway. Research in Bergen dates back to activity at Bergen Museum in 1825, although
4032-499: Is the terminus of the Bergen Line . Four large bridges connect Bergen to its suburban municipalities. Bergen has a mild winter climate, though with significant precipitation. From December to March, Bergen can, in rare cases, be up to 20 °C (36 °F) warmer than Oslo, even though both cities are at about 60° North. In summer however, Bergen is several degrees cooler than Oslo due to the same maritime effects. The Gulf Stream keeps
4144-472: Is to use the place name where the station is located, and naming after institutions or facilities nearby is not permitted unless they are in the immediate vicinity. Brann stadion, named for the football venue , was declared a borderline case, but within the rules, while Troldhaugen was not permitted because the area is not in the vicinity of the station. Initial works commenced in August 2007, when Pastasentralen
4256-552: Is used; on private right-of-way, S49 track. The minimum curve radius is 25 metres (82 ft 0 in) and tracks in city streets are laid within a rubber jacket to reduce noise. In the tunnels, only one tram can operate in each direction; this is regulated by lights and an automatic Train Protection system. Signaling uses the German BOStrab system, not traditional Norwegian light signals. The line has traffic signal preemption, so
4368-693: The Bergen School of Architecture , the Bergen National Academy of the Arts , located in the city centre with 300 students, and the Norwegian Naval Academy located in Laksevåg. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has been located in Bergen since 1900. It provides research and advice relating to ecosystems and aquaculture. It has a staff of 700 people. In August 2004, Time magazine named
4480-600: The Black Death was brought to Norway by an English ship arriving in Bergen. Later outbreaks occurred in 1618, 1629 and 1637, on each occasion taking about 3,000 lives. In the 15th century, the city was attacked several times by the Victual Brothers , and in 1429 they succeeded in burning the royal castle and much of the city. In 1665, the city's harbour was the site of the Battle of Vågen , when an English naval flotilla attacked
4592-498: The Brann Stadion stop serves the Brann Stadion football venue. Wergeland is at the mouth of the 1.1-kilometer (0.68 mi) Fageråstunnelen , S-shaped with a 6.0% gradient and a curve radius of 150 meters (492 ft 2 in). From the southern portal the line changes to conventional railway track with ballast , allowing trams to operate at 80 km/h (50 mph). The next stops are Sletten , Slettebakken and Fantoft ,
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4704-606: The Norwegian Public Roads Administration started looking at rectifying the situation by building a ring road around the city, and by alternative means of public transport. Prior to the shortening of the main Bergen Line railway with the Ulriken Tunnel , the Bergen–Nesttun Line was an important commuter rail service, feeding suburban residents from Fana into the city center. In 1917, the section
4816-487: The 1020s. According to tradition, the city was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre and was named Bjørgvin, 'the green meadow among the mountains'. It served as Norway's capital in the 13th century, and from the end of the 13th century became a bureau city of the Hanseatic League . Until 1789, Bergen enjoyed exclusive rights to mediate trade between Northern Norway and abroad, and it was the largest city in Norway until
4928-431: The 1240s and guards the entrance to the harbour in Bergen. The functions of the capital city were lost to Oslo during the reign of King Haakon V (1299–1319). In the middle of the 14th century, North German merchants, who had already been present in substantial numbers since the 13th century, founded one of the four Kontore of the Hanseatic League at Bryggen in Bergen. The principal export traded from Bergen
5040-418: The 1830s when it was overtaken by the capital, Christiania (now known as Oslo ). What remains of the quays, Bryggen , is a World Heritage Site. The city was hit by numerous fires over the years. The Bergen School of Meteorology was developed at the Geophysical Institute starting in 1917, the Norwegian School of Economics was founded in 1936, and the University of Bergen in 1946. From 1831 to 1972, Bergen
5152-484: The Bergen-based design groups Cubus and Fuggi Baggi Design, and Copenhagen -based Kontrapunkt. Most of the stations are at street level, and have facilities for buying tickets and dynamic displays that show when the next tram will arrive. The platforms have step-free access to the trams, allowing unhindered accessibility by wheelchairs and perambulators . The municipal government has permitted denser development around
5264-663: The Communist Party. On 20 April 1944, during the German occupation, the Dutch cargo ship Voorbode anchored off the Bergenhus Fortress , loaded with over 120 tons of explosives, and blew up, killing at least 150 people and damaging historic buildings. The city was subject to some Allied bombing raids , aimed at German naval installations in the harbour. Some of these caused Norwegian civilian casualties numbering about 100. Bergen
5376-403: The airport. Four-car trains would operate at ten-minute headways . The suggestion was discussed by the city council in 1973, but no decision was taken. As an alternative, expansion of the railway from Bergen to Eidsvåg , Åsane and Nesttun was proposed. Fast commuter trains could then be supplemented with buses. During the 1980s and 1990s, a toll ring was constructed around Bergen to finance
5488-452: The city is caused by orographic lift , sometimes causing more than two months of consecutive rainy days. The city is therefore considered the rainiest city in Europe, although it is not the wettest "place" on the continent. Bergen's weather is much warmer than the city's latitude (60.4° N) might suggest. Temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) are rare. Summer temperatures sometimes reach
5600-511: The city one of Europe's 14 "secret capitals" where Bergen's capital reign is acknowledged within maritime businesses and activities such as aquaculture and marine research , with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) (the second-largest oceanography research centre in Europe) as a leading institution. Some of the world's largest aquaculture companies, such as Mowi and Lerøy are headquartered in
5712-513: The city's industrial sector, particularly in the neighbourhood of Møhlenpris , which is named after him. Bergen retained its monopoly of trade with northern Norway until 1789. The Bergen stock exchange, the Bergen børs , was established in 1813. Bergen was separated from Hordaland as a county of its own in 1831. It was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt ). The rural municipality of Bergen landdistrikt
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#17328552173685824-657: The city's trade gradually declined in favour of Norwegian merchants (often of Hanseatic ancestry), and in the 1750s, the Kontor , or major trading post of the Hanseatic League, finally closed. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Bergen was involved in the Atlantic slave trade . Bergen-based slave trader Jørgen Thormøhlen , the largest shipowner in Norway, was the main owner of the slave ship Cornelia , which made two slave-trading voyages in 1673 and 1674 respectively; he also developed
5936-500: The city, and 14 churches were destroyed. In 1428 the city was plundered by the Victual Brothers , and in 1455, Hanseatic merchants were responsible for burning down Munkeliv Abbey . In 1476, Bryggen burned down in a fire started by a drunk trader. In 1582, another fire hit the city centre and Strandsiden . In 1675, 105 buildings burned down in Øvregaten . In 1686 another great fire hit Strandsiden , destroying 231 city blocks and 218 boathouses. The greatest fire in history
6048-577: The city. Several politicians, including the majority in Hordaland County Council , have stated that in the long run they want the light rail line extended northwards to Knarvik and westwards to Straume and Kleppestø . The building of the line is the responsibility of Bybanen Utbygging, which is a unit in Vestland County Council. Due to the present pause in the construction process, Bybanen Utbygging will be reduced in size in 2024. The physical infrastructure and trams are owned by Bybanen AS,
6160-420: The city. The municipality has had a parliamentary government since 2000. Up until then, Bergen had been governed by the city council ( formannskap ). The government now consists of seven government members called commissioners, and is appointed by the city council, the supreme authority of the city. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party . Bergen
6272-476: The city. Shipowners based in Bergen control a significant portion of the Norwegian merchant fleet, including shipowners such as Wilson , Odfjell and Gearbulk . The city has a large presence of financial institutions. Banks Sbanken and Sparebanken Vest are headquartered in the city. The Norwegian branches of insurance companies Tryg , DNB Livsforsikring and Nordea Liv are headquartered in Bergen, along with
6384-412: The company changed its name to Keolis Norge AS. Along with the establishment of the light rail service, the public transport in Bergen underwent other changes. Skyss was established in 2007 to administer the public transport system, manage routes and market public transport, which would be operated by private companies based on public service obligations. At the same time, a new electronic ticketing system
6496-516: The eastern side of Store Lungegårdsvann to the Fløen stop. It continues into a tunnel and stops under the hospital area, where a large underground stop has been constructed, with exits to both Haukeland University Hospital , which is Western Norway's largest work place, and Haraldsplass Diakonale Sykehus. The next stop after the tunnel is Kronstad, where line 2 intersects with line 1. It then continues over Mindemyren industrial area to Kristianborg, and through
6608-415: The fire of 1955, when a large number of the buildings burned to the ground. Instead of being demolished, the remaining buildings were restored and accompanied by reconstructions of some of the burned buildings. Demolition of old buildings and occasionally whole city blocks is still taking place, the most recent major example being the 2007 razing of Jonsvollskvartalet at Nøstet. Billboards are banned in
6720-538: The initial public service obligation to operate the line: Fjord1 Partner , Norges Statsbaner , Tide Bane and Veolia Transport Norge . On 3 April 2009, the public transport agency Skyss announced that Fjord1 Partner, a joint venture between Fjord1 AS and Keolis , had won the tender competition. Fjord1 Partner received 324 applications for their 26 jobs as drivers and 10 jobs as traffic controllers. In 2014 Fjord1 AS sold their shares in Fjord1 Partner to Keolis, and
6832-569: The large industrial activity in the area. The workers' homes in this area were poorly built, and little remains after large-scale redevelopment in the 1960s–1980s. After Årstad became a part of Bergen in 1916, a development plan was applied to the new area. Few city blocks akin to those in Nygård and Møhlenpris were planned. Many of the worker class built their own homes, and many small, detached apartment buildings were built. After World War II, Bergen had again run short of land to build on, and, contrary to
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#17328552173686944-409: The last overnight freeze (low below 0 °C (32.0 °F)) in spring is April 4 and average date for first freeze in autumn is November 7 giving a frost-free season of 216 days. Extreme temperatures are also quite rare in the city. The highest temperature ever recorded was 33.4 °C (92.1 °F) on 26 July 2019, beating the previous record from 2018 at 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) degrees, and
7056-429: The last trip ran on 31 January 1965. During the 1970s, plans had existed for an extensive rapid transit system, with an underground section in the city center. Inspired by the successful Oslo Metro that had opened in 1966, similar plans were developed. The proposed network was close to the current long-term plans for the light rail system, and consisted of three branches from the city center to Flaktveit , Olsvik and
7168-515: The later serving a large complex of student dormitories. Southwards is the 1.2-kilometer (0.75 mi) Fantoft Tunnel , followed by the Paradis stop. The line continues along the Nesttunvannet inlet to Hop , along the former right-of-way of Bergen's first motorway. Nesttun Terminal was the terminus between 2010 and 2013 when the extension to Lagunen was finished. After the completion to Nesttun,
7280-435: The light rail routes on buses—this would give higher operating costs for public transport or higher investment costs for roads. Around the stations, high-density commercial and residential centers can be established. Opponents of the project argued that it is unfair that public transport be funded by car drivers through toll roads. Protests from people in northern and western areas of the city have risen, since they are paying for
7392-603: The line was extended southwards to Rådal at Lagunen Storsenter . Construction began in January 2011, on its own right-of-way parallel to the existing road;, the track was completed in October 2012. The first test run to Lagunen was conducted on 6 December 2012, and the line was opened to the public on 22 June 2013. The light rail is connected from Lagunen via Sandsli and Kokstad to Bergen Airport, Flesland. Both Sørås and Indre Steinsvik have experienced rapid housing construction without
7504-530: The line, the Byparken stop, is a transit mall at the heart of the city center and has interchange with all buses serving the city center. The line runs south along Kaigaten, with Nonneseter stop serving the railway station and Bergen busstasjon serving the bus station . Southwards, the line runs in a grass right-of-way through Nygård and Florida , serving the campus of the University of Bergen . The line passes over Nygård Bridge before coming to Danmarks plass ,
7616-498: The lowest was −16.3 °C (2.7 °F) in January 1987. The city is quite cloudy year round, although old sunshine hours data might have caused an underestimate of sunshine hours, due to the city's mountainside location. A new sun recorder was established at Bergen Airport, Flesland (a location with less terrain obscuring the sun) in December 2015, and this recorded an average of 1,596 hours of sun annually during 2016–2022. As of
7728-453: The majority of the population lives in relatively sparsely populated residential areas built after 1950. While some are dominated by apartment buildings and modern terraced houses (e.g. Fyllingsdalen ), others are dominated by single-family homes . The oldest part of Bergen is the area around the bay of Vågen in the city centre. Originally centred on the bay's eastern side, Bergen eventually expanded west and southwards. Few buildings from
7840-508: The municipal administration and then sent to the borough councils in Fana, Årstad and Bergenhus . Four names were changed: Nonneseteren from Jernbanen, Florida from Strømmen, Brann stadion from Nymark and Hop from Troldhaugen. Brann stadion and Troldhaugen were afterwards considered by the municipal administration, because they could be in violation of the Place Name Act . The general rule
7952-420: The north, Vaksdal and Samnanger to the east, Os ( Bjørnafjorden ) and Austevoll to the south, and Øygarden and Askøy to the west. Bergen has an oceanic climate ( Köppen : Cfb , Trewartha : Dolk ), with mild summers and cool winters. Rainfall is plentiful in all seasons, along with intermittent snowfall during winter, which often melts quickly. The exceptionally plentiful precipitation that defines
8064-416: The oldest period remain, the most significant being St Mary's Church from the 12th century. For several hundred years, the extent of the city remained almost constant. The population was stagnant, and the city limits were narrow. In 1702, seven-eighths of the city burned. Most of the old buildings of Bergen, including Bryggen (which was rebuilt in a mediaeval style), were built after the fire. The fire marked
8176-571: The only island platform on the system. In this area, the track is on maize, a type of surface that allows emergency vehicles to drive safely, but makes the surface look unsafe for cars. Line 1 goes on to the Kronstad stop, almost at the door of the Bergen University College , where it meets line number 2, which has a different route from the city centre, passing under the hospital of Haukeland. From Kronstad, line 1 follows Inndalsveien, where
8288-605: The original plans, many large apartment buildings were built in Landås in the 1950s and 1960s. Bergen acquired Fyllingsdalen from Fana municipality in 1955. Like similar areas in Oslo (e.g. Lambertseter ), Fyllingsdalen was developed into a modern suburb with large apartment buildings, mid-rises , and some single-family homes, in the 1960s and 1970s. Similar developments took place beyond Bergen's city limits, for example in Loddefjord . At
8400-458: The period 1993–2008 increased by 119.7%, while the ethnic Norwegian population grew by 8.1% during the same period. The national average is 138.0% and 4.2%. The immigrant population has thus accounted for 43.6% of Bergen's population growth and 60.8% of Norway's population growth during the period 1993–2008, compared with 84.5% in Oslo. The immigrant population in Bergen has changed a lot since 1970. As of 1 January 1986, there were 2,870 people with
8512-481: The plans was carried out in its original form; the Marken and Stølen redevelopment plans were discarded and that of Nordnes only carried out in the area that had been most damaged by war. The city council of Bergen had in 1964 voted to demolish the entirety of Marken, however, the decision proved to be highly controversial and the decision was reversed in 1974. Bryggen was under threat of being wholly or partly demolished after
8624-466: The poor and the wealthy. Their architecture is influenced by a variety of styles; historicism , classicism and Art Nouveau . The wealthy built villas between Møhlenpris and Nygård, and on the side of Mount Fløyen; these areas were also added to Bergen in 1876. Simultaneously, an urbanization process was taking place in Solheimsviken in Årstad, at that time outside the Bergen municipality, centred on
8736-523: The population were under 17 years of age, while 4.5% were 80 and above. The immigrant population (those with two foreign-born parents) in Bergen, includes 42,169 individuals with backgrounds from more than 200 countries representing 15.5% of the city's population (2014). Of these, 50.2% have background from Europe, 28.9% from Asia, 13.1% from Africa, 5.5% from Latin America, 1.9% from North America, and 0.4% from Oceania. The immigrant population in Bergen in
8848-459: The project involve mooted extensions to Åsane and Storavatnet . Plans for rail transit have existed since the 1970s, following the 1965 closing of the Bergen Tramway . A rapid transit design was first discarded, and in the 1990s a light rail line was proposed. The decision to start construction was made in 2005. The first stage was built by the municipality with financing from the state and
8960-443: The same time as planned city expansion took place inside Bergen, its extra-municipal suburbs also grew rapidly. Wealthy citizens of Bergen had been living in Fana since the 19th century, but as the city expanded it became more convenient to settle in the municipality. Similar processes took place in Åsane and Laksevåg. Most of the homes in these areas are detached row houses , single family homes or small apartment buildings. After
9072-509: The sea relatively warm, considering the latitude, and the mountains protect the city from cold winds from the north, north-east and east. The city of Bergen was traditionally thought to have been founded by king Olav Kyrre , son of Harald Hardråde in 1070 AD, four years after the Viking Age in England ended with the Battle of Stamford Bridge . Modern research has, however, discovered that
9184-719: The start of 2022 , the municipality had a population of 286,930, making the population density 599 people per km . Urban areas outside the city limits, as defined by Statistics Norway , consist of Indre Arna (6,536 residents on 1 January 2012), Fanahammeren (3,690), Ytre Arna (2,626), Hylkje (2,277) and Espeland (2,182). As of 2007, people of Norwegian origin (those who have two parents born in Norway) make up 84.5% of Bergen's residents. In addition, 8.1% were first or second generation immigrants of Western background and 7.4% were first or second generation immigrants of non-Western background. The population grew by 4,549 people in 2009,
9296-462: The station's name. The melodies for the stops between Byparken and Nesttun were composed by Snorre Valen , while the voice was recorded by Heidi Lambach. Currently there are 34 Variobahn trams in operation. The system is standard gauge with 2.65-meter (8 ft 8 in)-wide cars, with the platforms built to allow 44-meter (144 ft 4 in) long trams. The line has no terminal balloon loops , so trams must be bi-directional. The current
9408-546: The stop is intertwined with the airport terminal. The official opening of the last part of line 1 took place on 21 April 2017. Line 2 between Bergen city center and Fyllingsdalen was officially opened on 21 November 2022. Line 2 starts in Kaigaten, just across the intersection from the starting point of line 1. Line 1 and 2 both stop at Nonneseter outside Bergen railway station, and continue to Bergen busstasjon, which line 2 stops behind. The two lines then depart, and line 2 runs on
9520-553: The surrounding municipalities were merged with Bergen in 1972, expansion has continued in largely the same manner, although the municipality encourages condensing near commercial centres, future Bergen Light Rail stations, and elsewhere. As part of the modernisation wave of the 1950s and 1960s, and due to damage caused by World War II, the city government ambitiously planned redevelopment of many areas in central Bergen. The plans involved demolition of several neighbourhoods of wooden houses, namely Nordnes , Marken, and Stølen. None of
9632-432: The system but will not receive the benefits. Another issue has been speed: the line to Nesttun has 15 stops in 10 kilometers (6.2 mi), giving an average speed of 28 km/h (17 mph). For people living south of Nesttun, this will give a longer travel time to the city center than with direct buses that do not make intermediate stops. The naming of the stations caused local debate. A draft for names were made by
9744-559: The toll ring. However, a lack of funds made it necessary to build the line to Nesttun only, instead of all the way to the airport. The initial decision was taken by Bergen City Council on 13 March 2000, in the Parliament of Norway in 2002, and with the financing secured, by the city council in 2005. Only the Progress Party and the Pensioners' Party voted against light rail. Forty per cent
9856-546: The toll road ring, based on the Bergen Program . Ownership, maintenance and further extensions and vehicles are the responsibility of Hordaland County Municipality through its wholly owned subsidiary Bybanen AS. Operation is governed by public service obligation contracts issued by the county public transport authority Skyss . From 2010 to 2017 the line and its 20 Variobahn trams were operated by Keolis Norge (formerly Fjord1 Partner). The first public transport in Bergen
9968-629: The total population in the municipality of non-Western background was 3.6%. In January 2006, people with a non-Western immigrant background accounted for 6 percent of the population in Bergen. The share of Western immigrants has remained stable at around 2% in the period. The number of Poles in Bergen rose from 697 in 2006 to 3,128 in 2010. As of 2022, immigrants of non-Western origin and their children enumerated 30,540, and made up an estimated 11% of Bergen's population. Immigrants of Western origin and their children enumerated 22,954, and made up an estimated 9% of Bergen's population. The Church of Norway
10080-405: The town, where Middle Low German was used, enjoying exclusive rights to trade with the northern fishermen who each summer sailed to Bergen. The Hansa community resented Scottish merchants who settled in Bergen, and on 9 November 1523 several Scottish households were targeted by German residents. Today, Bergen's old quayside, Bryggen , is on UNESCO 's list of World Heritage Sites . In 1349,
10192-411: The trams always stop at all stops. Between the seats there is a minimum width of 720 mm (2 ft 4 in), which allows wheelchair and buggy access along the full length of the car. All stations are announced visually and orally. The trams have wireless Internet access . However, it is reserved for the onboard Infotainment system. All stations are announced with a short distinctive melody and
10304-557: The trams send a signal to the traffic light control when the driver starts the door-closing signal to give the tram priority at traffic lights. The depot is at Kronstad, at a former yard used by the Norwegian State Railways , where a track that connects the light rail network to the Bergen Line. The depot was finished in 2009, and has room for 16 40-meter (131 ft 3 in) trams plus a workshop with space for two trams and
10416-406: The two trams to be repaired. This caused the summer schedule to be reduced to a 30-minute headway. From 1 November, the line started running every six minutes during the rush hour. On 22 June, the first part of the line was officially opened by Queen Sonja of Norway . The first part of line number 1 is 9.8-kilometre (6.09 mi) and runs from the city center to Nesttun. The northernmost part of
10528-731: The university was not founded until 1946. The university has a broad range of courses and research in academic fields and three national centres of excellence, in climate research , petroleum research and medieval studies . The main campus is located in the city centre. The university co-operates with Haukeland University Hospital within medical research. The Chr. Michelsen Institute is an independent research foundation established in 1930 focusing on human rights and development issues. The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences , which has its main campus in Kronstad , has 16,000 students and 1800 staff. It focuses on professional education, such as teaching, healthcare and engineering. The college
10640-556: The upper 20s, although temperatures over 30 °C were previously only seen a few days each decade. The growing season in Bergen is exceptionally long for its latitude, more than 200 days. Its mild winters and proximity to the Gulf Stream provide the city with a plant hardiness zone of 8b and 9a depending on location; this zone is much more common below 50°N even in Europe, with cities as far south as Bordeaux , Thessaloniki and Istanbul falling into this category. The average date for
10752-481: The urban area is on or close to a fjord or bay, although the urban area has several mountains. The city centre is surrounded by the Seven Mountains , although there is disagreement as to which of the nine mountains constitute these. Ulriken , Fløyen , Løvstakken and Damsgårdsfjellet are always included as well as three of Lyderhorn , Sandviksfjellet , Blåmanen , Rundemanen and Kolbeinsvarden . Gullfjellet
10864-403: The urban area. Local borough administrations have varied since Bergen's expansion in 1972. From 1974, each borough had a politically chosen administration. From 1989, Bergen was divided into 12 health and social districts, each locally administered. From 2000 to 2004, the former organizational form with eight politically chosen local administrations was again in use and from 2008 through to 2010,
10976-402: The west of the municipality, facing the fjord of Byfjorden . It is among a group of mountains known as the Seven Mountains , although the number is a matter of definition. From here, the urban area of Bergen extends to the north, west and south, and to its east is a large mountain massif. Outside the city centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods (i.e. Årstad , inner Laksevåg and Sandviken ),
11088-647: Was a borough (with the same name as a present-day neighbourhood ). The borough was numbered 01 , and its perimeter was from Store Lungegårdsvann and Strømmen along Puddefjorden around Nordnes and over to Skuteviken, up Mt. Fløyen east of Langelivannet, on to Skansemyren and over Forskjønnelsen to Store Lungegårdsvann, south of the railroad tracks. The population of the (now defunct) borough, numbered in 1994 more than 18,000 people. There are 64 elementary schools, 18 lower secondary schools and 20 upper secondary schools in Bergen, as well as 11 combined elementary and lower secondary schools. Bergen Cathedral School
11200-457: Was a campaign to reintroduce the Norse form Bjørgvin as the name of the city. This was turned down – but as a compromise, the name of the diocese was changed to Bjørgvin bispedømme . Bergen occupies most of the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen in the district of Midthordland in mid-western Hordaland. The municipality covers an area of 465 square kilometres (180 square miles). Most of
11312-415: Was built for cars, and the oldest was upgraded and used by the light rail line. In several places the road needed to be dug up to remove pipes and cables. In November 2009, Gulating Court of Appeal ruled that the power company BKK had to pay 80 million NOK for the moving of power lines, and could not charge the costs to the project. By June 2008, the first tracks had been laid. Four companies bid for
11424-400: Was created through amalgamation in 1994; campuses are spread around town but will be co-located at Kronstad . The Norwegian School of Economics is located in outer Sandviken and is the leading business school in Norway, having produced three Economy Nobel Prize laureates. The school has more than 3,000 students and approximately 400 staff. Other tertiary education institutions include
11536-455: Was demolished to make room for a temporary bus terminal that would allow Kaigaten to be closed for construction. Contracts for building the line were awarded to Svein Boasson, NCC Construction , Fyllingen Maskinstasjon and Veidekke Entreprenør . The contract for laying the tracks was awarded to Baneservice . Construction started in January 2008. To pass over Strømmen , a fourth Nygård Bridge
11648-726: Was disregarded by the Public Roads Administration . In 1995, the municipal bus company Bergen Sporvei made a proposal to establish what they called the Lightning Tram, from Varden in Fyllingsdalen via a tunnel to Møhlenpris and the city center, then make a 120° turn and return along the route of the Bergen trolleybus to Birkelundstoppen . The same year, the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature proposed
11760-452: Was dried cod from the northern Norwegian coast, which started c. 1100 . The city was granted a monopoly for trade from the north of Norway by King Håkon Håkonsson (1217–1263). Stockfish was the main reason that the city became one of North Europe's largest centres for trade. By the late 14th century, Bergen had established itself as the centre of the trade in Norway. The Hanseatic merchants lived in their own separate quarter of
11872-464: Was in 1702, when 90% of the city was burned to ashes. In 1751, there was a great fire at Vågsbunnen . In 1756, yet another fire at Strandsiden burned down 1,500 buildings, and further great fires hit Strandsiden in 1771 and 1901. In 1916, 300 buildings burned down in the city centre including the Swan pharmacy , the oldest pharmacy in Norway, and in 1955 parts of Bryggen burned down. Bergen
11984-420: Was introduced. Because of delays from Stadler's subcontractors, five instead of eight trams were available when the line opened on 22 June 2010. Skyss had planned to operate with a ten-minute headway until August, but had a 15-minute headway until 16 August. To compensate, none of the parallel bus routes ceased until then. On 7 June, two trams collided at low speed at Byparken, causing a derailment and forced
12096-425: Was its own county . In 1972 the municipality absorbed four surrounding municipalities and became a part of Hordaland county. The city is an international centre for aquaculture, shipping, the offshore petroleum industry and subsea technology, and a national centre for higher education, media, tourism and finance. Bergen Port is Norway's busiest in terms of both freight and passengers, with over 300 cruise ship calls
12208-444: Was merged with Bergen on 1 January 1877. The rural municipality of Årstad was merged with Bergen on 1 July 1915. During World War II, Bergen was occupied on the first day of the German invasion on 9 April 1940, after a brief fight between German ships and the Norwegian coastal artillery . The Norwegian resistance movement groups in Bergen were Saborg , Milorg , " Theta-gruppen " , Sivorg , Stein-organisasjonen and
12320-409: Was that there was sufficient available land at Kokstad which allowed a large depot to be constructed there. During the first years, there was a small depot at Kronstad, which got to small after the second extension. The track between Lagunen and Birkelandsskiftet was officially opened on 15 August 2016. The last part of the track was awaiting the opening of the new terminal building of Bergen airport, as
12432-481: Was the Bergen Tramway , which operated between 1897 and 1965. It was limited to the inner parts of the city and did not reach the suburbs. The city council therefore decided to close it, arguing that the future lay in private cars, diesel buses and trolleybuses . In the 1960s, the removal on restriction on car sales created more traffic than the roads could handle and consequently both buses and cars began increasingly being stuck in rush-hour queues . The municipality and
12544-486: Was the most heavily trafficked railway in the country, with a travel time between 20 and 27 minutes. There were up to 27 trains per day, of which five continued to Garnes . In 1918, the line was proposed for doubling and electrification : the latter was completed in 1954. The same year, annual ridership were down to 870,000 passengers. After the opening of the Ulriken Tunnel commuter trains were kept for six months, with
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