Arendal
Encyclopedia
is a town and municipality in the county
of Aust-Agder
, Norway
. Arendal belongs to the traditional region
of Sørlandet.
The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county. Other villages in the municipality include Tromøy
, Rykene
, Eydehavn
, Strengereid
, Kongshamn
, Kilsund
, and Hisøy
.
The offices of UNEP/GRID-Arendal
are located in the town of Arendal.
form of the name was probably Arnardalr. The first element is the genitive case
of ǫrn, 'eagle
' and the last element is dalr, meaning 'valley
' or 'dale'.
were granted on 7 November 1924 (based upon an older seal). The arms show a sailing ship
as a symbol for the importance of fisheries
and sailing
to the local economy. A ship appeared on the oldest known seal of the town, dating back to the 17th century. In the late 19th and early 20th century the arms showed the ship
in the upper part and a landscape with the Coat of arms of Norway
in the base of the shield
.
When Kristiansand
was founded by King Christian IV
in 1641, he granted the citizens a monopoly on all trade in Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder
. This grant, intended to subsidize Kristiansand and its fortifications, placed existing towns in a difficult position. Both towns and the peasants in the up country protested the hardships this caused. As a result, Arendal received royal permission in 1622 to continue as a loading-place for timber until a means could be found to transfer its trade to Kristiansand.
The town was given market city
privileges in 1723. However the peasants in the surrounding district, who by law were to sell their goods only at Arendal, were smuggling their goods out on cutters and selling them in Denmark
, in the Baltic
, and in Britain
.
This continued until 1735, when Arendal was granted a full town charter. This charter, combined with Danish imposition of a monopoly on grain imports, caused great poverty
and starvation among the peasants in the surrounding districts, leading to several famous rebellions.
As a result of the rebellions, the age of privileges for towns like Kristiansand and Arendal came to an apparent end in 1768 by royal proclamation
. But the problems did not end then; a farmer, Kristian Jensson Lofthus, in Vestre Moland
led a rebellion in 1786 which resulted in the government actually remedying some of the most repressive trade policies, but Lofthus died in prison. The charges against Lofthus were that he dealt in grain and other commodities to the detriment to Arendal’s privileges.
Shipping
, shipbuilding
, and timber
trade as well as mining
and ironworks
were important branches of industry in Aust-Agder county for many centuries, especially in the Arendal region. Frequent contacts with the world abroad put their mark on our culture and traditions. In 1880, it was the land's biggest port in terms of tonnage handled. At the end of the 19th century, Arendal was recognized as a major shipping centre with many wealthy shipowners. Around the turn of the twentieth century, when thousands of Norwegians sought to take advantage of the more stable economic climate of the United States by emigrating, many of those from Arendal took their economic traditions with them. In New York City and the surrounding areas, a great deal of Americans who claim Norwegian Ancestry can trace their roots to Arendal, as a great deal of Norwegian sailors, trimmers, shipbuilders and carpenters from Arendal settled in areas of New York such as Brooklyn, the Staten Island neighborhood of Port Richmond, and several industrial centers in Northern New Jersey such as Jersey City, Bayonne, Perth Amboy and Elizabeth. In 1939, it had the 4th largest Norwegian tanker fleet
; only Oslo
, Bergen
, and Stavanger
were larger.
Today the town has small boat manufacturing, mechanical industry, electronics industry as well as one of the world's largest silicon carbide
refining plants.
). On 1 January 1875, a small area with 22 inhabitants was transferred from the municipality of Arendal to the neighboring municipality of Austre Moland
and another small area with 52 residents was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Øyestad
.
On 1 January 1902, the rural municipality of Barbu (population: 6,787) was merged into the municipality of Arendal. In 1944, a small area of Moland
with a population of 21 inhabitants was transferred to Arendal. On 1 January 1992, the neighboring rural municipalities of Hisøy
(pop: 4,026), Moland
(pop: 8,148), Tromøy
(pop: 4,711), and Øyestad
(pop: 8,679) were merged into the municipality of Arendal which had a population of 12,478, bringing the total population of the new municipality of Arendal to 38,042.
In the middle of the town centre is an area with wooden houses dating back to the 17th century. This area is called Tyholmen, and is what is left of buildings from before the 19th century. The inner harbour of Arendal is Pollen, where the fish market, pubs, and restaurants are located.
Store Torungen is located on an island outside Arendal. It was constructed in 1844 and electrified in 1914. It is 34.3 metres (112.5 ft) high and contains a 2nd order lens. It is reachable by a 55 minute boat trip from the town centre. The lighthouse is still in use.
.
The institution "Canal Street - Arendal Jazz and Blues" was established in 2001, but has been arranged since 1996, at that time by the name of Arendal Jazz and Blues Festival. The popularity of the arrangement has been steadily increasing. New in 2007 is Hove Festival
located on the Island Tromøy
just outside Arendal town. It was the largest festival scene in Norway the debut year, and it has an audience capacity of up to 20,000. Another annual popular music festival is Canal Street
, a blues and rock festival first presented in 1996.
, to the northwest by Froland
, and to the northeast by Tvedestrand
.
Arendal is the type locality
of the mineral Babingtonite
, which was first described from specimens discovered here in 1824.
, was a major export port in the 17th and 18th centuries and now has a museum
, a kiosk, and several beaches. There is regular boat service from Arendal to the island every day during the summer season.
. The Arendalsbanen
railway line
runs to Nelaug
where it connects with Sørlandsbanen. The town does also have an airport, (Norwegian:), but it is mostly used by GA
, small airplanes, but in 2008 there were a jet at the airport.
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...
of Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
, 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...
. Arendal belongs to 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 Sørlandet.
The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county. Other villages in the municipality include Tromøy
Tromøy
Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway, a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, and is currently an important part of the present-day municipality of Arendal.-Location:...
, Rykene
Rykene
Rykene is a village in the municipality of Arendal in Aust-Agder, Norway. Its total population is 652, with 14 of those people living in Grimstad...
, Eydehavn
Eydehavn
Eydehavn is a village area in the municipality of Arendal in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The population of the village area is about 4,080 people. It is the former administrative centre of both Moland and Stokken municipalities. Both municipalities have since been incorporated into Arendal...
, Strengereid
Strengereid
Strengereid is a village in the municipality of Arendal in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located northeast of Eydehavn and just west of the island of Flosta....
, Kongshamn
Kongshamn
Kongshavn or Kongshamn is a community in the municipality of Arendal in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Its population is 862. Kongshavn is located on the north side of Tromøy island, across the Tromøysundet from Eydehavn. It is about east of the city of Arendal....
, Kilsund
Kilsund
Kilsund is a village in the municipality of Arendal in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located on the island Tverrdalsøya. Its population is 729. The village is located just north of Flosta island. It is about northeast of Strengereid, northeast of Eydehavn, northeast of the city of...
, and Hisøy
Hisøy
Hisøy is an island and a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Today, the island is a part of the municipality of Arendal. Hisøy is an island separated from the mainland by the river Nidelv. The village of Kolbjørnsvik is located across the harbor from the town of Arendal...
.
The offices of UNEP/GRID-Arendal
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
GRID-Arendal is an office in the United Nations Environment Programme , located in Arendal, Norway. The office is part of the UNEP/GRID network of environmental data and information centers, under the UNEP Division of early warning and assessment....
are located in the town of Arendal.
Origin of the 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 probably Arnardalr. 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 ǫrn, 'eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
' and the last element is dalr, meaning '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...
' or 'dale'.
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...
were granted on 7 November 1924 (based upon an older seal). The arms show a sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
as a symbol for the importance of fisheries
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
to the local economy. A ship appeared on the oldest known seal of the town, dating back to the 17th century. In the late 19th and early 20th century the arms showed the ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
in the upper part and a landscape with the Coat of arms of Norway
Coat of arms of Norway
The coat of arms of Norway is a crowned, golden lion rampant holding an axe with an argent blade, on a crowned, triangular and red escutcheon. Its elements originate from personal insignias for the royal house in the High Middle Ages, thus being among the oldest in Europe...
in the base of the shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
.
History
Arendal was established in the middle of the 16th century, and was then called Arendall. At that time it had no formal town status.When Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
was founded by King Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
in 1641, he granted the citizens a monopoly on all trade in Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
. This grant, intended to subsidize Kristiansand and its fortifications, placed existing towns in a difficult position. Both towns and the peasants in the up country protested the hardships this caused. As a result, Arendal received royal permission in 1622 to continue as a loading-place for timber until a means could be found to transfer its trade to Kristiansand.
The town was given market city
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
privileges in 1723. However the peasants in the surrounding district, who by law were to sell their goods only at Arendal, were smuggling their goods out on cutters and selling them in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in the Baltic
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
, and in Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
.
This continued until 1735, when Arendal was granted a full town charter. This charter, combined with Danish imposition of a monopoly on grain imports, caused great poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and starvation among the peasants in the surrounding districts, leading to several famous rebellions.
As a result of the rebellions, the age of privileges for towns like Kristiansand and Arendal came to an apparent end in 1768 by royal proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
. But the problems did not end then; a farmer, Kristian Jensson Lofthus, in Vestre Moland
Vestre Moland
Vestre Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the present-day municipality of Lillesand in the Sørlandet region. Villages in Vestre Moland include Brekkestø and Justøy...
led a rebellion in 1786 which resulted in the government actually remedying some of the most repressive trade policies, but Lofthus died in prison. The charges against Lofthus were that he dealt in grain and other commodities to the detriment to Arendal’s privileges.
Shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
, shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
, and timber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
trade as well as mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
were important branches of industry in Aust-Agder county for many centuries, especially in the Arendal region. Frequent contacts with the world abroad put their mark on our culture and traditions. In 1880, it was the land's biggest port in terms of tonnage handled. At the end of the 19th century, Arendal was recognized as a major shipping centre with many wealthy shipowners. Around the turn of the twentieth century, when thousands of Norwegians sought to take advantage of the more stable economic climate of the United States by emigrating, many of those from Arendal took their economic traditions with them. In New York City and the surrounding areas, a great deal of Americans who claim Norwegian Ancestry can trace their roots to Arendal, as a great deal of Norwegian sailors, trimmers, shipbuilders and carpenters from Arendal settled in areas of New York such as Brooklyn, the Staten Island neighborhood of Port Richmond, and several industrial centers in Northern New Jersey such as Jersey City, Bayonne, Perth Amboy and Elizabeth. In 1939, it had the 4th largest Norwegian tanker fleet
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
; only Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
were larger.
Today the town has small boat manufacturing, mechanical industry, electronics industry as well as one of the world's largest silicon carbide
Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide , also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula SiC. It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide powder has been mass-produced since 1893 for use as an abrasive...
refining plants.
Formannskapsdistrikt
The town of Arendal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). On 1 January 1875, a small area with 22 inhabitants was transferred from the municipality of Arendal to the neighboring municipality of Austre Moland
Austre Moland
Austre Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently part of the municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region of Norway. It is home to the Austre Moland church.-Name:...
and another small area with 52 residents was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Øyestad
Øyestad
Øyestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region...
.
On 1 January 1902, the rural municipality of Barbu (population: 6,787) was merged into the municipality of Arendal. In 1944, a small area of Moland
Moland
Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region. Eydehavn was the centre of the municipality, which had a population of 6,011 in 1967 and 8,148 in 1992.-Name:...
with a population of 21 inhabitants was transferred to Arendal. On 1 January 1992, the neighboring rural municipalities of Hisøy
Hisøy
Hisøy is an island and a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Today, the island is a part of the municipality of Arendal. Hisøy is an island separated from the mainland by the river Nidelv. The village of Kolbjørnsvik is located across the harbor from the town of Arendal...
(pop: 4,026), Moland
Moland
Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region. Eydehavn was the centre of the municipality, which had a population of 6,011 in 1967 and 8,148 in 1992.-Name:...
(pop: 8,148), Tromøy
Tromøy
Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway, a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, and is currently an important part of the present-day municipality of Arendal.-Location:...
(pop: 4,711), and Øyestad
Øyestad
Øyestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region...
(pop: 8,679) were merged into the municipality of Arendal which had a population of 12,478, bringing the total population of the new municipality of Arendal to 38,042.
Townscape
"Store Torungen" lighthouse
The lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
Store Torungen is located on an island outside Arendal. It was constructed in 1844 and electrified in 1914. It is 34.3 metres (112.5 ft) high and contains a 2nd order lens. It is reachable by a 55 minute boat trip from the town centre. The lighthouse is still in use.
"Lille Torungen" lighthouse
The lighthouse Lille Torungen is situated on a small island outside Arendal. The lighthouse is 28.9 metres (94.8 ft) high. Lille Torungen and Store Torungen were constructed as twin lighthouses, and both are located in the Arendal shipping laneSea lane
A sea lane or shipping lane is a regularly used route for ocean-going and Great Lakes vessels. In the time of sailing ships they were not only determined by the distribution of land masses but also the prevailing winds, whose discovery was crucial for the success of long voyages...
.
Culture
Hove Festival
The Hove Festival is a music festival held on the island Tromøy outside of Arendal in southern Norway. It was held for the first time from 26–30 June 2007. Since 2007 Hove festival has been the largest music festival in Norway....
located on the Island Tromøy
Tromøy
Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway, a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, and is currently an important part of the present-day municipality of Arendal.-Location:...
just outside Arendal town. It was the largest festival scene in Norway the debut year, and it has an audience capacity of up to 20,000. Another annual popular music festival is Canal Street
Canal Street (Arendal, Norway)
Canal Street is a yearly jazz and blues festival in Arendal, first presented in 1996.The festival is known for its use of unusual venues where interesting surroundings go hand in hand with musical experiences...
, a blues and rock festival first presented in 1996.
Geography
The municipality is bordered to the southwest by GrimstadGrimstad
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Grimstad. Other notable places in Grimstad include Eide, Fevik, Fjære, Landvik, Prestegårdskogen, Reddal, and Roresanden.It is...
, to the northwest by Froland
Froland
Froland is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Blakstad, which along with Osedalen form the main population center of the municipality....
, and to the northeast by Tvedestrand
Tvedestrand
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Tvedestrand....
.
Arendal is the type locality
Type locality (geology)
Type locality , also called type area or type locale, is the where a particular rock type, stratigraphic unit, fossil or mineral species is first identified....
of the mineral Babingtonite
Babingtonite
Babingtonite is a calcium iron manganese inosilicate mineral with the formula Ca2FeSi5O14. It is unusual in that iron completely replaces the aluminium so typical of silicate minerals. It is a very dark green to black translucent mineral crystallizing in the triclinic system with typically radial...
, which was first described from specimens discovered here in 1824.
Merdø
The island of Merdø, an island far from the coast facing the SkagerrakSkagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
, was a major export port in the 17th and 18th centuries and now has a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, a kiosk, and several beaches. There is regular boat service from Arendal to the island every day during the summer season.
Transportation
Apart from being a port town, Arendal lies immediately southeast of European route E18European route E18
European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km in length.-United Kingdom:...
. The Arendalsbanen
Arendal Line
The Arendal Line is a long railway line between Arendal and Simonstad in Norway. At Nelaug, north of Arendal, the line intersects with the Sørland Line. The southern section is electrified and provides a feeder passenger service. The line originally ran north from Arendal to Treungen and the...
railway line
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...
runs to Nelaug
Nelaug
Nelaug is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Åmli in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The population was 161. The village lies east of the Nelaug lake, which is regulated by a hydroelectric power plant...
where it connects with Sørlandsbanen. The town does also have an airport, (Norwegian:), but it is mostly used by GA
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, small airplanes, but in 2008 there were a jet at the airport.
Notable residents
- Sam EydeSam EydeSamuel Eyde was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist, the founder of Norsk Hydro and Elkem.-Biography:Sam Eyde was the son of a shipowner, and studied engineering in Berlin where he graduated in 1891. He started his career in Hamburg, working with the railways where he planned new lines, bridges...
(1866–1940), IndustrialistBusiness magnateA business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself... - Øystein GrødumØystein GrødumØystein Grødum is a Norwegian speedskater, who is a member of Arendal SK. Grødum competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics for Norway, with fourth place on 10,000 metres as his best place, and won the World Cup on long distances in 2004–05...
(1977), SpeedskaterLong track speed skatingSpeed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating... - Finn IunkerFinn IunkerFinn Iunker is a Norwegian playwright born in Arendal. He lives in Oslo.Finn Iunker made his debut as a dramatist in 1994 with The Answering Machine. He is amongst the Norwegian dramatists whose plays are most frequently staged, but mostly abroad. He was awarded the Ibsen-award in company with Liv...
(1969), PlaywrightPlaywrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder... - Karl Ove KnausgårdKarl Ove KnausgårdKarl Ove Knausgård is a Norwegian author, who has sold over 200 000 books.Born in Oslo, Knausgård was raised on Tromøya in Arendal and in Kristiansand, and studied arts and literature at the University of Bergen...
(1968), WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images.... - Bård Torstensen (1961), GuitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for heavy metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/rapHip hop musicHip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
band ClawfingerClawfingerClawfinger is a rap metal band from Sweden and was one of the earliest bands to adopt this sound. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.-Band history:...
Twin towns — sister cities
The following cities are twinned with Arendal:| City | Region | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Árborg Árborg Árborg is the biggest municipality in southern Iceland.It was formed in 1998. The population of Árborg was 7,827 . The biggest town in the municipality is Selfoss, with a population of 6,512... |
 SuðurlandSuðurland Suðurland is a region of Iceland known as "South Iceland". The population of the region was 23,311 . The biggest town in the region is Selfoss, with a population of 6000 inhabitants.- External links :**... |
Iceland |
| Kalmar Kalmar Municipality Kalmar Municipality is a municipality in Kalmar County, southeastern Sweden. The city of Kalmar is the municipal seat.The present municipality was created in 1971, when the City of Kalmar was amalgamated with five surrounding rural municipalities... |
 Kalmar CountyKalmar County Kalmar County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kronoberg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Östergötland. To the east in the Baltic Sea is the island Gotland.... |
 Sweden |
| Mwanza Mwanza Mwanza is a mid-sized port city on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania. With an urban population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan population of 2 million, it is Tanzania's second largest city, following Dar es Salaam and ahead of other major Tanzanian cities of Arusha,... |
 Mwanza RegionMwanza Region Mwanza Region is one of the regions of Tanzania. Its capital is Mwanza, which is also Tanzania's second city.The neighbouring regions are Kagera to the west, Shinyanga to the south, and Mara to the east... |
Tanzania |
| Rēzekne Rezekne In the 19th century, the population of Rēzekne was 2/3 Jewish. As a result of the Pale of Settlement many Jews settled in Latgalia and were confined to the cities. The remainder of the population included Poles, Germans, Russians, and an extreme minority of native Latgalians... |
Latgalia |  Latvia |
| Savonlinna Savonlinna Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "Newcastle".- History :... |
 Southern SavoniaSouthern Savonia Southern Savonia is a region in the south-east of Finland. It borders to the regions Northern Savonia, North Karelia, South Karelia, Kymenlaakso, Päijänne Tavastia, and Central Finland... |
 Finland |
| Silkeborg Silkeborg municipality Silkeborg municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 857 km², and has a total population of 87,371 . Its mayor is Hanne Bæk Olsen, a member of the Social Democratic party... |
 Central Denmark Region |
Denmark |
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...
- Arendal official tourist information
- Arendal tourist information from Reiselivsbasen
- UNEP/GRID-Arendal, UN Environment Programme office in Arendal
- Arendal on Google Maps
- Map of Aust-Agder including Arendal municipality
- Municipality of Arendal
- Agderposten — The leading newspaper covering Aust-Agder, with base in Arendal
- Arendal Football Club