Gaular

Infobox_Kommune
name = Gaular
idnumber = 1430
county = Sogn og Fjordane
landscape = Sunnfjord


capital = Sande
demonym = Gaulværing
language = Nynorsk


munwebpage = www.gaular.kommune.no
governor = Jenny Følling (Sp)
governor_as_of = 2003
arearank = 187
area = 582
arealand = 539
areapercent = 0.18
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 286
population = 2,776
populationpercent = 0.06
populationdensity = 5
populationincrease = -6.6
lat_deg = 61 | lat_min = 20 | lat_sec = 2 | lon_deg = 5 | lon_min = 47 | lon_sec = 20
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6804206 | utm_easting = 0328204 | geo_cat = adm2nd

Gaular is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Sande. The Viksdalen valley is located in Gaular.

Gaular is sometimes referred to as "Fosselandet" (the land of the waterfalls) because it is home to 28 large and small waterfalls.

General information

Name

The name (Old Norse "Gaular") is derived from the rivername Gaula. The old name was revived in 1912, until then the name of the municipality was "Indre Holmedal". (See also Fjaler.)

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1992). The silver line represents the Gaula River.

Background

"Indre Holmedal" was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The original municipality was identical to the Eid parish "(prestegjeld)" with the sub-parishes "(sokn)" of Bygstad, Sande, and Vik (Viksdalen).cite web|url=http://www.sf-f.kommune.no/sff/emigration3.nsf/enduser?readform|title=Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes|date=9 Feb 2005|last=Natvik|first=Oddvar]

In 1912, the name of the municipality was changed to "Gaular".

On 1 January 1990, parts of the Hestad area were transferred from Fjaler to Gaular.cite web|first=Dag|last=Jukvam|publisher=Statistics Norway|title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen|date=1999|url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf no icon]

Churches

The Church of Norway has four churches within the municipality of Gaular. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin and the Rural Deanery "(Prosti)" of Sunnfjord.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Gaular, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.

Municipal council

The municipal council "(Kommunestyre)" of Gaular is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the party breakdown is as follows: [cite web|publisher=Statistics Norway|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/01/20/kommvalgform_en/tab-2008-01-29-15-en.html|title=Members of the local councils|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008|date=2007] Infobox_Kommunestyre
name = Gaular
start = 2007
end = 2011
Total = 21
Arbeiderpartiet = 2
Fremskrittspartiet =
Høyre = 3
Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2
Senterpartiet = 10
Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
Venstre =
Rødt =
Local_Lists = 3|

Mayor

The mayor "(ordførar)" of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Jenny Følling of the Centre Party "(Senterpartiet)" was elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. [cite web|publisher= [http://www.NRK.no NRK.no] |title=Gaular|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/val_2007_sogn_og_fjordane/1.2727311|first=Eldgrim|last=Fossheim|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008|date=17 June 2007 no icon]

Geography

Gaular is located in the central part of Sogn og Fjordane county. It is bordered to the north by the the municipalities of Askvoll and Førde, to the east by Balestrand, to the south by Høyanger, and to the west by Fjaler.

Transportation

The E39 highway runs through the centre of Sande south to Bergen, a distance of 150 km (with a ferry from Lavik to Oppedal). Førde airport is located at Bringelandsåsen in the municipality.

Attractions

The Salmon Stairs

William T. Potts from Coreen Castle in Ireland initiated the building of the stairs, which were completed in 1871, in return for an agreement made with the farmers that had 25 years of free fishing. The salmon stairs at Osen in Bygstad are the oldest in the world. The stairs consist of 17 pools/stages and has height of around 11 metres. It is very effective as the salmon are forced to make their way up the stair construction, due to the current below the falls.

National Tourist Road

Riksvei 13 (Rv13) is one of 18 national tourist roads in Norway because of the nearby waterfalls. From Førde, drivers start on a sightseeing journey with cultural attractions that date from the 19th century to the present day’s city environment. The districts of Holsen and Haukedalen are typical of Western Norwegian farming communities that have created a picturesque cultivated landscape.

Rørvik Mountain, the trail with the fascinating stone walls and a marvellous view over Haukedalen. Along Råheimsdalen and Eldalen to the Gaularfjell mountains, you will see a marvellous waterfall landscape that has been landscaped with paths for visitors. From the top of Gaularfjell mountains, hairpin bends wind down to the Vetlefjorden, an arm of the Sognefjord. The breathtaking contrasts of steep mountainsides, winding roads, and waterfalls are characteristic of Western Norway’s exceptional scenery.cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/sogn%20and%20fjordane/førde/7637a9c257ef420/index.html|title=Førde Municipality in Norway|publisher=GoNorway.no|accessdaymonth=11 August|accessyear=2008]

References