Telemark Totally Explained

Everything about Telemark totally explained

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 heterogeneous 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.

The name

The Norse form of the name was Þelamörk. The first element is the genitive plural case of þelir, the name of an old Germanic tribe. The last element is mörk f 'woodland, borderland'. (See also Hedmark and Finnmark.)
Until 1919 the county was called Bratsberg amt. The amt was named after the farm Bratsberg (Norse Brattsberg), since this was the seat of the amtmann ('governor'). The first element is the genitive case of brattr m 'steep mountain', the last element is berg n 'mountain'. (The name is referring to a steep mountainside behind the farm.)
Telemark lent its name to Telemark skiing, a style invented by Sondre Norheim, and the characteristic Telemark landing of ski jumping.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1970). It shows an old type of battle axe, significant for the county.

History

Some historians used to believe that Telemark had been a petty kingdom in the early Viking Age, prior to the reign of Harald Fairhair. This assertion, however, is 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 born in Telemark

Myllarguten (1801 - 1872), legendary fiddler born in Sauherad
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (1818–1870), author born in Vinje.
Sondre Norheim (1825–1897), father of skiing born in Morgedal, Kviteseid
August Cappelen (1827 - 1852), national romantic painter born in Skien.
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), author born in Skien
Theodor Kittelsen (1857 - 1914), artist born in Kragerø
Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), politician, infamous World War II traitor born in Fyresdal
Aslaug Vaa (1889–1965), author born in Rauland
Tarjei Vesaas (1897–1970), author born in Vinje
Anne Grimdalen (1899–1961), sculptor born in Skafså, Tokke
Eivind Groven (1901–1977), composer born in Lårdal, Tokke
Dyre Vaa (1903–1980), sculptor born in Vinje
Klaus Egge (1906–1979), composer born in Gransherad, Notodden
Gunnar Sønsteby, (1918-), war hero born in Rjukan, Tinn
Hans Herbjørnsrud (1938–), author born in Heddal, Notodden
Tor Åge Bringsværd (1939–), author born in Skien
Kåre Nordstoga (1954-), musician born in Notodden
Gisle Kverndokk (1967-), composer born in Skien
Odd Nordstoga (1972-), musician born in Vinje.
Frode Johnsen (1974-), footballer born in Skien.
Terje Haakonsen (1974-), master snowboarder born in Vinje
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (1975-), black/extreme metal musician born in Notodden

Districts

The county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. These are Grenland, Vest-Telemark, Midt-Telemark, Øst-Telemark and Vestmar.

Municipalities

Telemark County has a total of 18 municipalities:

Bamble

Bø

Nome

Seljord

Siljan

Skien

Tinn

Tokke

VinjeFurther Information

Get more info on 'Telemark'.

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