Rana, Norway
Encyclopedia
Rana is the second largest municipality
in Nordland
county
– and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in Norway
south of Finnmark
(fourth largest overall), taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland
traditional region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mo i Rana
, which houses the National Library of Norway.
(Old Norse
: Raðund). The name of the river is probably derived from the word raðr which means "quick", "fast", or "rapid".
The coat-of-arms
is from modern times. They were granted on 5 March 1965. The arms symbolize the forest
s (upper part/green) and the mineral
s (lower part/gold), as there many minerals can be found in the area, especially iron ore.
The arms were originally granted to the municipality of Mo on 29 April 1960.
Rana was a part of the Terra Securities scandal
in 2007 relating to some investments that were made by the municipality.
, on the southern side of the Saltfjellet
mountains with the Svartisen
glacier
, Norway's second largest glacier. Mo is so close to the Arctic Circle that parts of the sun is continuously over the horizon (Midnight sun
) from early June to early July, and there is no darkness from mid-May to the beginning of August. The Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park
is partly located in Rana. There are many valley
s, the longest is Dunderlandsdal
. The majority of the population in the municipality lives in Mo i Rana
, where the Ranelva (river) meets the Ranfjord
. North of Mo i Rana, European route E6
passes through the urban district of Selfors
. Rana and Saltfjellet is famous for its numerous cave
s due to the limestone
rock. There are several nature reserve
s in the municipality, such as Alterhaug with several warmer-climate plants grow including the elm
. Engasjyen, the estuary
of the Rana river, has a rich bird life in the spring. Blakkådalen has old growth
spruce
forests. Fisktjørna, has a largely undisturbed mixed old growth forest with unusually rich plant life due to the extremely lime
-rich soil. There are many lakes in the municipality, both in the lowlands and in the mountains.
and Sør-Rana
in 1839. In 1844, Nord-Rana was renamed Mo and Sør-Rana was renamed Hemnes
. The village of Mo
was separated from the rural district of Mo and became a town and municipality of its own on 1 January 1923. At that time, the rural district changed its name back to Nord-Rana. On 1 January 1964, the town of Mo was again merged with Nord-Rana and the united municipality was named simply Rana.
, Karelia
, Russia
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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
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...
– and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in 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...
south of Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
(fourth largest overall), taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. The district covers an area of about , with nearly 79,000 inhabitants...
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,...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
, which houses the National Library of Norway.
General information
The municipality is named after the river RanelvaRanelva
Ranelva is a 130 km long river in the municipality of Rana, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland, Norway. The river begins on Saltfjellet, in the borders between Norway and Sweden, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv . Ranelva begins where Randalselva and 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....
: Raðund). The name of the river is probably derived from the word raðr which means "quick", "fast", or "rapid".
The coat-of-arms
Coat 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 5 March 1965. The arms symbolize the 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 (upper part/green) and the mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s (lower part/gold), as there many minerals can be found in the area, especially iron ore.
The arms were originally granted to the municipality of Mo on 29 April 1960.
Rana was a part of the Terra Securities scandal
Terra Securities scandal
The Terra Securities scandal was a scandal that became public in November 2007. It involved highly speculative investments by eight municipalities of Norway in various hedge funds in the United States bond market. The funds were sold by Terra Securities to the municipalities, while the products...
in 2007 relating to some investments that were made by the municipality.
Geography, environment and climate
The municipality is located just south of the Arctic circleArctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, on the southern side of the Saltfjellet
Saltfjellet
Saltfjellet is a mountain area in Nordland, Norway that separates the two regions of Helgeland and Salten. It is also a cultural border between the Southern and Central parts of Sápmi.-Geography and environment:...
mountains with the Svartisen
Svartisen
Svartisen is a collective term for two glaciers located in northern Norway. The system consists of two separate glaciers,* Vestre Svartisen , which is the second largest glacier on the Norwegian mainland after Jostedalsbreen* Østre Svartisen , which...
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...
, Norway's second largest glacier. Mo is so close to the Arctic Circle that parts of the sun is continuously over the horizon (Midnight sun
Midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous...
) from early June to early July, and there is no darkness from mid-May to the beginning of August. The Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park
Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park
Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is a national park in the county of Nordland in Norway. It is located within the municipalities of Beiarn, Meløy, Rana, Rødøy, Saltdal and Bodø...
is partly located in Rana. There are many 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...
s, the longest is Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdalen is a valley in Rana municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway. From just below the plateau of eastern Saltfjellet, it continues south-westward to the Ranfjord...
. The majority of the population in the municipality lives in Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
, where the Ranelva (river) meets the Ranfjord
Ranfjord
The Ranfjord is a fjord in the Helgeland district. The largest part of the fjord is in Rana municipality, Nordland county, Norway. The Ranelva meets the Ranfjord in Mo i Rana at the head of the fjord....
. North of Mo i Rana, European route E6
European route E6
European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
passes through the urban district of Selfors
Selfors
Selfors is an urban district, 4 km east of Mo i Rana, Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The European route E6 passes through the district. Selfors has been inhabited since the Iron age.-The name:...
. Rana and Saltfjellet is famous for its numerous cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s due to the limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock. There are several nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
s in the municipality, such as Alterhaug with several warmer-climate plants grow including the elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
. Engasjyen, the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the Rana river, has a rich bird life in the spring. Blakkådalen has old growth
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
forests. Fisktjørna, has a largely undisturbed mixed old growth forest with unusually rich plant life due to the extremely lime
Calcium oxide
Calcium oxide , commonly known as quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. It is a white, caustic, alkaline crystalline solid at room temperature....
-rich soil. There are many lakes in the municipality, both in the lowlands and in the mountains.
Rivers
- RanelvaRanelvaRanelva is a 130 km long river in the municipality of Rana, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland, Norway. The river begins on Saltfjellet, in the borders between Norway and Sweden, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv . Ranelva begins where Randalselva and the...
- VirvasselvaVirvasselvaVirvasselva is a river in Rana municipality in Nordland, Norway. The river flows out of the eastern part of Virvatnet. The river Boneselva meets Virvasselva in the delta area around 1 km east of the lake Virvatnet, and the brook Sørbekken also flows out of Virvatnet and meets Virvasselva...
- MessingågaMessingågaMessingåga is a 50,67 km² river which flows northwards, ending up as a contributary to Ranelva at Hjartåsen in the small village of Storvoll in Dunderlandsdal in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway....
- GrønfjellågaGrønfjellågaGrønfjellåga is a river in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river has its outlet in the lakes of kallvatnet and kopparvatnet, flows through Grønfjelldalen and absorbs several smaller rivers, before it flows out as a contributary to Ranelva at the waterfall of Dunderforsen ....
- Plura
- LangvassågaLangvassågaLangvassåga is the outlet river flowing from Langvatnet in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. It flows in a southeastern direction, and continues as a tributary to Ranelva, south of Røssvoll.Langvassåga has a catchment area of 1114 km²....
- TverrågaTverrågaTverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
- RevelelvaRevelelvaRevelelva is the native name of the lowest part of the river Tverråga, which has its outlet in Ranelva in Rana municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The river change its name at the bridge connecting European route E6 with Gruben. Before this bridge it is called Tverråga. Passing this bridge, it...
Climate
Rana is situated near the innermost part of the long Ranafjord, and the winters can be cold, especially away from the fjord. There is often a lot of snow in winter. Summer days in Rana are among the warmest in North Norway.History
The old municipality of Rana was divided into Nord-RanaNord-Rana
Nord-Rana is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre was Ytteren.It was created by a split from Mo i Rana on 1 January 1923. The new municipality had a population of 1,305....
and Sør-Rana
Sør-Rana
Sør-Rana is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway.Sør-Rana was separated from Hemnes July 1, 1929. The new municipality had a population of 1.708....
in 1839. In 1844, Nord-Rana was renamed Mo and Sør-Rana was renamed Hemnes
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen.- Municipality history :...
. The village of Mo
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
was separated from the rural district of Mo and became a town and municipality of its own on 1 January 1923. At that time, the rural district changed its name back to Nord-Rana. On 1 January 1964, the town of Mo was again merged with Nord-Rana and the united municipality was named simply Rana.
Culture
- HavmannenHavmannenHavmannen, or Havmann is a granite stone sculpture by the English artist Antony Gormley located in the city of Mo i Rana in Northern Norway. The sculpture stands proud in the "Ranfjord" in the city of Mo i Rana, which is often referred to in Norway as "Polarsirkelbyen"...
, sculptureSculptureSculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
made by Antony GormleyAntony GormleyAntony Mark David Gormley OBE RA is a British sculptor. His best known works include the Angel of the North, a public sculpture in the North of England, commissioned in 1995 and erected in February 1998, Another Place on Crosby Beach near Liverpool, and Event Horizon, a multi-part site...
(1995), part of Artscape NordlandArtscape NordlandArtscape Nordland is an international art project that aims to bring art to people where they live, art museums being few and far apart in the sparsely populated county of Nordland....
. - Havmanndagene, annual multi-cultural festival, first weekend of May.
- Nordland Teater, regional drama theatre for NordlandNordlandis 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. - VikafestivalenVikafestivalenVikafestivalen was a Norwegian pop and rock festival situated at Mo i Rana in northern Norway. It has succeeded Sjonstock, a festival arranged in the outskirts of Mo I Rana every year for 10 years until it was moved closer to the city and renamed Vikafestivalen...
, annual pop and rock music festival. - NordlandNordlandis 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 library. - National Library of Norway.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
The sister cities of Rana are: PetrozavodskPetrozavodsk
Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It stretches along the western shore of the Lake Onega for some . The city is served by Petrozavodsk Airport. Municipally, it is incorporated as Petrozavodsky Urban Okrug . Population:...
, Karelia
Karelia
Karelia , the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...