Southern Norway

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"Sørlandet" redirects here. For the ship, see Sørlandet (ship). For the newspaper, see Sørlandet (newspaper).
Southern Norway
Sørlandet
Region (landsdel)
Lindesnes
Coordinates: 58°36′N 7°48′E / 58.6°N 7.8°E / 58.6; 7.8Coordinates: 58°36′N 7°48′E / 58.6°N 7.8°E / 58.6; 7.8
Country Norway
Capital Kristiansand, Arendal
Counties (fylker) Aust-Agder
Vest-Agder
Area
 • Total 16,434 km2 (6,345 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 277,250
 • Density 17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Demonym Southlendic people
Historical population
Year Pop.  ±%  
1951 172,753—    
1960 185,302+7.3%
1970 215,874+16.5%
1980 225,429+4.4%
1990 240,906+6.9%
2000 257,869+7.0%
2010 279,024+8.2%
Source: Statistics Norway .
Religion in Southern Norway[1][2]
religion percent
Christianity
  
 86.41%
Islam
  
 1.08%
Buddhism
  
 0.30%
Other
  
 12.21%

Southern Norway (Norwegian: Sørlandet) (lit. "south country") is the name of the geographical region (landsdel) of the Skagerrak coast of southern Norway consisting of the two counties of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder. The total combined area of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder is 16,493 square kilometres (6,368 sq mi).[3]

Origin and use of the concept

The name and modern concept of this part of the country considered as a separate region, was introduced as late as 1902 by the local author Vilhelm Krag. Before this, the area was considered part of Western Norway. Southern Norway coincides roughly with the historic petty kingdom of Agder. The University of Agder is named after this historic name.

Occasionally, adjacent parts of the county of Rogaland and Telemark might be considered part of this region, as well.

If defined as an informal region, Southern Norway is perhaps more properly defined as the Skagerrak coastal belt, thus excluding the inland valleys to the north.

In the Middle Ages, the easternmost border of the Agder region was Rygjarbit[4] right north or south of today's Risør.

Coastal region

About 80% of the population of the two counties live along the coast, which has the warmest climate as well as offering quick access to the rich fishing grounds and maritime roads of the Skagerrak. The coastal towns of Southern Norway, from west to east, are:

Image gallery

Inland

In southern Norway are a number of smaller inland municipalities. Key industries are forestry, agriculture and tourism. There are also popular ski resorts like Hovden in the valley of Setesdal and Bortelid in Åseral municipality.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Statistics Norway - Church of Norway.
  2. ↑ Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010
  3. ↑ Store norske leksikon. "Sørlandet – landsdel" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2010-04-15. 
  4. ↑ http://snl.no/Rygjarbit

External links

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