Bifrost, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Bifrost is a rural municipality
located in the Interlake Region
of Manitoba
, Canada
. The municipality lies on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg
and has a population of about 2,750 people. Its name comes from a Scandinavia
n word from Norse mythology
meaning rainbow bridge connecting Asgard
and Midgard
(Earth).
Some of the large economies of Bifrost are agriculture
, fishing
, and tourism
.
The Rural Municipality of Bifrost is located in Manitoba’s Interlake region, and
includes small communities of Morweena, Vidir and Hnausa. The Town of Arborg
and the Village of Riverton lie within the boundaries of the rural municipality of
Bifrost.
In 1875, the Canadian Government set aside a portion of land on the west shore of
Lake Winnipeg, which was called New Iceland and was inhabited by over 1200
Icelandic settlers. This area was considered the R.M. of Gimli, but it was decided
that the municipality be split up, because of the poor condition of the roads that
made travel too difficult to get to the government offices. In 1907, the R.M. of
Gimli was split up and the northwestern part became known as Bifrost, and then
the R.M. of Bifrost in 1908. Bifrost is a Scandinavian word that means “rainbow
bridge connecting heaven and earth”. The municipal offices for Bifrost were set
up in Hnausa, but in 1916 the offices moved to the Town of Arborg.
In the summer, the attractions are the sandy beaches. The rivers, marshes and
creeks are good for people to fish in during the summer and hunt in during the
winter. In the winter there are many activities to choose from, like snowmobiling,
cross country skiing, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. The Town of Arborg and the
Village of Riverton offer baseball diamonds, playgrounds, parks, hockey arenas
and curling rinks.
Rural municipality
A rural municipality, often abbreviated RM, is a form of municipality in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, perhaps best comparable to counties or townships in the western United States...
located in the Interlake Region
Interlake Region, Manitoba
Manitoba's Interlake is the name given to a region in the Canadian province of Manitoba. As the name indicates, it lies roughly between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba and comprises 14 rural municipalities, one city , six towns and one village, Dunnottar...
of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The municipality lies on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
and has a population of about 2,750 people. Its name comes from a Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n word from Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
meaning rainbow bridge connecting Asgard
Asgard
In Norse religion, Asgard is one of the Nine Worlds and is the country or capital city of the Norse Gods surrounded by an incomplete wall attributed to a Hrimthurs riding the stallion Svadilfari, according to Gylfaginning. Valhalla is located within Asgard...
and Midgard
Midgard
Midgard is one of the Nine Worlds and is an old Germanic name for our world and is the home of Humans, with the literal meaning "middle enclosure".-Etymology:...
(Earth).
Some of the large economies of Bifrost are agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
The Rural Municipality of Bifrost is located in Manitoba’s Interlake region, and
includes small communities of Morweena, Vidir and Hnausa. The Town of Arborg
and the Village of Riverton lie within the boundaries of the rural municipality of
Bifrost.
In 1875, the Canadian Government set aside a portion of land on the west shore of
Lake Winnipeg, which was called New Iceland and was inhabited by over 1200
Icelandic settlers. This area was considered the R.M. of Gimli, but it was decided
that the municipality be split up, because of the poor condition of the roads that
made travel too difficult to get to the government offices. In 1907, the R.M. of
Gimli was split up and the northwestern part became known as Bifrost, and then
the R.M. of Bifrost in 1908. Bifrost is a Scandinavian word that means “rainbow
bridge connecting heaven and earth”. The municipal offices for Bifrost were set
up in Hnausa, but in 1916 the offices moved to the Town of Arborg.
In the summer, the attractions are the sandy beaches. The rivers, marshes and
creeks are good for people to fish in during the summer and hunt in during the
winter. In the winter there are many activities to choose from, like snowmobiling,
cross country skiing, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. The Town of Arborg and the
Village of Riverton offer baseball diamonds, playgrounds, parks, hockey arenas
and curling rinks.