Dalarna: Encyclopedia - Dalarna

Dalarna

Dalarna ▶ (help·info) is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. It adjoins Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bounded by Norway in the west.

Its Latin form, which is sometimes still encountered (especially in foreign languages), is Dalecarlia or Dalekarlia.

Dalarna - County

Provinces serve no administrative function in Sweden today. Instead, that function is served by the counties of Sweden. However, Dalarna has virtually the same boundaries as the corresponding Dalarna County.

The main exception is a smaller northern part,(Orsa Finnmark) which belongs to Gävleborg County.

Dalarna - Geography

The geography is distinguished by lake Siljan in the middle part. And the Västerdal River and Österdal River that join into the Dalecarlia 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.

Dalarna - Cities

Dalarna was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.

• Avesta (1641 - 1686, renewed 1919)
• Borlänge (1944)
• Falun (1641)
• Hedemora (approximately 1400)
• Ludvika (1919)
• Säter (1642)

Dalarna - Other towns

• Leksand
• Mora
• Rättvik
• Tällberg
• Malung
• Sälen
• Idre

Dalarna - National parks

• Färnebofjärden
• Fulufjället
• Hamra
• Töfsingdalen

Dalarna - History

The province was part of the Svealand kingdom in the medieval age, before Sweden's consolidation in the 11th century.

In the 16th century, the province became the refuge for king Gustav Vasa, wherefrom he gathered forces to fight the invanding Danish army in Stockholm.

Dalarna - 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."

Dalarna - Culture

A famous symbol of the province is the "Dala horse" or Dalahäst a painted and decorated wooden horse.

The Vasa race, a cross country skiing race over 90 km, is held annually, on the first Sunday of March, between Sälen and Mora, in commemoration of Gustav I of the House of Vasa.

The mining area of the Stora Kopparberget ("Great Copper Mountain") has been named a UNESCO World heritage site.

Dalarna - Notable natives

• Lars Frölander, swimmer
• Jussi Björling, opera singer
• Nils Karlsson, "Mora-Nisse", skiier
• Gunnar Myrdal, politican
• Charlie Norman, pianist
• Björn Skifs, singer, actor
• Gunde Svan, skiier, "celebrity".
• Hans Werthén, CEO of Electrolux
• Anders Zorn, artist
• Gustaf de Laval (1845-1913), inventor and engineer
• Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman, chef

Dalarna - Dukes

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

• Prince August (1831-1873)
• Prince Carl Johan (from his birth in 1916 until his loss of succession rights in 1947)

• See also: List of Swedes

Dalarna - 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.

• 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

• Rättvik Court District
• Skedvi Grand Court District
• Sundborn Court District
• Sveg Court District
• Svärdsjö Court District
• Särna Court District
• Söderbärke Court District
• Torsång Court District
• Tuna Grand Court District
• Vika Court District
• Älvdalen Court District

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Dalarna", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki