Dalarna

There is also Norwegian region called Dalane.
Dalarna (Dalecarlia)
Map
The provinces of Sweden with Dalarna highlighted		 Coat of Arms
Land Svealand
Main corresponding county Dalarna County
Indigenous dialect(s) Dalecarlian
Population {{{population}}}
Area 29,086 km²
Flower Harebell
Animal Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo)

Dalarna is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. English language forms established in literature include Dalecarlia and the Dales. 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). The area is a popular vacation destination for Swedes from the south, who often travel there to relax during summer vacations, drawn by good fishing lakes, beautiful campgrounds, and deep forests. Many such Swedes own or rent a second residence in Dalarna, where they are likely to have a vegetable garden and apple trees. In mid-June, summerfest celebrations and dances are held in many of the small villages and, of course, in the larger cities. Dalarna is a region full of historical associations, possessing 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 - called Dalecarlians, or Dalesmen (dalmasar) and Daleswomen (dalkullor) are famous for their sturdy love of independence.[1]

Contents

Administration

The provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Dalarna a corresponding administrative Dalarna County 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 forms part of Ljusdal Municipality, Gävleborg County.

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 ducal coronet. Blazon: "Azure, two Dalecarlian Arrows Or in saltire point upwards pointed Argent and in chief a Crown of the first." As early as 1525 the arrows appeared in use on a seal. Dalarna County uses the same coat of arms, granted for the then Kopparberg County in 1936.

Geography

Lake Siljan features in the middle part of Dalarna, and the Västerdal River and Österdal River join the Dal River.

The northern part of the province lies within the Scandinavian mountain range: mountainous country with many glacier-created lakes. The southern part consists of plains, with several mines, most notably copper, traditionally forming part of Bergslagen.

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

Cities

Dalarna was historically divided into chartered cities and districts:

The cities are since 1971 seats of their respective municipalities.

Other towns

National parks

History

The province of Dalarna formed part of Svealand before the formation of Sweden in the 11th century.

Two historically notorious rebellions started in the Dalarna province:

A giant Dala horse in central Avesta.

Culture

A Daleswoman 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 handicrafts. The province preserved longer than any other the use of the Runic alphabet, a local dialect of which, the so called Dalecarlian runes or Dalrunes, survived into the 19th century.[2]

A famous symbol of the province is the Dalecarlian horse, in Swedish Dalahäst, a painted and decorated wooden horse. Sulky-racing is popular in the region. The high level of calcium in the soil favours horse breeding.

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

UNESCO has named the mining area of the Stora Kopparberg ("Great Copper Mountain") in Falun a World heritage site.

Notable natives

Dukes

Since 1772, Swedish Kings have designated Princes as Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title.

Districts

The Swedish provinces were subdivided into the 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.

  • Folkare Hundred
  • Grangärde Court District
  • Hedemora and Garpenberg Court District
  • Husby Court District
  • Kopparberg and Aspeboda Court District
  • Leksand Court District
  • Malung Court District
  • Mora Court District
  • Norrbärke Court District
  • Nås Court District
  • Orsa Court District

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Volume V07, Page 764 of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. (online link)
  2. ↑ http://www.nordiska.uu.se/arkiv/konferenser/alvdalska/Sapir.pdf

References

External links

Provinces (landskap) of Sweden

Ångermanland · Blekinge · Bohuslän · Dalarna · Dalsland · Gästrikland · Gotland · Halland · Hälsingland · Härjedalen · Jämtland · Lappland · Medelpad · Närke · Norrbotten · Öland · Östergötland · Scania (Skåne) · Småland · Södermanland · Uppland · Värmland · Västerbotten · Västergötland · Västmanland

 Sweden