Medelpad
Encyclopedia
is a historical province
or landskap in the north of Sweden
. It borders to Hälsingland
, Härjedalen
, Jämtland
, Ångermanland
and the Gulf of Bothnia
.
The province is a part of Norrland
and as such considered to be Northern Sweden, although the province geographically is located in the middle of Sweden. It is a common misconception that name "Medelpad" ("middle land" or "middle ground") reflects this, but the name actually refers to the fact that most of the province lies between its two rivers Ljungan
and Indalsälven
.
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Medelpad the province roughly comprises the southern part of the administrative county
, län, Västernorrland County
.
There are also two major rivers that surround the province: Ljungan
and Indalsälven
.
was Sundsvall
, which was granted the privilege in 1624. Sundsvall is still the largest city of the province, with some 50,000 inhabitants. In total, the population of Medelpad is circa 120,000.
, called the "High Coast", has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
. The land still rises at the rate of about one centimetre per year, called land elevation process. This is an effect of the last ice age
that, in this area, ended in the 7th millennium BC.
is the provincial animal, but the Skvader
, a fictional animal, was popular in the 1987 unofficial referendum to select the provincial animal.
and includes clubs such as Ljustorps IF
.
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
or landskap in the north of 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....
. It borders to Hälsingland
Hälsingland
' is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. It borders to Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and to the Gulf of Bothnia...
, Härjedalen
Härjedalen
' is a historical province or landskap in the centre of Sweden. It borders the country of Norway as well as the provinces of Dalarna, Hälsingland, Medelpad, and Jämtland...
, Jämtland
Jämtland
Jämtland or Jamtland is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden in northern Europe. It borders to Härjedalen and Medelpad in the south, Ångermanland in the east, Lapland in the north and Trøndelag and Norway in the west...
, Ångermanland
Ångermanland
' is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders to Medelpad, Jämtland, Lapland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. The name "Ångermanland" comes from the Old Norse "anger", which means "deep fjord" and refers to the deep mouth of the river Ångermanälven...
and the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
.
The province is a part of Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
and as such considered to be Northern Sweden, although the province geographically is located in the middle of Sweden. It is a common misconception that name "Medelpad" ("middle land" or "middle ground") reflects this, but the name actually refers to the fact that most of the province lies between its two rivers Ljungan
Ljungan
Ljungan is a 322 kilometer long river in Sweden. It originates near Trondheim and the Norwegian border. The river runs through the Swedish counties of Jämtland and Västernorrland...
and Indalsälven
Indalsälven
Indalsälven is one of Sweden's longest rivers with a total length of 430 kilometers. Among its tributaries are Kallströmmen, Långan, Hårkan and Ammerån. A total of 26 hydropower plants are placed along its course, making it the third most power producing river of Sweden.-References:...
.
Administration
The traditional provinces of SwedenProvinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Medelpad the province roughly comprises the southern part of the administrative county
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
, län, Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
.
Heraldry
The arms of Medelpad symbolises the land between the two rivers Ljungan and Indalsälven. As with other Swedish provinces the arms can be represented showing a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Four times parted per fess wavy, Azure, Argent, Gules, Argent and Azure."Geography
The province is situated at an average altitude of 200-300 meters above sea level. The highest mountains are no more than 500 meters high -- the tallest is Myckelmyrberget with 577 meters. Of the total area, circa 500 km² is water. The largest lake is Holmsjön, located at 200 meters elevation, followed by Leringen, at a similar elevation.There are also two major rivers that surround the province: Ljungan
Ljungan
Ljungan is a 322 kilometer long river in Sweden. It originates near Trondheim and the Norwegian border. The river runs through the Swedish counties of Jämtland and Västernorrland...
and Indalsälven
Indalsälven
Indalsälven is one of Sweden's longest rivers with a total length of 430 kilometers. Among its tributaries are Kallströmmen, Långan, Hårkan and Ammerån. A total of 26 hydropower plants are placed along its course, making it the third most power producing river of Sweden.-References:...
.
History
The only town with the historical city status in SwedenCity status in Sweden
Stad is a Swedish term which nominally means town but can also encompass the English word "city". Since 1971 stad has had no administrative or legal significance in Sweden and there exists no commonly accepted definition of the term.-History :...
was Sundsvall
Sundsvall
-External links:* - Official site from Nordisk Familjebok - Sundsvalls tourist information bureau. - The alternative guide to Sundsvall. - Blog with photos from Sundsvall....
, which was granted the privilege in 1624. Sundsvall is still the largest city of the province, with some 50,000 inhabitants. In total, the population of Medelpad is circa 120,000.
Districts
- Indal Court District
- Ljustorp Court District
- Njurunda Court District
- Selånger Court District
- Skön Court District
- Torp Court District
- Tuna Court District
Notability
The coast line on the Gulf of BothniaGulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
, called the "High Coast", has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. The land still rises at the rate of about one centimetre per year, called land elevation process. This is an effect of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
that, in this area, ended in the 7th millennium BC.
Culture
The Mountain HareMountain Hare
The Mountain Hare , also known as Blue Hare, Tundra Hare, Variable Hare, White Hare, Alpine Hare and Irish Hare, is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. It is distributed from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia; in addition there are isolated populations in the Alps,...
is the provincial animal, but the Skvader
Skvader
The skvader is a Swedish fictional creature that was constructed in 1918 by the taxidermist Rudolf Granberg and is permanently displayed at the museum at Norra Berget in Sundsvall. It has the forequarters and hindlegs of a hare , and the back, wings and tail of a female wood grouse...
, a fictional animal, was popular in the 1987 unofficial referendum to select the provincial animal.
Sports
Football in the province is administered by Medelpads FotbollförbundMedelpads Fotbollförbund
The Medelpads Fotbollförbund is one of the 24 district organisations of the Swedish Football Association. It administers lower tier football in the historical province of Medelpad in Norrland.- Background :...
and includes clubs such as Ljustorps IF
Ljustorps IF
Ljustorps IF is a Swedish football club located in Ljustorp. -Background:Ljustorps IF currently plays in Division 4 Medelpad which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Ljustorps IP in Ljustorp....
.
External links
- Mid Sweden - Official tourist site for Medelpad & Ångermanland