Funen

In this article we will explore Funen, a topic that has captured the attention of academics, experts and hobbyists alike in recent years. Funen has proven to be a complex and multifaceted topic encompassing a wide range of perspectives and approaches. From its impact on society to its relevance in the scientific field, Funen has been the subject of debate and discussion in various circles and disciplines. Throughout these pages, we will delve into the different aspects of Funen, exploring its origins, evolution and possible implications for the future. We hope to provide our readers with a comprehensive and enriching insight into this fascinating topic.

"Fyn" redirects here. For other uses, see Fyn (disambiguation).

Funen
Native name:
Fyn
A Sentinel-2 satellite image of the island
Geography
LocationKattegat
Coordinates55°21′N 10°21′E / 55.350°N 10.350°E / 55.350; 10.350
Area2,984.56 km2 (1,152.35 sq mi)
Administration
Denmark
RegionSouth Denmark Region
MunicipalitySeveral
Largest settlementOdense (pop. 180,302)
Demographics
Population469,947 (2020)
Pop. density150/km2 (390/sq mi)

Funen (Danish: Fyn, pronounced [ˈfyˀn]), is the third-largest island of Denmark, after Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, with an area of 3,099.7 square kilometres (1,196.8 sq mi). It is the 165th-largest island in the world. It is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 469,947 as of 2020.[1] Funen's main city is Odense, which is connected to the sea by a seldom-used canal. The city's shipyard, Odense Steel Shipyard, has been relocated outside Odense proper.

Funen belongs administratively to the Region of Southern Denmark. From 1970 to 2006 the island formed the biggest part of Funen County, which also included the islands of Langeland, Ærø, Tåsinge, and a number of smaller islands.

Map of the island of Funen, 1607

Funen is linked to Zealand, Denmark's largest island, by the Great Belt Bridge, which carries both trains and cars. The bridge is in reality three bridges; low road and rail bridges connect Funen to the small island of Sprogø in the middle of the Great Belt, and a long road suspension bridge (the second longest in the world at the time of opening) connects Funen the rest of the way to Zealand, paralleled by a rail tunnel.

Two bridges connect Funen to the Danish mainland, Jutland. The Old Little Belt Bridge was constructed in the 1930s, shortly before World War II, for both cars and trains. The New Little Belt Bridge, a suspension bridge, was constructed in the 1970s and is used for cars only.

The populations of the major cities and towns on the island are, as of 1 January 2024:[2]

Funen was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, the composer Carl Nielsen, American War of Independence combatant Christian Febiger, pop singer MØ and international footballer Christian Eriksen.

The highest natural point on Funen is Frøbjerg Bavnehøj.

Politics

See also: Funen (Folketing constituency)

Fynsk dialects

The distribution of one, two, and three grammatical genders in Danish dialects. In Zealand (marked in orange) the transition from three to two genders has happened fairly recently. West of the red line the definite article goes before the word as in English or German; east of the line it takes the form of a suffix.

Fynsk, colloquially known as Funish by local English speakers, but in English most commonly known as the Funen dialects, refers to the variations of Danish spoken on Funen and adjacent islands.

Locally, there can be significant variations, even within short distances, for example between neighboring towns. On the island of Funen, at least four main dialects are typically distinguished: East, North, South, and West Funen dialects, as well as sub-dialects such as the Tåsinge, Ærø, and Langeland dialects. West Funen dialects may further be divided into Northwest and Southwest Funen dialects.

The Funen dialects belong to what is referred to as Insular Danish, where the dialects have retained three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. This is in contrast to Zealand, where, like in Swedish, a reduction to two genders has taken place, and large parts of Jutland, where, like in English, no such distinction is made.

For instance in masculine, the indefinite article is "ei" and the ending in the definite form is "-i": ei mar, mar'i, ei post, posti, ei vogn, vogni, ei ovn, ovni, ei kat, katti (a man, the man, a post, the post, a wagon, the wagon, an oven, the oven, a cat, the cat). These articles and endings are usually unstressed.

Viking Age

In 2018, at Munkebo Bakke in northeastern Funen, archaeologists found an exceedingly large Viking hall that dates back to c. 825 – 1,000 CE. According to the Funen museum experts, this Viking hall is larger than any found on Funen before.[3]

Galgedil is a Viking Age cemetery located in northern Funen. Excavations at the site revealed 54 graves containing 59 inhumations and 2 cremation burials.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kommuner på landkortet - Danmarks Statistik". Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Statistikbanken". statbank.dk. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Danish Archaeologists Stunned After Discovering a New Viking Hall". 3 July 2018.
  4. ^ Price, T. Douglas; Prangsgaard, Kirsten; Bennike, Pia; Kanstrup, Marie; Frei, Karin Margarita (November 2014). "Galgedil: Isotopic studies of a Viking cemetery on the Danish island of Funen, AD 800–1050". Danish Journal of Archaeology. 3 (2): 129–144. doi:10.1080/21662282.2015.1056634. S2CID 130026632.
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