Norway is divided into a number of traditional districts. Districts are a type of Administrative division, in some countries managed by a Local government. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. ||-||} Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties ( Norwegian: singular fylke, plural fylker ( Bokmål ||} Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions called counties ( fylker, singular fylke) and 430 municipalities ( kommuner, cf The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords, plains, or coastlines, or combinations of the above. In Geology, a valley (also called a vale, dale, glen or strath and near or in Appalachia, a draw) is A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys A fjord or fiord (fjɔːd|fiːɔːd or fiːɔːd is a long narrow Inlet with steep sides created in a valley carved by glacial activity. Many such regions were petty kingdoms up to the early Viking age. A petty kingdom is an independent realm recognizing no suzerain and controlling only a portion of the territory held by a particular ethnic group or nation Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 700 to 1066 in European history.
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Regional identity
A high percentage of Norwegians identify themselves more by the district they live in or come from, than the formal administrative unit(s) whose jurisdiction they fall under. A significant reason for this is that the districts, through their strong geographical limits, have traditionally delineated the region(s) within which one could travel without too much trouble or expenditure of time and money (here we're talking of traveling on foot or skis, by horse/ox-drawn cart or sleigh or dog sled, or by one's own small rowing or sail boat). A ski is a long flat device worn on the feet designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow A sled, sledge or sleigh is a Vehicle with runners for sliding instead of wheels for rolling A dog sled is a Sled pulled by one or more Sled dogs used to travel over Ice and through Snow. With regard to Watercraft, rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of Oars in the water Thus, dialects and regional commonality in folk culture tended to correspond to those same geographical units, despite any division into administrative districts by authorities. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of Folk culture refers to the localized Lifestyle of a Culture. It is usually handed down through Oral tradition, relates to a sense of Community
In modern times the whole country has become more closely connected, based on the following:
- Communication technologies such as telegraph, newspapers, telephone, radio and TV. In particular Televerket and NRK. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation ( Norwegian: Norsk rikskringkasting AS) which is usually known as the NRK, is the Norwegian
- The construction of mountain crossings, tunnels through mountains, bridges, undersea tunnels; many of these projects, particularly the larger bridges and the undersea tunnels, were undertaken as late as the 1970s forward. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.
- Establishing a coastal express route of combined passenger and cargo ships, like the Hurtigruten, sailing regularly from Bergen to Kirkenes and back again, and stopping by at a host of cities and towns along the western and northern coast. Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta (literally "Express Route" but sometimes referred to as Norwegian Coastal Express in English is a Norwegian Passenger is the second largest city in Norway. It is located on the south-western coast of Norway in the county of Hordaland in between a group of mountains known as De syv fjell ( Finnish: Kirkkoniemi, Sámi: Girkonjárga) is the centre of the municipality of Sør-Varanger in Finnmark county Norway
- The construction of railroads between distant parts of the country. The Norwegian railway system comprises 4087 km of Standard gauge (1435 mm track of which 2622 km is electrified and 219 km Double track
- The opening of dozens of new airports all over the country through the 1960s and 70s.
- The release of private cars from government rationing and import restrictions from the 1950s onwards. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive
A concrete display of the Norwegian habit of identifying themselves by district can be seen in the many regional costumes, called bunad, strictly connected to distinct districts across the country. A bunad is a traditional Norwegian Costume, typically of rural origin Commonly, even city dwellers proudly mark their rural origins by wearing such a costume, from their ancestral landscape, at weddings, visits with members of the royal family, constitution day (May 17th), and other ceremonial occasions. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason.
List of traditional districts
The following list is non-exhaustive and partially overlapping.
The first name is the name in Bokmål, the second Nynorsk. Bokmål (lit "book language" or Dano-Norwegian is the most commonly used of the two official Norwegian written Standard languages the other Nynorsk (literally "New Norwegian" is one of the two official Norwegian Standard languages the other being Bokmål.
Nord-Norge / Nord-Noreg (North Norway)
See also Finnmark, Hålogaland and Troms. North Norway ( Norwegian: Nord-Norge ( Bokmål) or Nord-Noreg ( Nynorsk) is the geographical region of northern This article is about the landscape in Norway For the article about the island Helgoland in Germany see Helgoland. Lofoten is an Archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Ofoten is a district in North Norway, consisting of the municipalities Tysfjord, Ballangen, Evenes, Tjeldsund, Narvik Salten is a district in Nordland in North Norway, consisting of the municipalities Meløy, Gildeskål, Bodø, Beiarn Vesterålen is a district in the county Nordland in Norway, just north of Lofoten. or Finnmárku ( Sami language) is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. Hålogaland was the northernmost of the Norwegian provinces in the mediaeval Norse sagas. or Romsa ( Sami language) is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest
Sørlandet (Southlands)
Trøndelag
Vestlandet (Westlands)
- Dalane
- Hardanger
- Haugalandet
- Jæren
- Midhordland
- Nordfjord
- Nordhordland
- Nordmøre
- Romsdal
- Ryfylke
- Sogn
- Sunnfjord
- Sunnhordland
- Sunnmøre
- Voss
Østlandet / Austlandet (Eastlands)
- Eiker
- Follo
- Grenland
- Gudbrandsdalen
- Hadeland
- Hallingdal
- Hedemarken
- Land
- Midt-Telemark
- Numedal
- Odalen
- Ringerike
- Romerike
- Solør
- Toten
- Valdres
- Vestfold
- Vest-Telemark
- Vinger
- Østerdalen
- Østfold
- Øst-Telemark
See also Glåmdal, Viken and Vingulmark. Southern Norway ( Norwegian: Sørlandet) (lit "southern land" is the name of the geographical region ( landsdel) of the Skagerrak Agder is a historical district of Norway in the southernmost region of Norway, corresponding to the two counties ( fylker) Vest-Agder Setesdal (older name Sætersdal) is a Valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County ( fylke) in Southern Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. Fosen is a traditional district in Trøndelag, consisting of the municipalities Osen, Roan, Åfjord, Bjugn, Ørland The Fosna/Hensbacka (ca8300 BC - 7300 BCor (12000 calBP-10500 cal Gauldalen ( the valley of Gaula) is a traditional district in Trøndelag, Norway, consisting of the municipalities Holtålen Innherred (also spelled Innherad is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities of Levanger, Frosta Innherred (also spelled Innherad is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities of Levanger, Frosta Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Orkdalen ('the valley of Orkla ' is a traditional Norwegian district in Trøndelag, consisting of the municipalities of Rennebu, Meldal Stjørdalen is a traditional district in the Trøndelag region of Norway, consisting of the municipalities of Stjørdal and Meråker Western Norway ( Norwegian: Vestlandet) is the region along the Atlantic coast of southern Norway. Dalane is a traditional district in the south-western part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Lund, Sokndal, Eigersund and Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the Hardangerfjord. Haugaland is a traditional district in southwestern Norway, consisting of town of Haugesund and the areas around it where Haugesund is considered the cultural Jæren is a traditional district stretching across some 65 kilometers on the southwestern coast of Norway. Midhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the central portion of the county of Hordaland. Nordfjord ( the northern fjord - in contrast to Sunnfjord) is a Fjord and a traditional district in the county of Sogn og Fjordane Nordhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the northern portion of the county of Hordaland. Nordmøre (North- Møre) is a traditional district in the Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Romsdal is the name of a Valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal. Ryfylke is a traditional district in Norway, located northeast of Stavanger and east of Haugesund. Community in Sogn Norwayjpeg|right|200px|thumb|Shore community in Sogn Norway]] Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway (Vestlandet. Sunnfjord ( Norwegian: "the southern fjord" - in contrast to Nordfjord) is a traditional district in western Norway located in the Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the southern coastal regions of the county Hordaland, from the mouth Sunnmøre ("South- Møre " in Norwegian) is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county ( fylke) is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss Eastern Norway ( Norwegian: Østlandet ( Bokmål) or Austlandet ( Nynorsk) is the geographical region of the south-eastern Eastern Norway ( Norwegian: Østlandet ( Bokmål) or Austlandet ( Nynorsk) is the geographical region of the south-eastern Eiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud, Norway, consisting of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Follo is one of three districts in the County of Akershus, Norway. Grenland is a traditional district in the county of Telemark, in the south of Norway. Gudbrandsdalen is a Valley and traditional district in the Norwegian Fylke (county of Oppland. Hadeland is a traditional district in the south-eastern part of Norway. Hallingdal is a Valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. Hedmarken (since 2003 the official spelling decided by Klagenemnda for stedsnavnssaker) but also called Hedemarken) is a traditional district in the county Land is a traditional district in Oppland, Norway consisting of the municipalities Nordre Land and Søndre Land. Midt-Telemark is a traditional district of Norway situated in the middle of Telemark county Numedal is a Traditional district in south-eastern Norway. Numedal running mainly north-to-south extends from Kongsberg in the south to Rødberg Odal is a traditional district in the county of Hedmark in eastern Norway. Ringerike is a municipality in the county of Buskerud, Norway Romerike is a traditional district located north-east of Oslo, in what is today south-eastern Norway. Solør is a Norwegian traditional district consisting of the Glomma valley between Elverum in the north and Kongsvinger in the Toten is a traditional district in Oppland county in the eastern part of Norway. Valdres is a traditional district in central southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal. is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg. The Vest-Telemark traditional district of Norway comprises the upper and western areas of the county of Telemark. Vinger is a traditional district and a former municipality in Hedmark, Norway. Østerdalen or Østerdal is a valley and traditional district in the eastern part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden ( Västra Götaland County and Värmland) while Øst-Telemark is a traditional district in the county of Telemark in Norway. Glåmdalen is a traditional district in Hedmark County in eastern Norway. Viken (the bay or the wick) is a historical district surrounding the Oslofjord in southeastern Norway. Vingulmark is the old name for the area which today makes up the counties of Østfold, western parts of Akershus (excluding Romerike) and eastern parts
See also
- Lists of unofficial regions by country
- Regions of Norway
- Counties of Norway
- Metropolitan regions of Norway
- Subdivisions of Norden
- Traditional districts of Denmark
External links
- Districts of Norway in 1950 (RTF) – From the documentation project at the University of Oslo
- Regionalization and devolution: Proposed new regions of Norway (powerpoint slide show)
- Map showing regions of Medieval Norway
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