- Rana, Norway
Infobox_Kommune
name=Rana
county=Nordland
idnumber=1833
landscape=Helgeland
capital=Mo i Rana
governor=Geir Waage (Ap)
governor_as_of=2005
arearank=4
area=4460
arealand=4206
areapercent=1.38
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=32
population=25309
populationpercent=0.55
populationdensity=6
populationincrease=1.2
language=Neutral
lat_deg=66| lat_min=22| lat_sec=19| lon_deg=14| lon_min=20| lon_sec=34
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7361554 |utm_easting=0470618| geo_cat=adm2ndmunwebpage=www.rana.kommune.no
Rana is a municipality in
Nordland county,Norway .The old municipality of Rana was divided into Mo (until 1844 named "Nord-Rana") and
Hemnes (until 1844 named "Sør-Rana") in 1839. The village of Mo (seeMo i Rana ) was separated from the rural district as a town and municipality of its own January 1, 1923 - and the rural district then changed the name back toNord-Rana . The town of Mo was again merged with Nord-Rana January 1, 1964 - and the united municipality then changed the name to "Rana".The municipality is the third most populous in the region
North Norway . By area, Rana is the largest municipality in Norway south of Finnmark, taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys.Mo i Rana houses theNational Library of Norway .The name
The district is named after the river
Ranelva (Norse "Raðund"). The name of the river is probably derived from the word "raðr" 'quick, fast, rapid'.Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1960). The colours represent the
wood s (green) and themineral s (gold) of the municipality.Geography and nature
The municipality is located just south of the
Arctic circle , on the southern side of theSaltfjellet mountains with theSvartisen glacier , Norway's second largest glacier. Mo is so close to the Arctic Circle that parts of the sun is continuously over the horizon (Midnight sun ) from early June to early July, and there is no darkness from mid-May to the beginning of August ( [http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/mo-i-rana.html ] ). TheSaltfjellet-Svartisen National Park is partly located in Rana. There are many valleys, the longest isDunderlandsdal . The majority of the population in the municipality lives inMo i Rana , where the Ranelva (river) meets theRanfjord . North of theMo i Rana ,European route E6 pass through the urban district ofSelfors . Rana and Saltfjellet is famous for its numerouscave s due to the limestone rock. There are severalnature reserve s in the municipality, such as Alterhaug with several warmth loving plants including elm ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1524#7476 ] ), Engasjyen, theestuary of the Rana river with its rich bird life in spring ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1557#7900 ] ), Blakkådalen with old growth spruce forest ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1535#7561 ] ) and Fisktjørna, with largely undisturbed mixed old growth forest with unusually rich plant life due to the extremely lime rich soil ( [http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1562#8294 ] ). There are many lakes in the municipality, both in the lowlands and in the mountains.Lakes
*
Raudvatnet Rivers
*
Ranelva
*Virvasselva
*Messingåga
*Grønfjellåga
*Plura
*Langvassåga
*Tverråga
*Revelelva Culture
*
Havmannen ,sculpture made byAntony Gormley 1995 , part ofArtscape Nordland .
* Havmanndagene, annual multi-cultural festival, first week-end of May.
* Nordland Teater, regional drama theatre forNordland County.
*Vikafestivalen , annual pop and rock music festival.
*Nordland County library.
*National Library of Norway .ister cities
The
sister cities of Rana are:
*flagicon|RussiaPetrozavodsk ,Karelia ee also
*
Andfiskvatnet External links
* [http://www.arctic-circle.no/english_index.htm Official tourist information about the Arctic Circle area (english)]
* [http://www.ranaturistforening.no/hytter.php DNT Rana: Mountain lodges in Rana] Norwegian, with pictures
* [http://www.rana.kommune.no/ Rana municipality (kommune) web pages]
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