Ellef Ringnes Island is a small island located in the Lofoten Archipelago, about 110 km north of Tromsø. It is part of the municipality of Røyrvik in Nordland county, Norway. Ellef Ringnes is the main island and it has a population (2006) of 346.
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History
The island was named after the first settler, Ellef Ringnes. The first landing on the island was in 1892 by two lighthouse keepers from Tromsø who sailed there on a fishing trip. Although the lighthouse keepers landed on both sides, none of them remained.
The first permanent settler arrived in 1897 after a failed attempt to colonize the island with his brother-in-law Trygve Hedin. Today fossilized remains of ferns and other plants have been found dating back 780 years ago on Ellef Ringnes Island which further confirms that humans were probably present here sometime during Stone Age times.
Some place traces claimed as old evidence for prehistoric inhabitants date only up until 1000 A.D.: The collective name given to prehistory by Norwegian archaeologists is kjolen -perioden, literally “The Cloth Period” or the period before AD 1000.
In North Norway there are many settlement sites from this time and one of them is Ellef Ringnes in which large amounts of scrapers, stone tools and remnants from houses were found showing that life on the island was very primitive according to historical accounts until about the 15th century when permanent farming began with herbs for food industry.
From 1761 until 1972 a lighthouse has been maintained on behalf of king Christian V as part-and full-time keeper at both Ellef ringnes meylinge and Sommarøy.
Climate
The climate is classified as oceanic or maritime according to the Köppen Climate Classification system. The warmest month is July with a temperature of 23 °C and the coldest month is January with a temperature of -2 °C. The annual average of 1140 hours, is because the island has three wind inlets which will bring cold and fresh air as well as strong west ocean winds, resulting in a mild climate at all times with relatively immutable weather conditions.
Between June and August temperatures average around 18 °C, in winter 7 °C is the usual low temperature reaching 1 month of -4 (January), 0-2 nights of 0°C along with 4 weeks out of 10 measuring above 3 degrees.
During windy months from November to March high humidity levels can be experienced which then results in rain during stormy periods such as Tornadoes or Squall lines.
Culture
The culture is usually thought of as traditional Norwegian Sami. No written records from this time period have been found, however oral traditions and tales passed down through the generations have been an invaluable source for historians to piece together what life was like on these remote islands during prehistory.
Some of the most common artefacts found at Ellef Ringnes are scrapers made from basalt, birchbark vessels and ground stone tools used in hunting and fishing such as spears or harpoons. These were all custom-made using naturally occurring materials which would be difficult or impossible to find elsewhere on the Svalbard archipelago.
The island was also a completely closed ecosystem, with no contact between the inhabitants and the outside world other than through trade and ships. As such it is thought they only used metal tools if there were available in extreme circumstances where limited natural resources would not have been enough to survive on; this could be equated with encountering foreign objects or being attacked by animal predators like polar bears for example (a threat which still exists today).
Politics
Ellef Ringnes is administered as a part of the Svalbard archipelago municipality of Longyearbyen, and has no permanent population. It is only accessible during summer months by air or boat, and inhabitants are typically researchers conducting scientific research on the island. As such it is not subject to the same laws and regulations as other settlements on Svalbard; this includes taxation which means it generates very little financial income for public coffers.
Government Services
There is no formal government on Ellef Ringnes, and as such it is not subject to the same taxes or public services as other settlements on Svalbard. This includes healthcare and education which are provided by Longyearbyen municipality free of charge to inhabitants. Immigration is also not allowed, so there is no population growth either; in fact the island has gradually decreased in size since it was first spotted by Europeans over a century ago due to attrition from lack of new residents.
Tourism
Tourism is not a significant source of revenue for Ellef Ringnes as there are no accommodation or tourist facilities available on the island. Instead visitors can only access it by air or boat during summer months. Despite this, the island has occasionally been visited by famous personalities like Russian president Vladimir Putin and British actorRowan Atkinson who both reportedly enjoyed its unique landscape and wildlife.
Transport
There is no regular transport link between Ellef Ringnes and the rest of Svalbard, meaning inhabitants have to rely on air or boat for access. This means that the island is only accessible during summer months when flights and boats are available. As such, it is not a popular tourist destination which limits its potential revenue sources.
Conclusion
Ellef Ringnes Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the municipality of Eidfjord in Hordaland county, Norway. The island is located about 5 nautical miles (9 km) northeast of the mainland and is separated from it by a narrow channel. The island has an area of 1.2 km2 and a maximum height of 9 m. It is part of the Ringnes archipelago, which also includes Ringnesøya and Lillehammerøya.
FAQs
- What Are The Main Sources Of Revenue For Ellef Ringnes?
There are no accommodation or tourist facilities available on the island, so visitors can only access it by air or boat during summer months. As such, the island has occasionally been visited by famous personalities like Russian president Vladimir Putin and British actor Rowan Atkinson who both reportedly enjoyed its unique landscape and wildlife.
- What Kind Of Threats Does Ellef Ringnes Island Face As A Result Of Climate Change And/Or Unsustainable Human Activity?
The island is only accessible during summer months when flights or boats are available, so it cannot generate much revenue to cover expenses such as power capacity maintenance or treatment facilities for fishery-caused pollution.
The limited number of tourists visiting the island also means that it will have less potential incentive to invest in new tourism infrastructure than some other islands in Svalbard National Park can offer. This uncertainty over investments on Ellef Ringnes may lead local authorities (like the Svalbard Council) to take actions that are detrimental to both nature and inhabitants of Norway’s easternmost island.
- Why Should Visitors Protect Ellef Ringnes Island?
Ellef Ringnes is a tiny, remote little spot in Norway’s spectacular fjord-country south of its capital city Oslo, yet it has special value for tourists due to its remoteness and amazing wildlife on the rocky alpine plateau area supporting Arctic tundra flora including many rare plant species which grow there yearround where no other place in Hordaland (nor elsewhere in Norway) could grow the same species.
- What Can Visitors Do To Help Keep Ellef Ringnes Island Intact?
Aside from supporting tourism initiatives on the island, visitors can also be conscientious of their own impact when travelling in or near Svalbard National Park. For example, they should avoid hiking in areas where there is a risk of rock falls and report any sightings of stray livestock along cliffs to park rangers for potential culling.
- What Is The Likely Future Of Ellef Ringnes?
Ellef Ringnes will continue to be threatened by increased tourism, habitat destruction, and climate change. Local authorities may take actions that are detrimental to both nature and inhabitants of Norway’s easternmost island if they lack reliable revenue streams from tourism or other sources.
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