Telemark
Telemark is a
county in
Norway, bordering
Vestfold,
Buskerud,
Hordaland,
Rogaland and
Aust-Agder. The county administration is in
Skien.
The county is located in southeastern Norway,extending from Hardangervidda to the Skagerrak coast. The coastline extends from Langesundsfjorden to Gjernestangen at the border to Aust-Agder. Telemark has a very broken and heterogenous landscape, including many hills and valleys.
The largest population centres are
Skien,
Porsgrunn,
Notodden,
Rjukan and
Kragerø. Other important places are
Stathelle,
Ulefoss,
Brevik,
Langesund,
Bø ,
Fyresdal and
Vinje.
Some old historians used to believe that in the early
Viking Age, before
Harald Fairhair, Telemark was a
petty kingdom. This is, however, unfounded.
The film
The Heroes of Telemark is loosely based on the
Norwegian heavy water sabotage, a raid on a heavy water plant at
Rjukan during
World War II.
Ray Mears made a documentary titled
The Real Heroes of Telemark as a response to the inaccuracies of the film, giving an account more focused on the outdoor skills that were required for the operation (spending months in remote cabins).
Until 1919 the county was known as
Bratsberg amt.
Notable people from Telemark*
Hallvard Graatop (c.
1400–
1475), from
Drangedal lead rebellion against Danish rule in
1438.
*
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (
1818–
1870), author from
Vinje.
*
Sondre Norheim (
1825–
1897), father of
skiing from
Morgedal in
Kviteseid*
Henrik Ibsen (
1828–
1906), author from
Skien*
Vidkun Quisling (
1887–
1945), politician, traitor from
Fyresdal*
Aslaug Vaa (
1889–
1965), author from
Rauland*
Tarjei Vesaas (
1897–
1970), author from
Vinje*
Anne Grimdalen (
1899–
1961), sculptor from
Skafså in
Tokke*
Eivind Groven (
1901–
1977), composer from
Lårdal in
Tokke*
Klaus Egge (
1906–
1979), composer from
Gransherad in
Notodden*
Hans Herbjørnsrud (
1938–), author from
Heddal in
Notodden*
Tor Åge Bringsværd (
1939–), author from
Skien*
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen (1971 - )), musician from
Notodden*
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan (1975 - )), musician from
Notodden*
August Cappelen (
1827–
1852),
national romantic painter from
Skien*
Agnes Buen Garnås (1946 -), folk singer from
BøThe county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. These are
Grenland,
Vest-Telemark,
Midt Telemark,
Øst Telemark and
Vestmar.
|
Location of Telemark Municipalities |
Telemark County has a total of 18 municipalities:
#
Bamble#
Bø#
Drangedal#
Fyresdal#
Hjartdal#
Kragerø#
Kviteseid#
Nissedal#
Nome#
Notodden#
Porsgrunn#
Sauherad#
Seljord#
Siljan#
Skien#
Tinn#
Tokke#
Vinje*
Homepage of Telemark County*
County map*
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