Sirdal

Infobox_Kommune
name = Sirdal
idnumber = 1046
county = Vest-Agder
landscape = Sørlandet
capital = Tonstad
demonym = Sirdøl
language = Neutral


munwebpage = www.sirdal.kommune.no
governor = Thor Jørgen Tjørhom (Sp)
governor_as_of = 2007
arearank = 46
area = 1555
arealand = 1375
areapercent = 0.48
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 352
population = 1,766
populationpercent = 0.04
populationdensity = 1
populationincrease = 2.1
lat_deg = 58 | lat_min = 51 | lat_sec = 43 | lon_deg = 6 | lon_min = 48 | lon_sec = 48
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6526760 | utm_easting = 0373888 | geo_cat = adm2nd

Sirdal is a municipality in the 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.

General information

Name

The Old Norse 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"). see also|Utsira

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms 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. [cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/s/sirdal.htm|author=Norske Kommunevåpen|date=1990|title=Nye kommunevåbener i Norden|accessdaymonth=27 September|accessyear=2008] See also|Lierne|Holtålen

Geography

Lying inland, Sirdal borders on Aust-Agder 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.

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 meters above sea level. [cite book|title=Adventure Roads in Norway|first=Erling|last=Welle-Strand|publisher=Nortrabooks|date=1996|isbn=82-90103-71-9]

Economy

The main source of income for Sirdal is the [http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sira-Kvina_Kraftselskap Sira-Kvina Power Company] .

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 resorts 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.cite book|title=South Norway|first=Frank Noel|last=Stagg|publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.|date=1958]

History

From the oldest times the district was divided by the river Sira 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 waterfalls 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.

Famous residents

Among notable persons from Sirdal is World Cup woman biathlete Linda Grubben.

References

External links

* [http://kart.norge.no/default.asp?st=fylker&coordType=img&command=&geObjecType=auto_point&geObject=&mapWidth=375&mapHeight=375&zoomWidthValue=&zoomFactor=8&mapExtent=-8405%2C6513760%2C66835%2C6589000&mapType=2 Map of Sirdal]
* [http://www.olavsrosa.no/en/objektinfo.aspx?id=27080 Sirdal Mountain Museum]
* [http://www.sirdalfjellmuseum.no Sirdal Mountain Museum, Official Website]
* [http://www.sirdalsnett.com SirdalsNett - All you need to know about Sirdal]
* [http://www.sirdalsferie.com Sirdalsferie - Information for tourists]
* [http://www.sirdal.kommune.no Sirdal kommune]
* [http://www.stavanger-guide.com/sirdal/map_english.pdf To & From Sirdal Transport Map]