The smallest and richest local council in Norway

On the the western coast of Norway, on a small island called Utsira, 18 km outside Haugesund,
you find Norway's smallest local council.

220 inhabitants on an island where each person knows the names for winds of different degrees.
For the last two months, f.ex., it has been "kuling" (very strong wind).

In an enjoyable article in A-Magasinet from Dec 29th 2006 about life on Utsira,
we learnt that each inhabitant has his own key to the public swimming hall and that the librarian brings the books home to you.

Next year the island will get a new school for the 32 local students.
Cost: 15 million Norwegian crowns (more than two and a half million US dollars).

From fifth grade each student has his/her own PC. Six teachers work with these 32 students.

The former farmers and fishermen are now working in the offshore oil industry, giving the local council good income from taxes. Utsira is Norway's richest local council per capita.

Next year a 18 km fiber cable from the mainland to Utsira will bring broadband to the 220 inhabitants.

Are there any problems in this paradise?
"Well", says the head of the local council, after pondering a little,"the parabol antennas are often
turned over by the strong wind, and they rust much faster because of the salt from the sea."

A-Magasinet is the weekend magazine of the largest Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten