Dalsland
Encyclopedia
Dalsland is a Swedish traditional province
, or landskap, situated in Götaland
in southern Sweden
. Lying to the west of Lake Vänern
, it is bordered by Värmland
to the north, Västergötland
to the southeast, Bohuslän
to the west, and Norway
to the northwest.
The province has a low population density of around 14 inhabitants/km² and just one town of significant size: Åmål
. The total population numbers 50,527. The uninhabited areas are characterized by dense forests in the northwestern uplands and lakes in the east, giving rise to the epithet
, commonly used for Dalsland, of "Sweden's lake province".
The Latinized name Dalia, which was often used to name Dalsland in older prints, can still sometimes be encountered.
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. Dalsland formed the northern part of the administrative county
Älvsborg County
until 1999 when the present Västra Götaland County
was formed. A very small and insignificant part of the province is in Värmland County
.
in 1560. In the 16th century Dalsland had the status of a County
(Comitatus) and was represented with an Earl
's coronet. On January 18, 1884 the Privy Council
gave all provinces the right of use to a Dukal
coronet for their coat of arms. Blazon
: "Argent an Ox passant armed and hoofed Or."
No other part of Sweden has its area covered with as many lakes as Dalsland does. Of its total area, around 450 km² is water, but a part of lake Vänern
(Sweden's largest lake) is also belonging to the province.
From the shores of Vänern, one can sail through the river systems up to the mythical lake Stora Le
. Stora Le has a length of 66km, whereof 37km are within Dalsland, and the remaining part within the Värmland
province, with a bay into Norway.
The terrain consists of 1/4 agricultural lands and 2/3 forested lands. The province's southern part are suitable for agriculture, but there is a shortage of man-power to cultivate it.
Tresticklan
is a national park in Dalsland. There are also several nature reserve
s.
The Dalsland canal was completed in 1868 and has 28 locks in its length of 254 km.
are local districts of administration, with elected councils.
Within Dalsland's borders these are the municipalities:
Dalsland was historically divided into one chartered city and five hundreds. The hundreds were provincial sub-divisions from the Middle Ages, but were discontinued in the early 20th century.
Dalsland's chartered city was Åmål
(royal charter
in 1643). Its hundreds were: Nordal Hundred, Sundal Hundred, Tössbo Hundred, Valbo Hundred and Vedbo Hundred. They correspond approximately to today's municipalities: Nordal → Mellerud, Sundal → part of Vänersborg, Tössbo+Åmål → Åmål, Valbo → Färgelanda and Vedbo → Bengtsfors+Dals-Ed.
The area has around 5,000 localized ancient remains. They indicate the origin of the inhabitants to stem from the south and the province Bohuslän
; dialectal studies and social aspects have came to a similar conclusion. [1]
Since ancient times the description "Lives on Dal" has been the description used by the inhabitants themselves to describe where they live, instead of the usual "lives in ...". Speculation has it, this is due to the remote and isolated location of the province. [1]
In the 13th century the inhabitants were referred to as "The West gothics west of lake Vänern
" by King Magnus Ladulås. A provincial law of 1442 called them "The West Gothics of Dal". All sources point to them being a – remote – part of the Västergötland
(West Gothia) province.
Its exposed location near the Norwegian border made it subject to invasion, although to a lesser degree than the southern Bohuslän
and Västergötland
. It was first conquered around 1100 by the Norwegian Magnus Barefoot, who only held until King Valdemar Atterdag re-drew the provincial borders. [1]
The Nordic Seven Years' War was particularly hard, especially 1568 when 281 farms were burnt. Other feuds that were negative for the province were those of 1611-1612 and 1644-1645.
, although probably long before that area was Norwegian. A distinctive feature in the Högsäter-area of Valbo Hundred was an inclination to brown eyes and dark hair, and a slightly rounder facial shape. [1]
The municipalities in Dalsland still makes frequent use of the provincial name, as the means to distinguish their history and culture from the rest of West Sweden. Culturally, Dalsland is as connected to Värmland
as it is to the other neighbouring provinces Västergötland
and Bohuslän
.
variety known as the Dalbo-dialect. It is a variation of the Götamål dialect
, and closest related to the other Götaland provinces, although it differs from them in the absence of a guttural R
.
Its location by the Norwegian border has also added some features. The dialects vary over the province, since it is mostly hilly but has some more densely populated areas near its borders. These areas have been influenced by the neighbour areas.
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
, or landskap, situated in Götaland
Götaland
Götaland , Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gautland or Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises provinces...
in southern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Lying to the west of Lake Vänern
Vänern
Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia. It is located in the provinces of Västergötland, Dalsland, and Värmland in the southwest of the country.- History :...
, it is bordered by Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
to the north, Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
to the southeast, Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
to the west, and 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...
to the northwest.
The province has a low population density of around 14 inhabitants/km² and just one town of significant size: Åmål
Åmål
Åmål is a locality and the seat of Åmål Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 9,380 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Vänern....
. The total population numbers 50,527. The uninhabited areas are characterized by dense forests in the northwestern uplands and lakes in the east, giving rise to the epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
, commonly used for Dalsland, of "Sweden's lake province".
The Latinized name Dalia, which was often used to name Dalsland in older prints, can still sometimes be encountered.
Administration
The traditional provinces of SwedenProvinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. Dalsland formed the northern part of the administrative county
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
Älvsborg County
Älvsborg County
Älvsborg County, or Älvsborgs län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg to form the county of Västra Götaland...
until 1999 when the present Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
was formed. A very small and insignificant part of the province is in Värmland County
Värmland County
Värmland County is a county or län in west central Sweden. It borders the Swedish counties of Dalarna, Örebro and Västra Götaland, as well as the Norwegian counties of Østfold, Akershus and Hedmark to the west.- Province :...
.
Heraldry
Dalsland was granted its arms at the time of the funeral of Gustav VasaGustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
in 1560. In the 16th century Dalsland had the status of a County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
(Comitatus) and was represented with an Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
's coronet. On January 18, 1884 the Privy Council
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
gave all provinces the right of use to a Dukal
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
coronet for their coat of arms. Blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
: "Argent an Ox passant armed and hoofed Or."
Geography
Vänern
Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia. It is located in the provinces of Västergötland, Dalsland, and Värmland in the southwest of the country.- History :...
(Sweden's largest lake) is also belonging to the province.
From the shores of Vänern, one can sail through the river systems up to the mythical lake Stora Le
Stora Le
Stora Le or Lesjön in Swedish and Store Le in Norwegian is a lake in Dalsland, Sweden, the northern end of which proceeds into Norway and into Värmland, where it continues as Lake Foxen....
. Stora Le has a length of 66km, whereof 37km are within Dalsland, and the remaining part within the Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
province, with a bay into Norway.
The terrain consists of 1/4 agricultural lands and 2/3 forested lands. The province's southern part are suitable for agriculture, but there is a shortage of man-power to cultivate it.
Tresticklan
Tresticklan National Park
Tresticklan National Park is located in the municipality of Dals-Ed in northwestern Dalsland, Sweden, along the Norwegian border. "Trestickel" means "trident", possibly a reference to the shape of Lake Stora Tresticklan. This national park contains one of the few remaining areas of pristine forest...
is a national park in Dalsland. There are also several nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
s.
The Dalsland canal was completed in 1868 and has 28 locks in its length of 254 km.
Sub-divisions
MunicipalitiesMunicipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
are local districts of administration, with elected councils.
Within Dalsland's borders these are the municipalities:
- Bengtsfors MunicipalityBengtsfors MunicipalityBengtsfors Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Bengtsfors....
- Dals-Ed MunicipalityDals-Ed MunicipalityDals-Ed Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden, on the border to Norway. Its seat is located in the town of Ed....
- Färgelanda MunicipalityFärgelanda MunicipalityFärgelanda Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Färgelanda....
- Mellerud MunicipalityMellerud MunicipalityMellerud Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County by Lake Vänern in Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Mellerud....
- Åmål MunicipalityÅmål MunicipalityÅmål Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Åmål.The present municipality was created in 1971 through the amalgamation of the former City of Åmål and the former rural municipality of Tössbo .-Geography and natural...
- Parts of MunkedalMunkedal MunicipalityMunkedal Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Munkedal....
, SäffleSäffle MunicipalitySäffle Municipality is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Säffle....
, VänersborgVänersborg MunicipalityVänersborg Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Vänersborg.The present municipality was created during the local government reform in the early 1970s...
and Årjäng MunicipalitiesÅrjäng MunicipalityÅrjäng Municipality is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden, bordering Norway. Its seat is located in the town of Årjäng....
.
Dalsland was historically divided into one chartered city and five hundreds. The hundreds were provincial sub-divisions from the Middle Ages, but were discontinued in the early 20th century.
Dalsland's chartered city was Åmål
Åmål
Åmål is a locality and the seat of Åmål Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 9,380 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Vänern....
(royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1643). Its hundreds were: Nordal Hundred, Sundal Hundred, Tössbo Hundred, Valbo Hundred and Vedbo Hundred. They correspond approximately to today's municipalities: Nordal → Mellerud, Sundal → part of Vänersborg, Tössbo+Åmål → Åmål, Valbo → Färgelanda and Vedbo → Bengtsfors+Dals-Ed.
History
The original name of Dalsland was "Dal" – "Dalsland" was not used until 19th century. Dal literally means "Valley".The area has around 5,000 localized ancient remains. They indicate the origin of the inhabitants to stem from the south and the province Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
; dialectal studies and social aspects have came to a similar conclusion. [1]
Since ancient times the description "Lives on Dal" has been the description used by the inhabitants themselves to describe where they live, instead of the usual "lives in ...". Speculation has it, this is due to the remote and isolated location of the province. [1]
In the 13th century the inhabitants were referred to as "The West gothics west of lake Vänern
Vänern
Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia. It is located in the provinces of Västergötland, Dalsland, and Värmland in the southwest of the country.- History :...
" by King Magnus Ladulås. A provincial law of 1442 called them "The West Gothics of Dal". All sources point to them being a – remote – part of the Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
(West Gothia) province.
Its exposed location near the Norwegian border made it subject to invasion, although to a lesser degree than the southern Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
and Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
. It was first conquered around 1100 by the Norwegian Magnus Barefoot, who only held until King Valdemar Atterdag re-drew the provincial borders. [1]
The Nordic Seven Years' War was particularly hard, especially 1568 when 281 farms were burnt. Other feuds that were negative for the province were those of 1611-1612 and 1644-1645.
Culture
People in the western part of Dalsland were believed to have migrated from BohuslänBohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
, although probably long before that area was Norwegian. A distinctive feature in the Högsäter-area of Valbo Hundred was an inclination to brown eyes and dark hair, and a slightly rounder facial shape. [1]
The municipalities in Dalsland still makes frequent use of the provincial name, as the means to distinguish their history and culture from the rest of West Sweden. Culturally, Dalsland is as connected to Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
as it is to the other neighbouring provinces Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
and Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
.
Tongue
The dialect is a Swedish languageSwedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
variety known as the Dalbo-dialect. It is a variation of the Götamål dialect
Götamål dialect
Götamål is one of the six different dialect areas of the Swedish language, mostly heard in Västergötland, Dalsland, northern Halland, northern Småland and Östergötland although it is also heard in Bohuslän and Värmland and Öland. Examples of Götamål features are vowel reduction, vowel shortening in...
, and closest related to the other Götaland provinces, although it differs from them in the absence of a guttural R
Guttural R
In linguistics, guttural R refers to pronunciation of a rhotic consonant as a guttural consonant. These consonants are usually uvular, but can also be realized as a velar, pharyngeal, or glottal rhotic...
.
Its location by the Norwegian border has also added some features. The dialects vary over the province, since it is mostly hilly but has some more densely populated areas near its borders. These areas have been influenced by the neighbour areas.
External links
- article Dal from Nordisk familjebokNordisk familjebokNordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957.- History :The first edition was published in 20 volumes between 1876 and 1899. The first edition is known as the "Iðunn edition" because of the picture of Iðunn on the cover...
, in Swedish only. - Dalsland - from West Sweden Tourist Board. In Swedish, English and German.