Bygland
Encyclopedia
Bygland is a municipality in the county
of Aust-Agder
, Norway
. The municipal center is the village of Bygland. Other villages in the municipality include Byglandsfjord
, Lauvdal
, and Åraksbø
. The municipality is bordered on the north by Valle, in the east by Fyresdal
(Telemark
) and Åmli
(Aust-Agder
), in the south by Froland
and Evje og Hornnes
, and in the west by Åseral
(Vest-Agder), Kvinesdal
(Vest-Agder) and Sirdal
(Vest-Agder).
). Since that time, the municipal boundaries have not changed.
) is named after the old Bygland farm (Old Norse
: Byggland), since the first church was built there. The first element is bygg which means "barley
" and the last element is land which means "land" or "farm".
is from modern times. They were granted on 15 November 1991. The arms show a European lynx
(Lynx lynx), which symbolises the wild and rich nature and forest
s in the municipality.
, a valley
and a traditional district
in Aust-Agder that included the municipalities of Bykle
, Valle, Bygland, Iveland
, and Evje og Hornnes. The Otra
river flows from the glacially
scoured Hardanger
plateau
in Telemark to the north, through the valley of Setesdal (and through Bygland), into the sea near Kristiansand
. The lake Gyvatn
is located along the border with Evje og Hornnes and Åseral.
Bygland is Aust-Agder's second largest municipality in area. The majority of the municipality lies about 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) above sea level. The municipality stretches from the small town Byglandsfjord
in the south to the farms at Langeid in the north. Lake Byglandsfjorden
is 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long and lies on the river Otra. Other lakes include the Åraksfjorden
, Gyvatn, Hovatn
, Kvifjorden
, Longerakvatnet
, Straumsfjorden
, and Topsæ
.
and Byglandsfjord in Bygland. It was built in 1896. Setesdalsbanen operation was terminated in 1962 and the track was removed between Byglandsfjord and Beihølen.
Other transport up the Setesdal
valley was provided by the steamships Bjoren and Dølen. First placed in operation in 1866, the Bjoren
is still in operation as a tourist attraction on lake Byglandsfjord.
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
of Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The municipal center is the village of Bygland. Other villages in the municipality include Byglandsfjord
Byglandsfjord
Byglandsfjord is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Bygland in the Aust-Agder county, Norway. The village is in the valley of Setesdal and located at the end of the lake Byglandsfjorden. Its population is 351....
, Lauvdal
Lauvdal
Lauvdal is a village in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It's located along Norwegian national road 9 on the east side of Byglandsfjorden. The village lies six|km south of Bygland centre, to the south of the fjord. The population was 41 residents...
, and Åraksbø
Åraksbø
Åraksbø is a small village or hamlet in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located on the shores of the Åraksfjorden. The population of the Åraksbø area was 89. The lake Hovatn and its hydroelectric power plant are located about to the northeast.-References:...
. The municipality is bordered on the north by Valle, in the east by Fyresdal
Fyresdal
Fyresdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. The municipality of Moland was established on 1 January 1838 . In 1879, the name was changed to...
(Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
) and Åmli
Åmli
Åmli is a municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Sørlandet. The main population centre and administrative center is the village of Åmli which lies along the river Nidelva.-Name:...
(Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
), in the south by Froland
Froland
Froland is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Blakstad, which along with Osedalen form the main population center of the municipality....
and Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Setesdal. Evje og Hornnes was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1960 after the merger of the two older municipalities of Evje and Hornnes....
, and in the west by Åseral
Åseral
Åseral is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. The administrative center is the village of Kyrkjebygda.The parish of Bjelland had to be divided into two formannskapsdistrikts on 1 January 1838. This is because the main part of Bjelland belonged to the county of Vest-Agder, while the annex...
(Vest-Agder), Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal is a municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.Kvinesdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Feda was separated from Kvinesdal on 1 January 1900 but again merged with Kvinesdal on 1 January 1963. Fjotland was also merged with Kvinesdal on that date...
(Vest-Agder) and Sirdal
Sirdal
Sirdal is a municipality in 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....
(Vest-Agder).
General information
Bygland was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). Since that time, the municipal boundaries have not changed.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the old Bygland farm (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Byggland), since the first church was built there. The first element is bygg which means "barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
" and the last element is land which means "land" or "farm".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 15 November 1991. The arms show a European lynx
Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx...
(Lynx lynx), which symbolises the wild and rich nature and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s in the municipality.
Geography
Bygland lies in the middle of SetesdalSetesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
, a valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
and a traditional district
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
in Aust-Agder that included the municipalities of Bykle
Bykle
Bykle is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Setesdal. The administrative center is the village of Bykle in the southern part of the municipality. Another village nearby is Nordbygdi...
, Valle, Bygland, Iveland
Iveland
Iveland is a village and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Birketveit.-General information:...
, and Evje og Hornnes. The Otra
Otra
The Otra river is the largest river in the Sørlandet region of Norway. It flows from the Setesdalsheiene mountains in Bykle municipality in Aust-Agder county in the north, down to the municipality of Kristiansand in the south, where it flows into the Skagerrak.The Otra is long, making it Norway’s...
river flows from the glacially
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
scoured Hardanger
Hardangervidda
The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a...
plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in Telemark to the north, through the valley of Setesdal (and through Bygland), into the sea near Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
. The lake Gyvatn
Gyvatn
Gyvatn is a lake which straddles the borders of the three Norwegian municipalities of Bygland and Evje og Hornnes and Åseral . It's located about northwest of the village of Byglandsfjord and the lake Byglandsfjorden....
is located along the border with Evje og Hornnes and Åseral.
Bygland is Aust-Agder's second largest municipality in area. The majority of the municipality lies about 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) above sea level. The municipality stretches from the small town Byglandsfjord
Byglandsfjord
Byglandsfjord is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Bygland in the Aust-Agder county, Norway. The village is in the valley of Setesdal and located at the end of the lake Byglandsfjorden. Its population is 351....
in the south to the farms at Langeid in the north. Lake Byglandsfjorden
Byglandsfjorden
Byglandsfjorden is a lake in the municipalities of Bygland and Evje og Hornnes in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the river Otra, flowing out of the Åraksfjorden...
is 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long and lies on the river Otra. Other lakes include the Åraksfjorden
Åraksfjorden
Åraksfjorden is a lake in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Otra drainage basin. The villages of Frøysnes and Skåmedal are located along the western side and on the eastern side are the villages of Sandnes and Åraksbø.The name of the lake was given...
, Gyvatn, Hovatn
Hovatn
Hovatn is a lake in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Otra river drainage basin. The lake is regulated and is used by the Hovatn hydroelectric power plant...
, Kvifjorden
Kvifjorden
Kvifjorden is a lake that straddles the borders of the Norwegian municipalities of Sirdal and Kvinesdal in Vest-Agder county and Bygland in Aust-Agder county. The lake is part of the Kvina river....
, Longerakvatnet
Longerakvatnet
Longerakvatnet or Longeraksvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It has a dam on it which discharges into the Longerakåni river which flows into the Byglandsfjorden near Longerak. The lake is located about southeast of the village of Lauvdal and about ...
, Straumsfjorden
Straumsfjorden
Straumsfjorden is a lake that is located along the border of the municipalities of Bygland and Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The lake has a dam on the south end which discharges into the Hjellevatn lake and eventually travels to the lake Topsæ and the Tovdalselva river drainage...
, and Topsæ
Topsæ
Topsæ is a lake in the municipality of Bygland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located east of lake Hovatn, about northeast of the village of Åraksbø. The Topsæfossen waterfall is located at the north end of the lake at the primary inflow....
.
History
The Setesdalsbanen was a narrow gauge steam railway which went between VenneslaVennesla
Vennesla is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Vennesla was separated from Øvrebø in 1861. Øvrebø and Hægeland were merged with Vennesla again on 1 January 1964...
and Byglandsfjord in Bygland. It was built in 1896. Setesdalsbanen operation was terminated in 1962 and the track was removed between Byglandsfjord and Beihølen.
Other transport up the Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
valley was provided by the steamships Bjoren and Dølen. First placed in operation in 1866, the Bjoren
Bjoren
SS Bjoren is a wood-fuelled steamboat that travels the route between Byglandsfjord-Bygland and Bygland-Ose on the lake Byglandsfjorden in the municipality of Bygland in the Setesdal valley. It runs on Sundays in July....
is still in operation as a tourist attraction on lake Byglandsfjord.
Attractions
- Byglandsfjord Station – train stationTrain stationA train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
constructed in 1896 - Bygland tower – a folk museumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
. - RygnestadtunetRygnestadtunetRygnestadtunet is a farmyard museum at Nordigard, Nørdre Rygnestad in the municipality of Valle in the Setesdal region of Aust-Agder, Norway. It's located near the junction between highways 9 and 45. The farm museum today looks exactly as it did when it was deserted in 1919 and preserved in 1923. ...
– a museum with the cultural history of the Setesdal valley
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- Culture in Bygland on the map
- The Steamboat Bjoren