HAUGESUND, a seaport of Norway in Stavanger amt (county), on the west, coast, 34m. N. by W. of Stavanger. Pop. (1931) 17,217. It is an important fishing centre, particularly for herrings which form the chief export. Mackerel and lobsters are also important. The principal imports are coal and salt. There are factories for woollen goods and margarine, and a small shipbuilding industry. The town is difficult of access by land. Haugesund is the reputed death-place of Harald Haarfager, to whom an obelisk of red granite was erected in 1872 on the thousandth anniversary of his victory at the Haf sf jord (near Stavanger) whereby he won the sovereignty of Norway. The memorial stands 1 gym. N. of the town, on the Haraldshaug.