Tau, Norway

Tau
Village
View of the village View of the village
Tau Location in Rogaland county
Coordinates:
Country	Norway
Region	Western Norway
County	Rogaland
District	Ryfylke
Municipality	Strand
Area
• Total	2.11 km2 (0.81 sq mi)
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	3,158
• Density	1,497/km2 (3,880/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01:00)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02:00)
Post Code	4120 Tau

Tau is a village in Strand municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located on the shore of the Horgefjorden, a branch of the main Boknafjorden. The 2.11-square-kilometre (520-acre) village has a population (2015) of 3,158 which gives the village a population density of 1,497 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,880/sq mi). Strand Church is located in the village.

The village lies along the Norwegian National Road 13 highway, southwest of the small villages of Fiskå and Holta and northwest of the town of Jørpeland. There is currently a ferry service from Tau to the city of Stavanger, across the fjord, but this service is scheduled to end in 2019 when the new Ryfast tunnel will open for use.

Name

The name might come from the Old Norse word taufr which means 'witchcraft', since there was an ancient sacrificial field here in the Iron age.

Economy

Comrod Communications is the largest employer in Tau, mainly manufacturing antennaes for military use. Electrocompaniet is also based here. The factory Tau Mølle AS is located in Tau, producing puffed oats. The factory is located in a white mill that was used to brew the Norwegian beer known as "Tou".