Orkdalen or Orkladalen is a traditional Norwegian 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 Sør-Trøndelag

Sør-Trøndelag

- References :...

 county, 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...

. In the early Viking Age

Viking Age

Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...

, before Harald Fairhair, Orkdalen was also a petty kingdom

Petty kingdom

A petty kingdom is one of a number of small kingdoms, described as minor or "petty" by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it...

.

The district encompasses the valley municipalities that surround the Orkla River

Orkla River

The Orkla River is the longest river in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The long river follows the Orkdalen valley, discharging into the Orkdalsfjord, an arm of the Trondheimsfjord, at the village of Orkanger....

. The municipalities in the district are Rennebu

Rennebu

Rennebu is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Berkåk, located along European route E6...

, Meldal

Meldal

Meldal is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region.The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Meldal. The village of Meldal has a population of 609. Other villages include Løkken Verk, Bjørnli, and Storås...

, and Orkdal

Orkdal

Orkdal is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Orkanger. Other villages in the municipality include Kjøra, Geitastrand, Gjølme, Thamshavn, Fannrem, Vormstad, Svorkmo, and...

. The municipalities of Oppdal

Oppdal

is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Dovre region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Oppdal. Other villages in the municipality include Lønset, Vognillan, Fagerhaug, and Holan...

 and Skaun

Skaun

Skaun is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Børsa. Other villages include Buvik, Eggkleiva, Melby, Skaun, and Viggja....

 are often traditionally counted as a parts of the district also even though they lie outside the actual Orkla River

Orkla River

The Orkla River is the longest river in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The long river follows the Orkdalen valley, discharging into the Orkdalsfjord, an arm of the Trondheimsfjord, at the village of Orkanger....

 valley. The river itself actually begins in Oppdal

Oppdal

is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Dovre region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Oppdal. Other villages in the municipality include Lønset, Vognillan, Fagerhaug, and Holan...

 and then winds its way north to the Trondheimsfjord

Trondheimsfjord

The Trondheimsfjord , an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, is Norway's third longest fjord at long. It is located in the west central part of the country, and it stretches from Ørland in west to Steinkjer in north, passing the city of Trondheim on its way...

.