Oanes is a small farming village in Strand Municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located at the intersection between the Lysefjorden and Høgsfjorden, just north of the village of Forsand. The Norwegian county road 523 runs through the village, just west of the Lysefjord Bridge. Oanes has a ferry quay for the Lauvvik–Oanes Ferry that crosses the Høgsfjorden.
Geography and Location
Oanes lies at the confluence of the Lysefjord and the Høgsfjord, on a peninsula in southwestern Norway. Its elevation is approximately 7 meters (23 feet) above sea level. The village is part of the Ryfylke district in Western Norway.
Transportation
A car ferry operates year-round between Oanes and Lauvvik in Sandnes municipality, crossing the Høgsfjord. Before the Ryfylke Tunnel opened in 2019, this ferry crossing was part of Norwegian National Road 13. After the tunnel opened, the route became county road 523 in Strand and county road 508 in Sandnes. The ferry quay at Oanes has an open waiting room and a seasonally open kiosk, and several bus routes serve the stop.
History
Prior to 2020, Oanes and the surrounding area were part of Forsand Municipality. In 2020, Forsand was merged into Strand Municipality.
Etymology
The name Oanes is a Norwegian place name. The suffix -nes means "headland" or "peninsula" in Norwegian. The prefix Oa- likely derives from the Old Norse Óðins- (referring to the god Odin), making the name possibly mean "Odin's headland."
