Sortland (town)
ⓘ is a town and the administrative centre of Sortland Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The town is located on the east coast of the island of Langøya, along the Sortlandsundet strait. In 1997, the municipality decided to declare "town status" for the urban area of Sortland. Sortland is the largest town and commercial centre in the whole Vesterålen region and is often referred to as "the blue town by the strait" (den blå byen ved sundet) since many of the buildings are painted blue.
Sortland | |
|---|---|
View of the town | |
Sortland Location of the town Sortland Sortland (Norway) | |
| Coordinates: 68.6982°N 15.4138°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Northern Norway |
| County | Nordland |
| District | Vesterålen |
| Municipality | Sortland Municipality |
| Established | 1997 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.59 km2 (1.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
| • Total | 5,404 |
| • Density | 1,505/km2 (3,900/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | sortlending sortlandssunding |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Post Code | 8400 Sortland |
The 3.59-square-kilometre (890-acre) town has a population (2018) of 5,404 which gives the town a population density of 1,505 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,900/sq mi).
The Norwegian National Road 85 highway begins at Sortland and crosses the Sortland Bridge to connect the town to the nearby European route E10 highway on the neighboring island of Hinnøya.
The town has a regional high school, a cultural centre, library, cinema, Sortland Museum, and Sortland Church. The town is also a regular stop of the Hurtigruten boats.