Sirdal
Encyclopedia
Sirdal is a municipality
in Vest-Agder
county
, Norway
. Sirdal was separated from Bakke
in 1849. Sirdal was divided into Tonstad
and Øvre Sirdal
on 1 January 1905, but these were again merged to recreate Sirdal on 1 January 1960.
It is the northernmost valley in Vest-Agder. At the north end of its long narrow lake, Siredalsvatn, lies the administrative center of the municipality in the village of Tonstad
. Bjørnestad
is another village lying in Sirdal.
form of the name was Sírudalr. The first element is the genitive case
of the river name Síra and the last element is dalr which means "valley
" or "dale". The meaning of the rivername is unknown (maybe "strong stream").
is from modern times. They were granted on 17 January 1986. The arms show three grouse (Lagopus lagopus) as a symbol for the hills and moors, which make up the largest part of the municipality. The grouse is a typical bird for the area.
county to the north east and Rogaland
to the west. To the south it borders on the municipality of Flekkefjord
and to the east on Kvinesdal
. Sirdal is the largest area municipality in Vest-Agder
. Lakes in the region include Gravatnet
.
In 1990, the mountain road opened between Sirdal via the Suleskard mountain pass and eastwards over to neighboring Brokke
in Setesdal
. It shortens the distance from Oslo
to Stavanger
by 110 km in the summer, and passes through barren, glacier
scoured highland and by Rosskreppfjorden
as it ascends to over 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft) above sea level.
Tourism
is also an important source of income for the Sirdal economy, taking advantage of the extensive mountains, mountainous plateaus, lakes and the great views. There are multiple alpine resorts and hotels in the valley, as well as cottages and camp spots. Winter activities include six ski resort
s for winter enjoyment. Downhill ski areas include Bjørnestad
Ski Centre, Ålsheia
Ski Centre, Sirdal Alpine Centre, Fidjeland Ski Centre, and Ådneram Ski lift. Cross-country skiers
can enjoy dozens of trails over spectacular terrain. Summer activities include hiking
, horseback riding
, and river rafting
.
between the counties Rogaland
and Vest-Agder
. (Even though is was established as one parish in Christian times.)
In 1837 it was decided that every parish
should be a municipality, but that any municipality should belong to just one county. Sirdal was therefore first divided in two municipalities. This was a bad decision because they had very few inhabitants separately. A new solution was found in 1839 when the two municipalities were re-joined together, and the county border was altered in the favour of Vest-Agder.
Tonstad church was built in 1852.
At Kvæven, in northern Sirdalen one finds the Sirdal Mountain Museum. This museum has a collection of old Sirdal buildings. Former lifestyles are visible in the farmhouse, a schoolhouse, stable, blacksmith
's shop, barn and mountain farm cottage as well as original equipment.
The waterfall
s in the Sira river
is utilized in 4 power stations owned by Sira-Kvina power company. The company also owns 3 power stations in the Kvina river system, hence the company's name. Total annual production is 6000 GWh, total installation is 1760 MW.
The largest power station, Tonstad
, was inarguated in 1968, with 2 units each 160 MW. The power station has now 4 units each 160 MW and one unit 320 MW, total 960 MW. Total annual production in this station is approximately 4000 GWh, which makes Tonstad the largest power station in Norway
in terms of production.
Sira-Kvina power company applied in 2007 for consession to expand the power station with two new units (reversible turbines), each 480 MW. Consession is pending.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in 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...
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...
. Sirdal was separated from Bakke
Bakke, Norway
Bakke is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located along the eastern shore of Lundevatn along the Rogaland county border.-History:...
in 1849. Sirdal was divided into Tonstad
Tonstad
Tonstad is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sirdal in Vest-Agder, Norway. In 2005, its population was 751. It is also a former municipality that is located along the Sirdalsvatnet in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal....
and Øvre Sirdal
Øvre Sirdal
Øvre Sirdal is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal.-Name:...
on 1 January 1905, but these were again merged to recreate Sirdal on 1 January 1960.
It is the northernmost valley in Vest-Agder. At the north end of its long narrow lake, Siredalsvatn, lies the administrative center of the municipality in the village of Tonstad
Tonstad
Tonstad is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sirdal in Vest-Agder, Norway. In 2005, its population was 751. It is also a former municipality that is located along the Sirdalsvatnet in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal....
. Bjørnestad
Bjørnestad
Bjørnestad is a small village in the municipality of Sirdal, Norway. It is known for the skiing resort Bjørnestad Skisenter.-The ski resort of Bjørnestad Skisenter:...
is another village lying in Sirdal.
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 Sírudalr. 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 the river name Síra and the last element is dalr which means "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". The meaning of the rivername is unknown (maybe "strong stream").
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 17 January 1986. The arms show three grouse (Lagopus lagopus) as a symbol for the hills and moors, which make up the largest part of the municipality. The grouse is a typical bird for the area.
Geography
Lying inland, Sirdal borders on Aust-AgderAust-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....
county to the north east and Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
to the west. To the south it borders on the municipality of Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
and to the east on Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal is a municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.Kvinesdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Feda was separated from Kvinesdal on 1 January 1900 but again merged with Kvinesdal on 1 January 1963. Fjotland was also merged with Kvinesdal on that date...
. Sirdal is the largest area municipality in 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...
. Lakes in the region include Gravatnet
Gravatnet
Gravatnet is a lake in the municipality of Sirdal in Vest-Agder county, Norway....
.
In 1990, the mountain road opened between Sirdal via the Suleskard mountain pass and eastwards over to neighboring Brokke
Brokke
Brokke is a village in Aust-Agder, Norway....
in Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
. It shortens the distance from 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...
to 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...
by 110 km in the summer, and passes through barren, 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...
scoured highland and by Rosskreppfjorden
Rosskreppfjorden
Rosskreppfjorden is a lake on the border between the municipalities of Valle and Sirdal , Norway. The lake is part of the Kvina river system and has a hydroelectric power plant in a dam on the south end of the lake. The lake has an area of and sits at an elevation of about above sea level.The...
as it ascends to over 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft) above sea level.
Economy
The main source of income for Sirdal is the Sira-Kvina Power Company.Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is also an important source of income for the Sirdal economy, taking advantage of the extensive mountains, mountainous plateaus, lakes and the great views. There are multiple alpine resorts and hotels in the valley, as well as cottages and camp spots. Winter activities include six ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
s for winter enjoyment. Downhill ski areas include Bjørnestad
Bjørnestad
Bjørnestad is a small village in the municipality of Sirdal, Norway. It is known for the skiing resort Bjørnestad Skisenter.-The ski resort of Bjørnestad Skisenter:...
Ski Centre, Ålsheia
Ålsheia
Ålsheia is the biggest ski area in Sirdal, Norway, and is about 40 km from Tonstad.-Facilities:It has skiing for all abilities from pro to amateur. It has 2 T-bar lifts, 4 button lifts, and one belt lift. They have 2 parks, one halfpipe and tre cornes....
Ski Centre, Sirdal Alpine Centre, Fidjeland Ski Centre, and Ådneram Ski lift. Cross-country skiers
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
can enjoy dozens of trails over spectacular terrain. Summer activities include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, horseback riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, and river rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
.
History
From the oldest times the district was divided by the river SiraSira
The sīrat rasūl allāh or al-sīra al-nabawiyya or just al-sīra, is the Arabic term used for the various traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad from which, in addition to the Qur'an and Hadith, most historical information about his life and the early period of Islam is derived.-Etymology:In the...
between the counties Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
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...
. (Even though is was established as one parish in Christian times.)
In 1837 it was decided that every parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
should be a municipality, but that any municipality should belong to just one county. Sirdal was therefore first divided in two municipalities. This was a bad decision because they had very few inhabitants separately. A new solution was found in 1839 when the two municipalities were re-joined together, and the county border was altered in the favour of Vest-Agder.
Tonstad church was built in 1852.
At Kvæven, in northern Sirdalen one finds the Sirdal Mountain Museum. This museum has a collection of old Sirdal buildings. Former lifestyles are visible in the farmhouse, a schoolhouse, stable, blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's shop, barn and mountain farm cottage as well as original equipment.
The waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in the Sira river
Sira River
Sira River flows in Norway. It flows through the village Sira in Vest-Agder....
is utilized in 4 power stations owned by Sira-Kvina power company. The company also owns 3 power stations in the Kvina river system, hence the company's name. Total annual production is 6000 GWh, total installation is 1760 MW.
The largest power station, Tonstad
Tonstad
Tonstad is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sirdal in Vest-Agder, Norway. In 2005, its population was 751. It is also a former municipality that is located along the Sirdalsvatnet in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal....
, was inarguated in 1968, with 2 units each 160 MW. The power station has now 4 units each 160 MW and one unit 320 MW, total 960 MW. Total annual production in this station is approximately 4000 GWh, which makes Tonstad the largest power station 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...
in terms of production.
Sira-Kvina power company applied in 2007 for consession to expand the power station with two new units (reversible turbines), each 480 MW. Consession is pending.
Famous residents
Notable persons from Sirdal include:- Female World CupBiathlon World CupThe Biathlon World Cup has been held since the winter seasons of 1977/78 and 1982/83, for men and women, respectively ....
biathleteBiathlonBiathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
Linda GrubbenLinda GrubbenLinda Grubben is a retired Norwegian biathlete.She won a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in the 4x 7.5 km relay, while winning the gold medal at the Biathlon World Championship 2004 in Oberhof, 2004... - Boxer and former strongman Arild HaugenArild HaugenArild "Hulk" Haugen is a strongman and professional boxer from Sirdal, Norway. He currently lives in Sandnes, Rogaland.Haugen stands tall and weighs approximately . He is capable of squatting , a deadlift of , and a bench press of...
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...
- Map of Sirdal
- Sirdal Mountain Museum
- Sirdal Mountain Museum, Official Website
- SirdalsNett - All you need to know about Sirdal
- Sirdalsferie - Information for tourists
- Sirdal kommune
- To & From Sirdal Transport Map