Saltdal

Saltdal (Northern Sami: Sálát) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rognan. Other villages in Saltdal include Røkland and Lønsdal.

Saltdal kommune
Municipality
View of Saltdal where the valley meets the fjord
Nordland within
Norway
Saltdal within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°55′12″N 15°33′36″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictSalten
Established1 Jan 1838
Administrative centreRognan
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Rune Berg (Sp)
Area
 • Total2,216.19 km2 (855.68 sq mi)
 • Land2,083.93 km2 (804.61 sq mi)
 • Water132.26 km2 (51.07 sq mi)  6%
Area rank26 in Norway
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,671
 • Rank185 in Norway
 • Density2.2/km2 (6/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
−0.4%
Demonym(s)saltdaling[1]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1840
Official language formBokmål[2]
Websitesaltdal.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 2,216-square-kilometre (856 sq mi) municipality is the 26th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Saltdal is the 185th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,671. The municipality's population density is 2.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.7/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The municipality of Saltdal was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). In 1949, a small area of Skjerstad Municipality (population: 10) was transferred to Saltdal. Other than that one change, the borders have never changed.[5]

Name

The Old Norse form of the name must have been Salptardalr. The first element is the genitive case of the river name Salpt which means "strong steam", (now Saltdalselva, which runs through Saltdal) and the last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted in 1988. The arms show two gold-colored rowan twigs on a red background. It was chosen to represent nature and the prevalence of rowan forests in the municipality.[7][8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Saltdal. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Saltdal
Parish (sokn)Church NameLocation of the ChurchYear Built
SaltdalSaltdal ChurchRognan1862
Øvre SaltdalØvre Saltdal ChurchRøkland1938

History
Memorial for the Blood Road

During World War II, the Germans decided to lengthen the Nordland Line from Lønsdal in Saltfjellet going northwards. Over a period of three years, the original plan was to first have both the road and the railroad all the way to Narvik and then on to Kirkenes, but they only managed to build the railroad to Bodø.

The Germans continued to lengthen the road to Kirkenes, and it came to be known as Blodvegen ("the Blood Road") by locals. This project involved prisoners of war, mostly from Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, in building this road under extremely harsh conditions. The workers lived in prison camps where they did not receive enough food for their hard work building the road. This caused many of the workers to collapse and die. A famous sign of this road is the blood cross one of the prisoners drew on the mountainside with his recently killed friend's blood. It has become a tradition to repaint this cross with red paint, so people who pass this will never forget what happened. It's still possible to walk this road, which stretches from Saltnes to Soksenvika. At Saltnes, you will find the Blood Road museum.

Saltdal was known for having some of the most horrifying prisoner-of-war camps in Norway during World War II. A grand total of 15-18 camps with 9,500 Russian, Polish, and Yugoslavian prisoners were located in the valley.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Saltdal, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[9] The municipality falls under the Salten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Saltdal is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Saltdal Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [10]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Red Party (Rødt)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Saltdal List (Saltdalslista)2
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høyre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Saltdal List (Saltdalslista)4
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høyre)9
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)11
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)7
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)6
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Saltdal local politics list (Saltdal Lokalpolitiske Liste)1
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Saltdal local politics list (Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste)1
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høyre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Saltdal local politics list (Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste)3
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)12
 Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)1
 Conservative Party (Høyre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Saltdal local politics list (Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste)2
 Saltdal cross-party list (Saltdal tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)12
 Conservative Party (Høyre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)3
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)14
 Conservative Party (Høyre)5
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)12
 Conservative Party (Høyre)7
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:27
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)11
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Socialist common list (Venstresosialistiske felleslister)2
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)12
 Conservative Party (Høyre)3
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)13
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)11
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)13
 Conservative Party (Høyre)2
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)2
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)11
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)4
Total number of members:21
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)10
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)2
Total number of members:16
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)1
Total number of members:16
Saltdal Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)9
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)4
Total number of members:16

Mayor

The mayors of Saltdal (incomplete list):

  • 2015–present: Rune Berg (Sp)
  • 2011-2015: Finn-Obert Bentsen (Ap)
  • 1999-2011: Kjell Magne Johansen (Ap)

Geography
Nordland National Park Centre is situated at Storjord, Saltdal
To the north, Saltdal borders Saltdal Fjord, innermost part of Skjerstadfjord, with road and railway to Fauske on the eastern slope of the fjord.
Part of Junkerdal Nature Reserve

The main centre in the municipality is Rognan, on the southern shore of the Saltdal Fjord, where the valley floor meets the fjord. When the Ice age ended and the ice had melted 9,000 years ago, the valley was a fjord as the sea reached what is today an elevation of 120 metres (390 ft) due to isostatic depression. The valley is situated just north of the Arctic Circle.

Two national parks are partially in the municipality: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park in the southwest, and Junkerdal National Park in the eastern part. This makes Saltdal one of the municipalities in Norway with the largest percentage of protected areas within its borders. The river Saltdalselva runs through the valley. The riverbed appears very bright in some places due to the minerals in the sand. The valley is covered with pine forest and birch and other trees are common as well. Lakes in the region include Balvatnet, Fiskeløysvatnet, Kjemåvatnet, and Nordre Bjøllåvatnet. The mountain Ørfjellet is also located in the municipality.

Climate

The municipality lies on the northeastern side of the Saltfjellet mountains, in the rain shadow of the mountains. With mountains surrounding it in almost all directions, Saltdal is one of the driest areas in Norway, especially the upper part of the valley. For five years in a row, 2001 to 2005, and then again in 2007 and 2008, the weather station in the upper part of the Saltdal valley recorded the least precipitation in all of continental Norway, with only 74 millimetres (2.9 in) in 2005. Average annual precipitation is 291 millimetres (11.5 in) per year in the upper part of the valley.

Located in an inland valley, Saltdal is also known for its warm summer days, frequently being one of Norway's warmest locations if the right weather situation occurs (with easterly or southeasterly winds blowing). It is not uncommon with daytime temperatures approaching and sometimes exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer months. Similarly, winter temperatures can be quite cold, often dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F) on a clear day.

During a heatwave in June 2011, Saltdal recorded four days in a row with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 °C (86 °F). On 11 June 2011, Saltdal recorded a daytime high of 33.8 °C (92.8 °F), which was a new heat record for Nordland county in the month of June.[28] During the July 2019 European heat wave the temperature reached at 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in Saltdal, the highest temperature ever measured north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.[29][30]

Monthly 24-hr averages range from −6 °C (21 °F) in January to 14 °C (57 °F) in July (1961-1990 base period, source Norges Meteorologiske Institutt), and the annual average is 3.3 °C (37.9 °F). April and May are the driest months, with less than 10 millimetres (0.39 in) of precipitation. July is the wettest month with 39 millimetres (1.5 in). This data is from the driest, upper part of the valley, and many other parts of the municipality averages more than twice as much precipitation. Junkerdal (210 metres or 690 feet above sea level) averages 600 millimetres (24 in) annually.

Climate data for Saltdal (10 last years)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −2
(28)		 −2
(28)		 0
(32)		 6
(43)		 11
(52)		 16
(61)		 19
(66)		 17
(63)		 12
(54)		 6
(43)		 2
(36)		 −1
(30)		 7
(45)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.5
(23.9)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −3
(27)		 3
(37)		 7.5
(45.5)		 12
(54)		 15
(59)		 13.5
(56.3)		 9
(48)		 3.5
(38.3)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 −3
(27)		 4
(39)
Average low °C (°F) −7
(19)		 −7
(19)		 −6
(21)		 0
(32)		 4
(39)		 8
(46)		 11
(52)		 10
(50)		 6
(43)		 1
(34)		 −3
(27)		 −5
(23)		 1
(34)
Source: [31]

Transportation

The European route E6 highway passes through the entire length of Saltdal, with the Nordland Line running alongside it. A road running east through the Junkerdalen valley (National Road 77) leads to Sweden. The nearest main airport is in Bodø, about 90 minutes from Rognan by road. There is a general aviation airport—Rognan Airport.

Economy

Saltdal has a great history in boat building out of local timber. Especially before World War II, the boatbuilding industry employed a large percentage of Saltdal's population.

Nowadays, the largest employer in Saltdal is Nexans. The company's Rognan factory specializes in telecommunication, fibre optics and copper cables. There is also some agriculture in Saltdal, and many people work within public services.

Notable people
Ludvig Kristensen Daa, 1877

See also

References
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  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 228.
  7. Store norske leksikon. "Saltdal" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 March 2012.
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  12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
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  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
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  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. Saltdal/statistics.html
  29. "Weather statistics for Nordnes, Saltdal". www.yr.no/. Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  30. "Saltdal-Nordnes". www.ogimet.com. OGIMET. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  31. "Saltdal average conditions - base period 10 last years". Storm Weather Center. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  32. IMDb Database retrieved 27 August 2020
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