Stranda Municipality Stranda kommune | |
|---|---|
| Stranden herred (historic name) | |
 View of the village of Stranda | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Møre og Romsdal within Norway | |
 Stranda within Møre og Romsdal | |
| Coordinates:62°11′29″N06°56′56″E / 62.19139°N 6.94889°E /62.19139; 6.94889 | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Møre og Romsdal |
| District | Sunnmøre |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Administrative centre | Stranda |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2023) | Einar Arve Nordang (H) |
| Area | |
• Total | 865.86 km2 (334.31 sq mi) |
| • Land | 844.63 km2 (326.11 sq mi) |
| • Water | 21.23 km2 (8.20 sq mi) 2.5% |
| • Rank | #134 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 1,775.6 m (5,825 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 4,348 |
| • Rank | #196 in Norway |
| • Density | 5/km2 (13/sq mi) |
| • Change(10 years) |  −5.8% |
| Demonyms | Strandar Strander[2] |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1525[4] |
| Website | Official website |
Stranda is amunicipality inMøre og Romsdalcounty, Norway. It is part of theSunnmøreregion. Theadministrative centre of the municipality is the village ofStranda. Stranda consists of three smaller villages and one larger central village. The smaller villages areHellesylt,Geiranger, andLiabygda. The central village,Stranda (same name as the municipality), has about 2,600 inhabitants. Stranda Municipality is known for tourist attractions such asGeirangerfjorden,Sunnylvsfjorden, and the ski area atStrandafjellet [no;nn;da].
The 866-square-kilometre (334 sq mi) municipality is the 134th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Stranda Municipality is the 196th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,348. The municipality'spopulation density is 5 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.8% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]
Theparish ofStranden was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (seeformannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1892, the northern district of the municipality (population: 850) was separated to form the newStordal Municipality. This left Stranda Municipality with 1,459 residents. The spelling was changed toStranda in 1918.[7]
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of theSchei Committee. On 1 January 1965,Sunnylven Municipality (population: 1,221) was merged into Stranda Municipality (population: 3,453), forming a new, larger Stranda Municipality.[7]
The municipality (originally theparish) is namedStranda (Old Norse:Strǫnd) after a portion of the beach area along theStorfjorden. The name comes from the wordstrǫnd, which means 'beach' or 'strand'.[8] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelledStranden. On 3 November 1917, aroyal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality toStranda.[9]
Thecoat of arms was granted on 2 May 1986. The officialblazon is"Or, twopiles azure issuant fromdexter and sinister" (Norwegian:På gull grunn to spisse blå flankar). This means the arms have afield (background) has atincture ofOr which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. Thecharge is two bluepiles (triangles) extending from the left and right sides, but not quite meeting in the middle. The colors and design were chosen to symbolize thefjords and mountains hovering over the beach since the fjord is a central feature of the municipality for transportation, production, and tourism. The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth after a proposal by Tor Torheim. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]
TheChurch of Norway has four parishes (sokn) within Stranda Municipality. It is part of theNordre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in theDiocese of Møre.
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stranda | Stranda Church | Stranda | 1838 |
| Liabygda | Liabygda Church | Liabygda | 1917 |
| Sunnylven | Sunnylven Church | Hellesylt | 1859 |
| Geiranger | Geiranger Church | Geiranger | 1842 |
Due to its natural environment, this scenic fjord and mountain area attracts many tourists each year. TheStorfjorden,Sunnylvsfjorden, andGeirangerfjorden flow through the municipality with tall mountains surrounding the water. TheSeven Sisters waterfall is located along theGeirangerfjord. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,775.6-metre (5,825 ft) tall mountain Blåfjellet.[1] The mountainDalsnibba and the lakeDjupvatnet are located alongNorwegian County Road 63 in the southern part of the municipality. The mountains ofKvitegga andHornindalsrokken lie on the southern municipal border.
Fjord Municipality lies to the north and east,Skjåk Municipality (inInnlandet county) lies to the southeast,Stryn Municipality (inVestland county) lies to the south,Volda Municipality andØrsta Municipality lie to the west, andSykkylven Municipality lies to the northwest.
TheWest Norwegian Fjords, entailingGeirangerfjord andNærøyfjord was inscribed onUNESCO'sWorld Heritage List in 2005 at the 29th Session of theWorld Heritage Committee inDurban, South Africa. The West Norwegian Fjords is the first natural World Heritage site in Norway, and the third natural site in theNordic –Baltic region.
The West Norwegian Fjords are characterised as the bestgeologically developed and preserved example of classic fjord landscape. The geology and ongoingerosional processes have provided a basis for the active development of ecological andbiological processes as well as the development of traditional, in part extreme, land use that has not harmed the integrity of the natural site.
Stranda Municipality is responsible forprimary education (through 10th grade), outpatienthealth services,senior citizen services,welfare and othersocial services,zoning,economic development, and municipalroads and utilities. The municipality is governed by amunicipal council ofdirectly elected representatives. Themayor isindirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[13] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of theSunnmøre District Court and theFrostating Court of Appeal.
Themunicipal council (Kommunestyre) of Stranda Municipality is made up of 25 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by politicalparty.
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 7 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 7 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
| Green Party(Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 12 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 11 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 12 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 9 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 25 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 8 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 7 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
| Local list for Sunnylven(Bygdeliste for Sunnylven) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 7 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local list for Sunnylven(Bygdeliste for Sunnylven) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 6 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local list for Sunnylven(Bygdeliste for Sunnylven) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
| New People's Party(Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Local list for Sunnylven(Bygdaliste for Sunnylven) | 4 | |
| Local list for Geiranger(Bygdeliste for Geiranger) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
| New People's Party(Nye Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Local list for Sunnylven(Bygdaliste for Sunnylven) | 5 | |
| Local list for Geiranger(Bygdeliste for Geiranger) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Note: On 1 January 1965,Sunnylven Municipality became part of Stranda Municipality. | ||
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høgre) | 1 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 16 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 14 | |
| Total number of members: | 16 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 14 | |
| Total number of members: | 16 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 14 | |
| Total number of members: | 16 | |
| Party name(in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) | 1 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 15 | |
| Total number of members: | 16 | |
| Note: Due to theGerman occupation of Norway duringWorld War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. | ||
Themayor (Nynorsk:ordførar) of Stranda Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[33]
Tourism has long and strong traditions in Stranda. The villages ofGeiranger andHellesylt have long been well-known destinations. The firstcruise ship with tourists from abroad came toGeiranger in 1869. Today, Geiranger is the second largest cruise ship port in Norway, visited by 160 cruise ships every summer. The Coastal Steamer (Hurtigruten) runs daily round tripsÅlesund-Geiranger from April to mid-September. Tourists can also take theGeiranger–Hellesylt Ferry. Altogether about 700,000 tourists visit Geiranger each summer.
Royal persons, especiallyQueen Sonja, have contributed to make the fjord famous all over the world. By annual trips, visiting, and even spending the night on these abandoned mountains farms such asSkageflå, and publishing a book about these trips with her own photos that have also been exhibited in New York, among other places. Other historic farms includeKnivsflå andMe-Åkernes.
InHellesylt, one may visit Hægstad Gård which contains woodcarvings, scenes fromPeer Gynt byHenrik Ibsen, and in Geiranger the new Norwegian Fjord Centre shows local history and pictures from Geiranger.
In thealpine area at Strandafjellet, there are sixski tows and alpinepistes. Each winter alpine competitions are hosted there. Strandafjellet is one of the few places in the world where one could actually ski from the top of a mountain and go the whole way down, to the fjord. Every year roughly 250telemark skiers,alpine skiers, andsnowboarders come together in the raceAlperittet, from 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) above sea level and down to thefjord. TheGeiranger – From Fjord to Summit race runs from Geiranger toDalsnibba each year.
The municipality of Stranda has a great variety as to trade and industry. About 160 farms produce milk and meat products. Many factories have long traditions for making meat products, especially salted and cured meat. The production of furniture and textile products is an important industry that provides work to many area residents. Stranda is the place whereP. I. Langlo [no;nn] industrialized the furniture industry in Norway in 1919.[35] (There is almost no unemployment in the area).[citation needed] TheGrandiosa factory, Norway's largestpizza factory, is situated in Stranda. There are also muchaquafarming and many fish processing factories in the municipality. Tourism is, of course, a very important business in the whole district.
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Data from WikidataPlaces adjacent to Stranda Municipality | |
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