Vest-Telemark

Vest-Telemark
Øvre Telemark vestfjelske (historic)
District
The river Bora in Vinje on the border to Vestland
The river Bora in Vinje on the border to Vestland
Coordinates: 59°27′55″N 8°01′12″E / 59.4653°N 8.0200°E / 59.4653; 8.0200
CountryNorway
CountyVestfold og Telemark
RegionØstlandet
Area
[1]
 • Total7,699 km2 (2,973 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total13,903
 • Density1.8/km2 (4.7/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Teledøl
Telemarking[3]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
195116,375—    
196017,037+4.0%
197015,846−7.0%
198015,746−0.6%
199015,706−0.3%
200014,770−6.0%
201014,251−3.5%
202013,903−2.4%
Source: Statistics Norway[2]

Vest-Telemark (lit. 'West-Telemark') is a traditional district in Norway. The 7,699-square-kilometre (2,973 sq mi) area comprises the western areas of the larger region known as Upper Telemark (Norwegian: Øvre Telemark) in Vestfold og Telemark county. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid, and Seljord. In 2020, there were 13,903 residents in the region. The area of Vest-Telemark was historically called Øvre Telemark vestfjelske.[2][4]

The region is known for its folk traditions within music, clothing, handcrafts, food, and architecture. The region is also distinctly marked by its dialects of Norwegian. This form of Norwegian is among those containing the most traces of the Old Norse language and grammar. This area uses the Nynorsk written form of Norwegian.

Vest-Telemark is also the home of slalom (slalåm) skiing, Telemark skiing, and ski jumping (with its characteristic Telemark landing). "The Cradle of Modern Skiing" is found in Morgedal.

Municipalities

Name Population
(in 2020)		 Language form Website
Fyresdal 1287 Nynorsk Fyresdal.kommune.no
Kviteseid 2403 Nynorsk Kviteseid.kommune.no
Nissedal 1448 Nynorsk Nissedal.kommune.no
Seljord 2888 Nynorsk Seljord.kommune.no
Tokke 2201 Nynorsk Tokke.kommune.no
Vinje 3676 Nynorsk Vinje.kommune.no

Notable people from Vest-Telemark

References

  1. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  2. ^ a b c Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  3. ^ "Innbyggjarnamn". sprakradet.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik, ed. (17 March 2021). "Vest-Telemark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 8 January 2023.