Rakkestad

Infobox_Kommune
name=Rakkestad
idnumber=0128
county=Østfold
landscape=Smaalenene
capital=Rakkestad
governor=Peder Harlem (Sp)
governor_as_of=2007
arearank=227
area=435
arealand=421
areapercent=0.13
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=138
population=7,232
populationpercent=0.16
populationdensity=17
populationincrease=2.2
language=Bokmål
lat_deg=59| lat_min=22| lat_sec=23| lon_deg=11| lon_min=25| lon_sec=13
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6584099 |utm_easting=0637539| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.rakkestad.kommune.no

Rakkestad is a municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway. It is divided into the parishes Rakkestad, Degernes and Os.

Rakkestad was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Degernes was separated from Rakkestad as a municipality of its own January 1, 1917 - but it was again merged with Rakkestad January 1, 1964.

The municipality is the county's second largest by area and one of Norway's largest agricultural areas.

Industry

Farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Rakkestad. As a consequence the principal industries are grain growing, cattle - and dairy farming. Rakkestad has also developed a diversified economy based on agriculture and forestry such as poultry slaughterhouse and egg packing station, grain silo and mill, woodworking factories and agricultural machinery retailers. Traditional mechanical industry has developed into advanced technical industry directed towards the process -, maritime - and offshore industry.

Airport

Rakkestad has a civil airport, Rakkestad Airport, Aastorp.

Outdoor life

Rakkestad’s large areas of rolling, wooded hills offer excellent year round recreational and leisure opportunities. There are marked forest paths for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Hunting

Rakkestad municipality offers small game hunting as well as roe deer hunting in the municipal forests, which cover about 18 square kilometres. There are possibilities for farm lodging as well as cabin lodging.

Angling in Rakkestad

Landowners, angling clubs and others put much work into cultivating waters and lakes to ensure good fishing. Most lakes are limed each year, with support fróm the government. Fry and fingerlings are also re-stocked annually. Where the cultivation is carried out with governmental funding, the fishing shall be available for all, either by free fishing or through open information about fishing licence and opportunities.

In Rakkestad more than 20 species of freshwater fish are registered. Many of these species lives in the Rakkestad River. The river meanders its way along, mainly through farmland, providing excellent river fishing for pike, roach and perch.

Rakkestad is bordered to the west by River Glomma, Norway’s largest river. At Sutern in Os there is an outdoor recreation area equipped with toilet, open shelters and areas for making a campfire. You can fish for 26 different species fróm a small jetty or fróm land along the river. Fishing licence for the area can be obtained fróm self-service boxes along the river.

In the Rakkestad Hills a number of small lakes offer the angler to fish in sheltered solitude. Although the pursuit of the large trout draws a number of anglers to the lakes, you will only occasionally happen to meet fellow anglers.

Most lakes can be reached by a short walk fróm the car. Some of the forest roads are private and one has to pay a small fee in a self-service box, normally about NOK 20, -. Fishing licences can be obtained in the same place. Normal price for the fishing licence is abut NOK 40, - for 24 hours, or NOK 200, - a year.

Important to know

Right of access Everyone in Norway has a right of access to and passage through uncultivated land in the countryside, regardless of who owns it. On uncultivated land, you may go anywhere you like on foot or on skis and picnic wherever you want. You may also put up a tent for the night, but you must keep at least 150 m away fróm the nearest house or cabin. If you want to stay for more than two nights in the same place, you must ask the landowner's permission. In the mountains or other remote areas you need no permission to camp.

Linnekleppen

A visit to the fire tower on Linnekleppen is recommended. Located at the one of the highest peaks in the county (325 m) it overlooks the whole county, parts of neighbouring counties and parts of Sweden. Linnekleppen is the only fire tower still in use in Norway.

Rudskogen Motorsenter

Rudskogen Motorsenter is the oldest asphalt racing ground in Norway opened in 1990. In 2006 the government decided to make Rudskogen Motorsenter the main centre for automobile and motorcycle sport. The aim is to develop the centre to be a flexible facility where capacity can be increased and several different activities can be conducted simultaneously. In co-operation with Borg MC, Sarpsborg and Rakkestad municipalities Rudskogen Motorsenter will offer an environment for almost every series in automobile and motorcycle sport.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Rakkestad (Norse "Rakkastaðir"). The first element is the genitive case of the Norse male name (nickname) "Rakki", the last element is "staðir" 'homestead, farm'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1975). It shows blades of clover, to represent the agriculture in the municipality. The three standing clovers is meant to represent the three parishes of the municipality: Rakkestad, Degernes and Os.