Alvdal
Encyclopedia
Alvdal is a municipality
in Hedmark
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Østerdalen
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Alvdal.
Alvdal (along with the eastern part of Folldal
municipality) was separated from the municipality of Tynset
to become a municipality of its own in 1864. The western part of Folldal was transferred from Dovre
(in Oppland
county) to Alvdal (and Hedmark county) in 1884. Folldal was separated from the municipality of Alvdal in 1914.
The Rørosbane railway
line passes through Alvdal.
form of the name was (øfri) Elfardalr (meaning "(upper) river valley
"). The first element is the genitive case
of elfr which means "river
" (here the Glomma
river) and the last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".
Prior to 1918, the municipality was called Lille-Elvdalen ("the small Elvdalen") to distinguish it from Store Elvedalen ("the big Elvedalen") which is now called Stor-Elvdal
.
is from modern times. They were granted on 25 November 1988. The arms show the front ends of two silver ski
s on a blue background. They represent the history and importance of skiing
in the area.
(See also Skien
and Trysil
)
to the north, Rendalen
to the east and south, Stor-Elvdal
to the south, and Folldal
to the west. The highest mountain in the municipality is Storsølnkletten
at 1827 metres (5,994 ft) tall.
was born in Alvdal. The Aukrustsenteret in Alvdal is dedicated to him.
Aukrust is most famous for creating the fictional Norwegian village of Flåklypa and its cast of idiosyncratic characters.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is part of the traditional region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Alvdal.
Alvdal (along with the eastern part of Folldal
Folldal
Folldal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Dovre. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Folldal. The new municipality of Folldal was separated from Alvdal in 1914.-Name:...
municipality) was separated from the municipality of Tynset
Tynset
Tynset is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tynset.-Name:...
to become a municipality of its own in 1864. The western part of Folldal was transferred from Dovre
Dovre
Dovre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Dovre. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dovre....
(in Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
county) to Alvdal (and Hedmark county) in 1884. Folldal was separated from the municipality of Alvdal in 1914.
The Rørosbane railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
line passes through Alvdal.
Name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
form of the name was (øfri) Elfardalr (meaning "(upper) river valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
"). The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of elfr which means "river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
" (here the Glomma
Glomma
The Glomma or Glåma is the longest and largest river in Norway. The long river has a drainage basin that covers a full 13% of Norway's area, all in the southern part of Norway.-Geography:...
river) and the last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".
Prior to 1918, the municipality was called Lille-Elvdalen ("the small Elvdalen") to distinguish it from Store Elvedalen ("the big Elvedalen") which is now called Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Koppang....
.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 25 November 1988. The arms show the front ends of two silver ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
s on a blue background. They represent the history and importance of skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
in the area.
(See also Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
and Trysil
Trysil
Trysil is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Innbygda...
)
Geography
Alvdal is bordered by TynsetTynset
Tynset is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tynset.-Name:...
to the north, Rendalen
Rendalen
Rendalen is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bergset.-Name:...
to the east and south, Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal
Stor-Elvdal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Koppang....
to the south, and Folldal
Folldal
Folldal is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Dovre. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Folldal. The new municipality of Folldal was separated from Alvdal in 1914.-Name:...
to the west. The highest mountain in the municipality is Storsølnkletten
Storsølnkletten
Storsølnkletten is a prominent mountain around 20 km southwest of Alvdal centre, in Hedmark, Norway....
at 1827 metres (5,994 ft) tall.
Notable residents
Writer and humorist Kjell AukrustKjell Aukrust
Kjell Aukrust was a Norwegian author, poet and artist. He was the nephew of Olav Aukrust. He is most famous for his memoirs of his childhood in Alvdal in the books Simen, Bonden and Bror Min, and his creation of the fictional Norwegian village of Flåklypa and its cast of idiosyncratic characters...
was born in Alvdal. The Aukrustsenteret in Alvdal is dedicated to him.
Aukrust is most famous for creating the fictional Norwegian village of Flåklypa and its cast of idiosyncratic characters.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...