Harstad is a city and municipality in Norway.
The town of Harstad was separated from Trondenes January 1, 1904. The municipalities of Sandtorg and Trondenes were merged with Harstad January 1, 1964. Harstad is located approximately 250 km (150 mi) north of the Arctic Circle.
It is the second largest city in the county of Troms, and the third largest in North Norway, by population. This makes Harstad the natural centre for its district. The city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004.
The municipality is located on two islands in south Troms. Most of the municipality is located on Hinnøya, which is Norway's second largest island, after Svalbard. The northern part of the municipality is located on the southern third of Grytøya. Harstad is bordered by Bjarkøy to the north, Kvæfjord to the west and Tjeldsund (in the county of Nordland) to the south. To the southeast the Tjeldsund Bridge connects Hinnøya with Skånland and the mainland across Tjeldsundet, and to the northeast is the fjord Vågsfjorden, where Harstad shares a water border with Ibestad. The city itself is located northeast on Hinnøya; it is the only city on the island, and is popularly known as Vågsfjordens perle.
The municipality contains several small islands, including Arnøya, Gressholman, Kjeøya, Kjøtta, Kjøttakalven, Måga, Rogla and Åkerøya. The highest mountain is Sætertind (1095 metres above sea level[1]), located near Sandtorg, Hinnøya.
The oil industry of North Norway is centred in Harstad, but the city also has shipyards and other industries that are important for the economy. Harstad and the surrounding area have traditionally been among the most productive agricultural regions in North Norway, with the old seabed creating fertile soil that is well-suited for farming.
The city hosts the annual week long Festival of Northern Norway.
Harstad is home port for Anna Rogde, the world's oldest sailing schooner, also known as the sailing queen of Norway.
The city enjoys the midnight sun during the summer months, from 22 May to 18 July, along with moderate daytime temperatures, usually from 12 °C to 24 °C. During the winter months, the polar night allows for regular viewings of the aurora borealis (aka the Northern Light). The sun is not visible from 30 November to 12 January. There is moderate snowfall for the region, and a surprisingly comfortable temperature of 4 °C to -10 °C.
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