Kungshamn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kungshamn
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Kungshamn
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 Kungshamn
Location in Västra Götaland
Kungshamn
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Bohuslän |
| County | Västra Götaland County |
| Municipality | Sotenäs Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 2,814 |
| • Density | 1,350/km2 (3,500/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Kungshamn (which means King's Landing) is a lovely town in Sweden. It's the main town of Sotenäs Municipality in Västra Götaland County. About 3,071 people lived here in 2011.
During the summer, Kungshamn becomes a very popular place for tourists. Its population can grow much larger! The town is actually made up of three older villages: Gravarne, Bäckevik, and Fisketången.
Kungshamn is located on a peninsula (a piece of land almost surrounded by water). It's just north of Lysekil. Since 1970, a bridge has connected Kungshamn to the island of Smögen.
This town is famous for its fishing industry. A big company called Abba Seafood has its factory right next to the Smögen Bridge. They have been making their products here since 1920.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Kungshamn
The name Kungshamn directly translates to "King's harbour." However, it's more commonly known as "King's Landing." We don't know for sure why it has a king in its name.
The area was officially named Kungshamn in the 1960s. Before that, it was a group of smaller settlements. These included Gravarne, Bäckevik, and Fisketången. Gravarne was the most well-known name in the late 20th century. Fishermen often used it to show where their boats came from.
A Glimpse into Kungshamn's Past
For a long time, the entire region of Bohuslän, where Kungshamn is located, belonged to Norway. This changed in 1658. That's when it became part of Sweden after the Treaty of Roskilde.
During the Middle Ages, many people came to this part of Sweden. They were attracted by the rich herring fishing. They would catch herring and then sell it to other countries. Toll houses were set up to collect taxes, and one of the biggest was in Kungshamn.
More and more people started to live in the Kungshamn area because of the great fishing. A permanent village really grew during the 1800s. This was a time when there was an amazing amount of herring to catch!
Exploring Kungshamn's Natural Beauty
The north-eastern part of Kungshamn is covered in forests. The landscape here is typical of the Bohuslän region. You'll see mostly bare granite cliffs. These cliffs are cut by deep valleys.
These valleys often have shrub bog areas, which are wet, marshy places. They are home to many different kinds of birds. In the forest, there's a long hiking trail. It's about 60 km (37 mi) long. This trail goes through Kungshamn and into other towns in the Sotenäs Municipality.
Sports and Fun in Kungshamn
Kungshamn has its own local sports clubs. These clubs offer different activities for people to enjoy.
Here are some of the sports clubs you can find in Kungshamn:
- Kungshamns IF
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Kungshamn
