Luster, Norway
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| Luster kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Sogn og Fjordane | ||
| District | Sogn | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-1426 | ||
| Administrative centre | Gaupne | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2003) | Torodd Urnes (KrF) | ||
| Area (Nr. 15 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 2,707 km² (1,045.2 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 2,603 km² (1,005 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 4,926 | ||
| - Density | 2/km² (5.2/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -8.1 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 194 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Nynorsk | ||
| Demonym | Lustring[1] | ||
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| Website: www.luster.kommune.no | |||
Luster (spelled Lyster before 1918) is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative centre is Gaupne.
Contents |
[edit] About the Municipality
[edit] The name Luster
The name (Norse Lústr) originally belonged to the fjord (now Lustrafjorden). The name was derived from the word ljóss which means 'light' or 'bright' - referring to the bright colour of the water from the glaciers. Until 1918 the name was written Lyster.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1990, but is inspired by an old woodcarving from the Urnes stave church. It shows a rounded tilia twig.
[edit] History
Luster was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Hafslo and Jostedal were merged with Luster on 1 January 1963.
After the consolidation of the three municipalities of Hafslo, Jostedal and Luster in 1963, the area is characterized by scattered rural settlements and large distances between these settlements. Luster is the largest municipality in Sogn og Fjordane. Luster centers around the inner branch of the Sognefjord, which is called the Lustrafjord.
[edit] Local Churches
The Church of Norway has 12 churches in Luster:
- Dale kyrkje (built in 1250) is located in the village of Luster
- Fet kyrkje is located in the village of Fet
- Fortun kyrkje (built in 1879) is located in the village of Fortun
- Gaupne gamle kyrkje (built in 1647) is located in the village of Gaupne
- Gaupne kyrkje (built in 1908) is located in the village of Gaupne
- Hafslo kyrkje (built in 1878) is located in the village of Hafslo
- Joranger kyrkje (built in 1660) is located in the village of Joranger
- Jostedal kyrkje (built in 1660) is located in the village of Jostedal
- Nes kyrkje is located in the village of Nes
- Solvorn kyrkje (built in 1883) is located in the village of Solvorn
- Urnes stavkyrkje (built in 1130) is located in the village of Ornes (on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites)
- Veitastrond kapell (built in 1928) is located in the village of Veitastrond [2]
[edit] Geography
Luster, one of the largest municipalities in southern Norway, is located in the glacial mountains where the Sognefjorden begins its path to the North Sea. The fjord is fed by many large glaciers such as the Nigard glacier, Bergset glacier, Austerdal glacier and Fåbergstøl glacier.[3]
It is bordered by five municipalities in Sogn og Fjordane county: Stryn to the north, Jølster and Balestrand to the west, and by Sogndal and Årdal to the south. It is also bordered by three municipalities in Oppland county: Skjåk to the northeast and by Lom and Vang to the east.
Store Skagastølstind (or Storen) is the third highest mountain peak in Norway at 2,405 meters (7,890 feet) high. It is located on the southern border of Luster and Årdal. It is part of the Hurrungane mountain range which contains some of the most alpine peaks in Norway. There are many beautiful lakes (such as Veitastrondsvatnet, Austdalsvatnet, Tunsbergdalvatnet, and Hafslovatnet) as well as many big waterfalls such as the Feigumfoss waterfall (218 meters tall).
Jostedalsbreen or Jostedal Glacier, is the biggest glacier in continental Europe. It is located in Jostedalsbreen National Park, much of which is located in the municipality of Luster.[4]
[edit] Economy
The inhabitants of Luster make their living by farming, growing berries and fruit, tourism, and hydropower. Jøstedal and Fortun have large hydroelectric power stations. Summer tourism is quite busy. Tourist activities include mountain climbing, skiing, fishing, hiking, and hunting.
[edit] Twin cities/towns of Luster
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Personnemningar til stadnamn i Noreg (Norwegian)
- ^ Alle kirker og kirkegårder i Norge (2008).(Norwegian)
- ^ Andreas Wobig (2008). Luster, Sogn og Fjordane.
- ^ GoNorway.no (2008). Luster Kommune.
- ^ Local History of Luster (2008).
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