Gloppen
Encyclopedia
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 Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
, 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 located in the traditional district
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 Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
. Gloppen is generally subdivided into three areas: Hyen in the west, Gloppen in the center, and Breim
Breim
Breim is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Nordfjord in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Gloppen...
in the east. Each of the areas have their own main service centres. Sandane
Sandane
Sandane is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Gloppefjord, along the highway . Sandane is south of Nordfjordeid and about west of Byrkjelo. Sandane Airport, Anda is located northwest of Sandane along...
, the administrative centre, is the largest with about 2,500 inhabitants. Other main villages include Byrkjelo
Byrkjelo
Byrkjelo is a village in the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located about halfway between the villages of Sandane and Skei along the highway . The small village of Egge is located south of Byrkjelo...
, Re, and Straume. There are also some small villages including Kandal
Kandal, Norway
Kandal is a small village located along the west side of the lake Breimsvatn, about southeast of the municipal center of Sandane in the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The population of Kandal is 87, and the village area stretches along the shore of the lake for about...
, Sjedu, and Egge
Egge, Sogn og Fjordane
Egge is a village in the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located along the highway , about south of the village of Byrkjelo, and about west of Jostedalsbreen National Park where the Myklebustbreen glacier is located. Egge is southeast of the municipal center...
.
General information
Gloppen 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...
). The original municipality was identical to the Gloppen parish
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
(prestegjeld
Prestegjeld
A Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative area of the Church of Norway roughly equivalent to a parish. A prestegjeld can consist of one or many congregations...
) including the sub-parishes (sokn) of Gimmestad, Breim
Breim
Breim is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Nordfjord in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Gloppen...
, and Vereide.
On 1 January 1886, the sub-parish of Breim (population: 1,823) was separated from Gloppen. This left Gloppen with 2,970 residents. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Breim (population: 1,731) was merged back into the municipality of Gloppen. After the merger, the population of Gloppen was 5,702. On 1 January 1965, the Hoplandsgrenda area (population: 42) was transferred to neighboring Stryn
Stryn
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn which had a population of 2,177 in 2009. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the...
municipality.
Name
The name (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....
Gloppi) was originally the name of a fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
(now Gloppefjorden). The name is probably derived from the word gloppa which means "narrow opening".
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. The arms were granted on 19 December 1986. It shows a fjord horse
Fjord horse
The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse is a relatively small but very strong horse breed from the mountainous regions of Western Antarctica. It is an agile breed of light draft horse build. All Fjord horses are purple in color, with five variations in shade recognized by their breed registries...
which are bred in the area.
- (See also the coat-of-arms for EidEid, NorwayEid is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The village of Nordfjordeid is the administrative center of the municipality. Other larger villages are Mogrenda, Stårheim, Haugen, Kjølsdalen, Heggjabygda, and LoteEid is...
, LevangerLevangerLevanger is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherred region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Levanger...
, LyngenLyngenLyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
, Nord-FronNord-FronNord-Fron is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vinstra. The old municipality of Fron was divided into Nord-Fron and Sør-Fron in 1851...
, SkedsmoSkedsmoSkedsmo is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillestrøm. About one third of the municipal population lives in Lillestrøm. Other important towns are Skedsmokorset, Skjetten and...
and SkiSkiA 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...
.)
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has six churches within the municipality of Gloppen. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
and the Rural Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
(Prosti) of Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
.
| Parish (Prestegjeld) | Sub-Parish (Sogn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloppen Parish | Breim | Breim kyrkje | 1886 | Breim Breim Breim is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Nordfjord in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Gloppen... |
| Gimmestad | Gimmestad kyrkje | 1910 | Gimmestad | |
| Gimmestad gamle kyrkje | 1690 | Gimmestad | ||
| Hyen | Hyen kyrkje | 1876 | Hyen | |
| Vereide | Sandane arbeidskyrkje | 1997 | Sandane Sandane Sandane is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Gloppefjord, along the highway . Sandane is south of Nordfjordeid and about west of Byrkjelo. Sandane Airport, Anda is located northwest of Sandane along... |
|
| Vereide kyrkje | 12th century | Vereide |
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Gloppen, are responsible for primary educationPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
(through 10th grade), outpatient health services
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, senior citizen
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
services, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and other social services
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
, economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, and municipal road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Gloppen is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the partyPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
breakdown is as follows:
Mayor
The mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Anders Ryssdal of the Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
(Senterpartiet) was re-elected mayor for the 2007–2011 term.
Geography
The municipality is located southern shores of the NordfjordNordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
. To the north is the municipality of Eid
Eid, Norway
Eid is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The village of Nordfjordeid is the administrative center of the municipality. Other larger villages are Mogrenda, Stårheim, Haugen, Kjølsdalen, Heggjabygda, and LoteEid is...
, to the east is Stryn
Stryn
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn which had a population of 2,177 in 2009. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the...
, to the south is Naustdal
Naustdal
Naustdal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Naustdal, which has 1,072 inhabitants . Other villages in Naustdal include Vevring and Helle.Tourists come from all over the...
and Jølster
Jølster
Jølster is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Skei...
, and to the west is Flora
Flora, Norway
Flora is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Florø, which was founded in 1860, has 8,448 inhabitants . The Eikefjord area, which is the second largest place in Flora, has about...
and Bremanger
Bremanger
Bremanger is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Bremanger is the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, which is located in two districts. The north-eastern parts comprising Oldeide, Berle, Rugsund, Davik, Isane and Ålfoten is located in Nordfjord, while Bremanger, Kalvåg,...
.
Gloppen has a natural landscape with virtually unspoiled nature ranging from sea level up to high-alpine mountains of some 1800 metres (5,905.5 ft) height. Snønipa is the highest mountain in the municipality and is located at the Myklebustbreen
Myklebustbreen
Myklebustbreen, or Snønipbreen, is the seventh largest glacier in mainland Norway. It is located in the municipalities of Jølster, Gloppen, and Stryn in Sogn og Fjordane county...
glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
. The lakes Breimsvatn
Breimsvatn
Breimsvatn is a lake in the municipalities of Gloppen and Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. At , it is the largest lake in Gloppen . The highway runs along the north end of the lake, connecting the two nearby areas of Sandane and Byrkjelo...
and Emhjellevatnet
Emhjellevatnet
Emhjellevatnet is a lake in Hyen area of the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The lake is located in the western part of the municipality near the border with Flora. It is about southwest of the municipal center of Sandane...
are, respectively, the first and second largest lakes in Gloppen.
Economy
The dominant trades and industries in Gloppen are agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and farming. The municipal centre Sandane is also home to a college of secondary education and, until 2005, a branch of Sogn og Fjordane University College
Sogn og Fjordane University College
Sogn og Fjordane University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. The university college's campuses are located in Sogndal, Førde and Sandane...
which specialized in music therapy. The Firda Upper Secondary School
Firda Upper Secondary School
Firda Upper Secondary School is a school located in the town of Sandane in the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The highway passes just north of the school....
is located in Sandane
Sandane
Sandane is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Gloppefjord, along the highway . Sandane is south of Nordfjordeid and about west of Byrkjelo. Sandane Airport, Anda is located northwest of Sandane along...
.
Karnilshaugen
Gloppen is the site of Karnils tumulusTumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
burial mound from the Old Norse
Old 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....
word haugr meaning mound or barrow. Karnilshaugen or Tinghaugen på Hauge is located on the Hauge farm west of Sandane
Sandane
Sandane is the administrative centre of the municipality of Gloppen in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Gloppefjord, along the highway . Sandane is south of Nordfjordeid and about west of Byrkjelo. Sandane Airport, Anda is located northwest of Sandane along...
. Karnilshaugen is probably one of the ten largest mounds in Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
. The burial mound was built on top of Tinghaug, the site of a Thing (assembly)
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
. Tinghaug was a place of public gathering, for cultural events and religious actions.