Dalarna

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There is also Norwegian region called Dalane.

Dalarna (help·info) is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. A common English name form is Dalecarlia or Dalekarlia. Places involving the element Dalecarlia still exist in the United States.

Dalarna adjoins Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bounded by Norway in the west.

The word "Dalarna" means "the dales" (valleys). It is a region full of historical associations, and possesses strong local characteristics in respect of its products, and especially of its people. The Dalecarlians or Dalesmen speak their own dialect, the Dalecarlian language and have a traditional clothing. Historically, they are famed for their sturdy love of independence.^[1]

**Dalarna**
The provinces of Sweden with Dalarna highlighted
	Land	Svealand
	Main corresponding county	Dalarna County
	Area	29,086 km²
	Flower	Harebell
	Animal	Horned owl

1 County
2 Geography
3 History
- 3.1 Heraldry
4 Culture
5 Notable natives
- 5.1 Dukes
6 Districts
7 Footnotes
8 References
9 External links

[edit] County

Provinces serve no administrative function in Sweden today. Instead, that function is served by the counties of Sweden. However, Dalarna has virtually the same boundaries as the corresponding Dalarna County.

The main exception is a smaller northeastern part (Hamra perish, also known as Orsa Finnmark), which belongs to Ljusdal in Gävleborg County.

[edit] Geography

The geography is distinguished by lake Siljan in the middle part, and the Västerdal River and Österdal River that join into the Dal River.

The northern part of the province are within the Scandinavian mountain range, and are mountainous with many lakes. The southern part consists of plains, with several mines, most notably copper, traditionally forming part of Bergslagen.

Highest point is Storvätteshågna with 1,204 meters. Lowest point is at 55 meters, in the south-east part.

[edit] Cities

Dalarna was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.

Avesta (1641 - 1686, renewed 1919)
Borlänge (1944, as Borlængio By 1390)
Falun (1641)
Hedemora (approximately 1400)
Ludvika (1919)
Säter (1642)

[edit] Other towns

Leksand
Mora
Orsa
Rättvik
Tällberg
Malung
Sälen
Idre

[edit] National parks

[edit] History

The province was part of Svealand before Sweden was consolidated in the 11th century.

Two historically notorious rebellions started in the Dalarna province: In 1434, led by Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, the miners rose against the oppression of the officers of Eric of Pomerania, and in 1519–1523 it was among the miners that Gustavus Vasa found his staunchest supporters in his patriotic task of freeing Sweden from the yoke of the Danes.^[1]

[edit] Heraldry

Arms granted in 1560, the use of two crossed arrows as a symbol precedes this. The province is also a duchy and the arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Azure, two Dalecarlian Arrows Or in saltire point upwards pointed Argent and in chief a Crown of the first."

[edit] Culture

A giant Dalahorse in central Avesta.

A woman from Leksand in traditional folk dress, 1911

Historically, Dalarna has enjoyed a rich and unique folk culture, with distinct music, paintings (often centered on Biblical themes) and handicraft. The province was also the last province to abandon the use of the Runic alphabet, a local dialect of which, the so called Dalrunes, survived into the 20th century.

A famous symbol of the province is the Dalecarlian horse, in Swedish Dalahäst, a painted and decorated wooden horse.

The Vasaloppet, a cross country skiing race over 90 km, is held annually, on the first Sunday of March, between Sälen and Mora, in commemoration of the ski-borne escape of Gustav Vasa, who would later become king Gustav I of Sweden, from the Danish troops in 1520.

The mining area of the Stora Kopparberget ("Great Copper Mountain") has been named a UNESCO World heritage site.