The 2,076-square-kilometre (802 sq mi) municipality is the 33rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Skjåk is the 271st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,147. The municipality'spopulation density is 1.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.8/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
The municipality of Skjåk was established on 1 January 1866 when the largeLom Municipality was divided and the western part of the municipality (population: 2,691) became the new Skjåk Municipality (historically spelledSkiaker Municipality). The eastern part of the municipality (population: 3,299) remained as Lom Municipality.[6]
The municipality (originally theparish) is named after the oldSkjåk farm (Old Norse:Skeiðakr) since the firstSkjåk Church was built there. The first element comes from the wordskeið which means "a running track forhorse racing". The last element isakr which means "field" or "acre".[7] Prior to 1889, the name was written "Skiaker", then from 1889 to 1910 it was spelled "Skiaaker". On 4 June 1910, aroyal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality toSkjaak, to give the name a moreNorwegian and lessDanish spelling due toNorwegian language reforms.[8] On 21 December 1917, aroyal resolution enacted the1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled with thedigraph "aa", and after this reform, the letterå was used instead (Skjåk).[9][10]
Thecoat of arms was granted on 31 March 1989. The officialblazon is"Azure, an acanthusquatrefoilargent" (Norwegian:På blå grunn eit sølv firblad). This means the arms have a bluefield (background) and thecharge is fouracanthus leaves connected in the centre. The charge has atincture ofargent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize growth and strength. These symbols are found in many historic artifacts from around the area. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[11][12][13]
The community is at the meeting point betweenGudbrandsdalen and the mountains between the eastern parts of Norway and the west coast. The municipality lies on a historically significant traffic artery between Stryn and Nordfjord,Geiranger, andSunnmøre and the more easterly Ottadal municipalities of Lom andVågå. TheBreheimen National Park andReinheimen National Park are both located in the municipality.
Of the total area, 19 square kilometres (7.3 sq mi) is used for agriculture; 129 square kilometres (50 sq mi) forforestry; 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) is covered by water (including theBreiddalsvatnet lake); and the rest is mountains and other non-arable land. Virtually the entire 23-kilometre (14 mi) long valley floor is continuously, but sparsely, built up. Skjåk serves as a point of entry to the mountain areas just west;hunting andfishing are also populartourist activities. The municipality includes a number of large lakes includingAursjoen,Breiddalsvatnet,Grønvatnet,Langvatnet,Rauddalsvatn, andTordsvatnet. TheBreheimen mountains run through the municipality and theHolåbreen andTystigbreenglaciers are located in those mountains.
Nestled in a deep valley, the populated regions of Skjåk arerain shadowed and as a result are actually one of the most arid places inEurope with annual precipitation of about 250 millimetres (10 in) per year, but it avoids asteppe climate (KöppenBSk) by being too cold (mean annual temperature of 2.75 °C [36.95 °F]), thus having a lowevapotranspiration rate, and having precipitation too spread out (about 55% in summer). This gives Skjåk asubarctic climate (KöppenDsc), thanks to low overall precipitation levels in summer.[14][15]
In addition, one side of the valley,solsida ("the sunny side"), has a southern exposure, whereasbaksida (the "back side") gets very little sun.Agriculture has been enabled by elaborateirrigation systems for hundreds of years, so the area is green and productive rather than desert-like.
Climate data for Skjåk, Oppland, elevation: 372 m or 1,220 ft, 1961-1990 normals, extremes 1970–1987
Skjåk has historical roots back to theViking Age and has a rich cultural heritage. An ancient route of travel between east and west went from Skjåk up through the Raudal valley and down through the Sunndal valley toStryn on an arm of theNordfjord. For example, in 1197, according toKing Sverre'ssaga, Bishop Nikolaus is reported to have sent a group ofbaglers from Oppdal over the mountains to Stryn on Nordfjord, via Raudal.
Themunicipal council(Kommunestyre) of Skjåk is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by politicalparty.