Bardu
Encyclopedia
Bardu is a municipality
in Troms
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Setermoen
, the largest urban area in the municipality.
Norway's largest military garrison
is located at Setermoen. The military is the municipality's largest employer and more than 1,000 young soldiers perform their duty service here each year.
Bardu was separated from the municipality of Ibestad
in 1854. The initial population of the new municipality of Bardu was 757. The municipal borders have not changed since then.
Prior to 1889, the municipality was called "Bardodalen" which meant "the valley
/dale of Bardo". From 1889 until 1908, the name was written "Bardo". Since 1909, it has been spelled "Bardu".
is from modern times. They were granted on 6 June 1980. The arms show a black wolverine
on a gold background. It was chosen as a symbol for the large forest
s and the rich wildlife
in the municipality.
and Salangen
to the west, Målselv
to the north, Narvik
(in Nordland
county) to the south, and Sweden
to the east. The Barduelva
river runs through the municipality from south to north along the Bardudalen valley. The Salangsdalen
valley is located along the western part of the municipality.
Bardu, although not far from the coast, is known for its cold winters compared to the coastal areas. This is caused by mountains usually blocking the milder, coastal air from reaching the Bardu valley. In summer, however, it is usually warmer than the coastal areas. The largest lake in the county, Altevatnet
, is located in the municipality. The smaller lake Geavdnjajávri
is located just south of Altevatnet.
performers. The most honoured are Fred Børre Lundberg
and Bjarte Engen Vik
.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
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...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Setermoen
Setermoen
Setermoen is the administrative centre of the municipality of Bardu in Troms county, Norway. Its population is 2,457. The local administration declared city status for Setermoen in 1999, but this was rejected by the government of Norway since the municipality has less than 5,000...
, the largest urban area in the municipality.
Norway's largest military garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
is located at Setermoen. The military is the municipality's largest employer and more than 1,000 young soldiers perform their duty service here each year.
General information
Ibestad
Ibestad is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is part of the Hålogaland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hamnvik. Some of the larger villages in Ibestad include Sørvika, Å, and Laupstad....
in 1854. The initial population of the new municipality of Bardu was 757. The municipal borders have not changed since then.
Name
Bardu is a Norwegianized form of the Sámi name Beardu. The meaning of the Sámi name is probably "long and steep mountain side".Prior to 1889, the municipality was called "Bardodalen" which meant "the 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...
/dale of Bardo". From 1889 until 1908, the name was written "Bardo". Since 1909, it has been spelled "Bardu".
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 6 June 1980. The arms show a black wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
on a gold background. It was chosen as a symbol for the large forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and the rich wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
in the municipality.
Geography
Bardu borders the municipalities of LavangenLavangen
Lavangen is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tennevoll. The municipality is situated around the area of the river Spansdalelva og Lavangen fjord...
and Salangen
Salangen
Salangen is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sjøvegan, where most of the people in the municipality live. The municipality is situated along the Sagfjord, and also includes some inland valleys...
to the west, Målselv
Målselv
Målselv is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moen. Some other villages include Andslimoen, Bardufoss, Alappmoen, Holmen, Fossmoen, and Heggelia...
to the north, Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
(in Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county) to the south, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
to the east. The Barduelva
Barduelva
Barduelva is a river in Troms county, Norway. It runs from the lake Altevatnet and empties into another river, the Målselva. This river is the largest source of hydroelectricity in all of Troms county....
river runs through the municipality from south to north along the Bardudalen valley. The Salangsdalen
Salangsdalen
Salangsdalen is a valley in the municipality of Bardu in Troms county, Norway. The river Salangselva flows north through the valley. The valley ends in the middle of Bardu, near the town of Setermoen....
valley is located along the western part of the municipality.
Bardu, although not far from the coast, is known for its cold winters compared to the coastal areas. This is caused by mountains usually blocking the milder, coastal air from reaching the Bardu valley. In summer, however, it is usually warmer than the coastal areas. The largest lake in the county, Altevatnet
Altevatnet
Altevatnet is Norway’s 11th largest lake, with a surface of up to 80 km². The lake is approximately 35 km long and on average some 2 km wide. It is located in Bardu municipality, and is the largest lake in Troms county. The lake is regulated. The surface lies 489 m above sea level...
, is located in the municipality. The smaller lake Geavdnjajávri
Geavdnjajávri
Geavdnjajávri is a lake in the municipality of Bardu in Troms county, Norway. It's located just from the border with Sweden. The lake has an area of and is above sea level....
is located just south of Altevatnet.
Attractions
The world's most northern zoo, Polar Zoo is located in the municipality.Notable residents
Over the years, Bardu has produced several internationally renowned Nordic combinedNordic combined
The Nordic combined is a winter sport in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping.- History :While Norwegian soldiers are known to have been competing in Nordic skiing since the 19th century, the first major competition in Nordic combined was held in 1892 in Oslo at the...
performers. The most honoured are Fred Børre Lundberg
Fred Børre Lundberg
Fred Børre Lundberg is a former Nordic combined skier from Bardu, Norway...
and Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik
Bjarte Engen Vik is a former Norwegian nordic combined athlete. He won the FIS World Cup overall twice, in 1997/98 and 1998/99 with a total of 24 wins...
.
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...