Dalarna

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"Dalecarlians" redirects here. For the film, see Dalecarlians (film).
There is also Norwegian region called Dalane.
Dalarna
Map
The provinces of Sweden with Dalarna highlighted		 Coat of Arms
Land Svealand
Main corresponding county Dalarna County
Indigenous dialect(s) Dalecarlian
Area 29,086 km²
Flower Harebell
Animal Horned owl

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. In the western districts of Älvdalen and Lima some people in villages speak an old-time dialect, the Dalecarlian language. Historically, the people of Dalecarlia are famous for their sturdy love of independence.[1]

Contents

[edit] Administration

The provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Dalarna there is a corresponding administrative Dalarna County which has almost, but not exactly, the same boundaries as the province, except for a part of the north-east (Hamra parish, also known as Orsa Finnmark) which is part of Ljusdal Municipality, Gävleborg County.

[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." Already in 1525 the arrows were used on a seal. Dalarna County uses the same coat of arms, granted for the then Kopparberg County in 1936.

[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.

The cities are since 1971 seats of their respective municipalities.

[edit] Other towns

[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 revolt against the Kalmar Union under Christian II of Denmark.[1]

[edit] Culture

A giant Dalahorse in central Avesta.
A giant Dalahorse in central Avesta.
A woman from Leksand in traditional folk dress, 1911
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[citation needed]. 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 19th century[1].

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 Kopparberg ("Great Copper Mountain") in Falun has been named a UNESCO World heritage site.

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] Dukes

Since 1772 , Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title.

[edit] Districts

The Swedish provinces were subdivided into Hundreds of Sweden, in effect until early 20th century.

In some provinces the sub-dividing was through districts. Dalarna had only one chartered hundred – the others were court districts.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Volume V07, Page 764 of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. (online link)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Provinces (landskap) of Sweden
Flag of Sweden

Coordinates: 60°52′N 14°44′E / 60.867, 14.733