Årdal

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Årdal kommune
Locator map showing Årdal within Sogn og Fjordane
County Sogn og Fjordane
District Sogn
Municipality NO-1424
Administrative centre Årdalstangen
Mayor (2003) Arild Ingar Lægreid (Ap)
Official language form Nynorsk
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Percentage
Ranked 108
976 km²
931 km²
0.30 %
Population
 - Total (2004)
 - Percentage
 - Change (10 years)
 - Density
Ranked 175
5,631
0.12 %
-6.1 %
6/km²
Coordinates 61°17′N 7°47′E
www.ardal.kommune.no

Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 61°17′N 7°47′E

Årdal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.

It is situated in the inner part of Sognefjord and is creating a port to the mountain area called Jotunheim. There are two communities, Årdalstangen and Øvre Årdal, with a total population of approximately 6,000. There are also smaller places along the fjord (Naddvik, Offerdal and Seimsdal) and towards the mountains (Fardal, Utladal and Vetti). Årdal is a modern industrial community, with ties to the old society of farming and fishing. It is surrounded by dramatic nature with high mountains and waterfalls. The climate is rather mild and with less rain than normal in the west part of Norway. Årdal is a good starting point to explore the wild nature of the national park Jotunheimen, and with summer and winter activities within its boundaries. The water fall Vettisfossen is located within the municipality.

The society Årdal Sogelag concerns itself with local history and serves as an information service for people with connections to Årdal.

[edit] The name

The Norse form of the name was Árdalr. The first element is the genitive case of á f 'river' (here Utla), the last element is dalr m 'valley, dale'.55555

Until 1921 the name was written Aardal.

[edit] External links


Municipalities of Sogn og Fjordane Sogn og Fjordane coat of arms

Nordfjord: Bremanger | Eid | Gloppen | Hornindal | Selje | Stryn | Vågsøy
Sunnfjord: Askvoll | Fjaler | Flora | Førde | Gaular | Jølster | Naustdal
Sogn: Aurland | Balestrand | Gulen | Hyllestad | Høyanger | Leikanger | Luster | Lærdal | Sogndal | Solund | Vik | Årdal