Rogaland (Norwegian:[ˈrûːɡɑlɑn]ⓘ) is acounty inWestern Norway, bordering theNorth Sea to the west and the counties ofVestland to the north,Telemark to the east andAgder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 499,417 people.
Rogaland is the region'sOld Norse name, which was revived in modern times. DuringDenmark's rule of Norway the county was namedStavangeramt, after the large city of Stavanger, and this name continued to be used until 1919. The first element in the nameRogaland is the plural genitive case ofrygir, probably referring to the name of an oldGermanic tribe (seeRugians). The second element island which means "land" or "region".[4]
Thecoat of arms is modern; it was granted on 11 January 1974. The arms are blue with a white or silver pointed cross in the centre. The cross is based on the old stone cross inSola, the oldest national monument in Norway. It was erected in memory ofErling Skjalgsson after his death in 1028. This type of cross was very common in medieval Norway.[5]
Rogaland is mainly a coastal region withfjords, beaches, and islands, the principal island beingKarmøy. The vastBoknafjorden is the largest bay, with many fjords branching off from it.
Stavanger/Sandnes, the third-largest urban area of Norway, is also a central area for the Norwegian petroleum industry. The area includes the large cities ofStavanger andSandnes. The municipalitiesRandaberg, andSola are also in close proximity. Together, thisconurbation is ranked above the cityTrondheim in population rankings in Norway.
Karmøy has large deposits ofcopper (some from theVisnes mine was used in the construction of theStatue of Liberty).[6]Sokndal has large deposits ofilmenite. Rogaland is the most important region foroil andgas exploration in Norway, and theJæren district in Rogaland is one of the country's most important agricultural districts.
There are remains in Rogaland from the earliest times, such as the excavations in a cave at Viste inRandaberg (Svarthola). These include the find of a skeleton of a boy from theStone Age. Various archeological finds stem from the following times, theBronze Age and theIron Age. Many crosses inIrish style have been found. Rogaland was calledRygjafylke in theViking Age. BeforeHarald Fairhair and theBattle of Hafrsfjord, it was apetty kingdom. TheRugians were a tribe possibly connected with Rogaland.
A series of festivals and congresses of international fame and profile are arranged, such as The Chamber Music Festival, TheMaijazz Festival, The Gladmat (lit. happy food) Festival, and The ONS event, which has been held in Stavanger every second year since 1974. The ONS is a major international conference and exhibition with focus on oil and gas, and other topics from the petroleum industry. The Concert Hall and Music Complex at Bjergsted and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra provide important inspiration in the Norwegian musical environment. Another annual event in Stavanger is The World Tour Beach Volleyball. During this tournament, the downtown is converted into a beach volleyball arena.
Rogaland is home to many natural wonders, likePrekestolen,Kjerag andGloppedalsura. In Stavanger, there is an archeological museum with many artifacts from early history in Rogaland. AnIron Age farm at Ullandhaug in Stavanger is reconstructed on the original farm site dating back to 350–500 AD. TheViking Farm is a museum at Karmøy.
A county(fylke) is the chief local administrative area inNorway. The whole country is divided into 11 counties. A county is also an election area, with popular votes taking place every 4 years. In Rogaland, the government of the county is theRogaland County Municipality. It includes 47 members who are elected to form acounty council(Fylkesting). Heading theFylkesting is the county mayor(fylkesordførar). Since 2020, theRogaland County Municipality has been led byMarianne Chesak, the county mayor.
Rogaland is a playable region within Norway inAssassin's Creed Valhalla, called Rygjafylke in the game. It is also the homeland of the game’s main character, Eivor Varinsdottir.
