Tau, Norway

Tau
Village
View of the village
View of the village
Interactive map of Tau
Coordinates: 59°03′53″N 5°55′21″E / 59.06481°N 5.9225°E / 59.06481; 5.9225
CountryNorway
RegionWestern Norway
CountyRogaland
DistrictRyfylke
MunicipalityStrand Municipality
Area
 • Total
2.29 km2 (0.88 sq mi)
Elevation47 m (154 ft)
Population
 (2025)[1]
 • Total
3,505
 • Density1,531/km2 (3,970/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
4120 Tau

Tau[3] 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.[4] Strand Church is located in the village.

The 2.29-square-kilometre (570-acre) village has a population (2019) of 3,505 and a population density of 1,531 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,970/sq mi).[1]

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. The Ryfylke Tunnel connects Tau to the city of Stavanger nearly 20 kilometres (12 mi) away on the other side of a wide fjord.[4]

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 antennas 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".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Statistisk sentralbyrå (27 October 2025). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  2. ↑ "Tau, Strand". yr.no. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "Informasjon om stadnamn". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 Thorsnæs, Geir; Lauritzen, Per Roger, eds. (2 March 2026). "Tau". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 19 March 2026.