Utsira (formerly known as Udsire and Utsire) is the main island in Utsira Municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Utsira Church and Utsira Lighthouse are both located on the island. The small islet of Lausingen lies about to the southwest of the island.
Island The island makes up almost all of Utsira Municipality. The island lies about west of the island of Karmøy, with the Sirafjorden lying between the two islands. The island's only connection to the mainland is by ferry, with four regular ferry routes connecting the island to the town of Haugesund each day. The ferries are operated by Rutebåten Utsira.
Most of the island's population lives in the central valley that runs north-south on the island. There are about 220 residents of the island as of 2026.
Utsira is known as the best birding site in Norway. There have been 317 different species recorded on Utsira.
The island gives its name to the BBC Shipping Forecast areas of "North Utsire" and "South Utsire" (the name of the island was spelled Utsire between 1875–1924).
Climate Utsira has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb) with cool/mild summers and chilly winters with lots of rainfall. The climate is mild for the latitude; average lows in winter remain above freezing. The island has significant seasonal lag with February–March typically being the coldest months of the year while August is the warmest. The maritime position also renders low diurnal variation in temperature between day and night. The driest season is April - July while the wettest season is August - January. October on average get nearly three times as much precipitation as May. The extreme temperatures in Utsira ranged from on February 6, 1895 to on July 17, 2003.
See also List of islands of Norway
References
External links www.utsira.no