Dalarna | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
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| Coordinates:60°52′N14°44′E / 60.867°N 14.733°E /60.867; 14.733 | |
| Sovereign State |  Sweden |
| Land | Svealand |
| Counties | Dalarna County Gävleborg County Jämtland County Värmland County |
| Area | |
• Total | 29,086 km2 (11,230 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2023)[1] | |
• Total | 283,814 |
| • Density | 9.7578/km2 (25.272/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity | |
| • Language | Swedish |
| • Dialect | Dalecarlian |
| Culture | |
| • Flower | Harebell |
| • Animal | Eagle owl |
| • Bird | — |
| • Fish | Minnow |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Dalarna (Swedish:[ˈdɑ̂ːlaɳa]ⓘ;lit. 'the Dales' or'the Valleys'), also referred to by the EnglishexonymsDalecarlia[2][3][a] andthe Dales,[6] is alandskap (historical province) in centralSweden.
Dalarna adjoinsHärjedalen,Hälsingland,Gästrikland,Västmanland andVärmland. It is also bordered byNorway in the west. The province's borders mostly coincide with the modern administrativeDalarna County (län).
The area is a holiday destination for Swedes from the south, who often travel there in the summer, drawn by its fishing lakes, campgrounds, and forests.[7] Some Swedes own or rent a second home in Dalarna, where vegetable gardens and apple trees are commonplace. In mid-June, midsummer celebrations and dances are held in many of the small villages and in the larger cities. Dalarna is a region full of historical associations, and both its products and its people have strong local characteristics.[3] In the western districtLima, some people in villages speak a traditionaldialect,Dalecarlian, while inÄlvdalen, they speakElfdalian, a dialect which is very distinct fromSwedish,Norwegian orDanish.[8] Historically, the people of Dalecarlia – called Dalecarlians, or Dalesmen (dalkarlar, masar) and Daleswomen (kullor) – have been famous for their independent nature toward authority.[3] TheOld Norse name of a part of the province wasJárnberaland,[9] which means "the land of the iron carriers."[10][11][12]
Theprovinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but function as historical and cultural entities. In the case ofDalarna, a corresponding administrativeDalarna County has almost, but not exactly, the same boundaries as the province, except for a part of the northeast (Hamra [sv] parish) which forms part ofLjusdal Municipality,Gävleborg County.
Dalarna's coat of arms dates from 1560; the use of two crossed arrows as a symbol precedes this. The provincial arms include a ducal coronet.[13] Since the 19th century, some members of the royal family have been granted the nominal title ofDuke of Dalarna.
Blazon: "Azure, two Dalecarlian Arrows Or in saltire point upwards pointed Argent and in chief a Crown of the first".[14]
As early as 1525, the arrows appeared in use on a seal. The same coat of arms was later granted to Kopparberg County in 1936, which was renamedDalarna County in 1997.[15]
The northern part of the province is dominated by mountains and the vastOrsa Finnmark [sv] area. The southern part of the province is part of theBergslagen region, and consists mostly of plains, hills and forested areas. There are several copper mines in the southern part, most notorious of which being theFalun Mine. The highest point isStorvätteshågna, at 1,204 m (3,950 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is in the southeast, at 55 m (180 ft) above sea level.
Dalarna was historically divided intochartered cities and districts:
Since 1971, the cities are seats of their respectivemunicipalities.
The province of Dalarna formed part ofSvealand before theformation of Sweden in the 11th century.
Three historically notorious rebellions started in the Dalarna province:
Historically, Dalarna has enjoyed a rich and unique folk culture, with distinct music, paintings, and handicrafts.[citation needed] The province preserved longer than any other the use of theRunic alphabet, a local dialect of which, the so-calledDalecarlian runes or Dalrunes, survived into the 19th century.[17]
A symbol of the province is theDalecarlian horse, in SwedishDalahäst, a painted and decorated wooden horse.Sulky racing is common in the region. The high level of calcium in the soil favours horse breeding.
UNESCO has named the mining area of theStora Kopparberg ("Great Copper Mountain") inFalun aWorld Heritage Site.
The Swedish provinces were subdivided into theHundreds of Sweden, in effect until the early 20th century.
In some provinces, the sub-dividing was throughdistricts. Dalarna had only onechartered hundred; the others were court districts.
Skiing is popular in Dalarna.Vasaloppet, across-country skiing race (the world's longest) of 90 km, takes place annually, usually on the first Sunday of March, betweenSälen andMora. It commemorates the legendary ski-borne escape of Gustav Eriksson Vasa, who would later become KingGustav I of Sweden, fromDanish troops in 1520.
Football in the province is administered byDalarnas Fotbollförbund. Brage and Dalkurd are examples of football teams in Dalarna. Ice hockey is also popular in Dalarna. The two ice hockey teams and rivals from Dalarna are Leksands IF and Mora IK, both frequently in the highest ice hockey division.
Media related toDalarna at Wikimedia Commons
Dalarna travel guide from Wikivoyage
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