Leikanger
Encyclopedia
is a municipality in the county
of Sogn og Fjordane
, Norway
. It is located in the traditional district
of Sogn
. The administrative center is the village of Leikanger, which is also the administrative center of Sogn og Fjordane
county.
The urban area of Leikanger and Hermansverk has 1,965 inhabitants (2007). This urban area is often called Systrond, which is why a person from Leikanger is often called Systrending.
). The original municipality was identical to the Leikanger parish
(prestegjeld
) with the six sub-parishes (sokn) of Leikanger, Fresvik
, Rinde (later named Feios), Vangsnes, Tjugum, and Mundal (Mundal was later re-named Fjærland
). In 1849, the sub-parishes of Vangsnes
, Tjugum, and Mundal were transferred into the newly created Balestrand
parish (prestegjeld). The new parish was separated from Leikanger in 1850 and made into a municipality of its own named Balestrand
. This split left Leikanger with 2,368 residents.
On 1 January 1964, the Hella-Eitorn area (population: 31) was transferred from Balestrand
back to Leikanger. Also, the Tingstad area (population: 5) was transferred to neighboring Sogndal
municipality. These changes left Leikanger with 2,680 residents. On 1 January 1992 the sub-parishes of Leikanger lying south of the Sognefjord
, including Feios and Fresvik
(total population: 572) were transferred to the municipality of Vik
. This move left Leikanger with only one sub-parish: Leikanger.
) is named after the old farm Leikanger (Old Norse
: Leikvangir), since the first church was built there. The first element is leikr which means "sport
s" or "athletics" and the last element is the plural form of vangr which means "meadow". Prior to 1889, the name was written Lekanger.
is from modern times. The arms were granted on 5 September 1963. The arms show a twig of an apple tree
. The apple tree branch is a symbol for the many orchards in the municipality and thus for the local economy. The three leaves also symbolise the three parishes in the municipality.
has one church within the municipality of Leikanger. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
and the Rural Deanery
(Prosti) of Indre Sogn
.
(through 10th grade), outpatient health services
, senior citizen
services, unemployment
and other social services
, zoning
, economic development
, and municipal road
s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
.
breakdown is as follows:
(ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the municipal council who is elected either by the majority of the council or via direct elections. Olav Lunden of the Labour Party
(Det Norske Arbeiderpartiet) was re-elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. He was first elected in 2003.
and to the east of the Fjærlandsfjord. It is bordered on the north and east by the municipality of Sogndal
, on the west by Balestrand
, and on the south by Vik
.
s, three powerline spans with length over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), which are currently the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th longest spans in the world. In 1955, the first Sognefjord Span
was built near Leikanger. It was the longest span in the world from 1955 until 1997.
, Esbjerg Municipality, Denmark
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
of Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is located in the traditional district
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
. The administrative center is the village of Leikanger, which is also the administrative center of Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county.
The urban area of Leikanger and Hermansverk has 1,965 inhabitants (2007). This urban area is often called Systrond, which is why a person from Leikanger is often called Systrending.
General information
Leikanger was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The original municipality was identical to the Leikanger parish
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
(prestegjeld
Prestegjeld
A Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative area of the Church of Norway roughly equivalent to a parish. A prestegjeld can consist of one or many congregations...
) with the six sub-parishes (sokn) of Leikanger, Fresvik
Fresvik
Fresvik is a village and parish in the municipality of Vik in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the southern shore of the Sognefjord, about south of Leikanger-Hermansverk and about east of the municipal center of Vikøyri...
, Rinde (later named Feios), Vangsnes, Tjugum, and Mundal (Mundal was later re-named Fjærland
Fjærland
Fjærland is a village in the municipality of Sogndal, along the Fjærlandsfjord, in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The Fjærlandfjord is a branch of the Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway...
). In 1849, the sub-parishes of Vangsnes
Vangsnes
-External links:**...
, Tjugum, and Mundal were transferred into the newly created Balestrand
Balestrand
Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand....
parish (prestegjeld). The new parish was separated from Leikanger in 1850 and made into a municipality of its own named Balestrand
Balestrand
Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand....
. This split left Leikanger with 2,368 residents.
On 1 January 1964, the Hella-Eitorn area (population: 31) was transferred from Balestrand
Balestrand
Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand....
back to Leikanger. Also, the Tingstad area (population: 5) was transferred to neighboring Sogndal
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
municipality. These changes left Leikanger with 2,680 residents. On 1 January 1992 the sub-parishes of Leikanger lying south of the Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
, including Feios and Fresvik
Fresvik
Fresvik is a village and parish in the municipality of Vik in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the southern shore of the Sognefjord, about south of Leikanger-Hermansverk and about east of the municipal center of Vikøyri...
(total population: 572) were transferred to the municipality of Vik
Vik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
. This move left Leikanger with only one sub-parish: Leikanger.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
) is named after the old farm Leikanger (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Leikvangir), since the first church was built there. The first element is leikr which means "sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s" or "athletics" and the last element is the plural form of vangr which means "meadow". Prior to 1889, the name was written Lekanger.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. The arms were granted on 5 September 1963. The arms show a twig of an apple tree
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
. The apple tree branch is a symbol for the many orchards in the municipality and thus for the local economy. The three leaves also symbolise the three parishes in the municipality.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has one church within the municipality of Leikanger. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
and the Rural Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
(Prosti) of Indre Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
.
| Parish (Prestegjeld) | Sub-Parish (Sogn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leikanger Parish | Leikanger | Leikanger kyrkje | 1166 | Leikanger |
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Leikanger, are responsible for primary educationPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
(through 10th grade), outpatient health services
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, senior citizen
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
services, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and other social services
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
, economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, and municipal road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Leikanger is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the partyPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
breakdown is as follows:
Mayor
The mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the municipal council who is elected either by the majority of the council or via direct elections. Olav Lunden of the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
(Det Norske Arbeiderpartiet) was re-elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. He was first elected in 2003.
Geography
Leikanger is located on the north side of the SognefjordSognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
and to the east of the Fjærlandsfjord. It is bordered on the north and east by the municipality of Sogndal
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
, on the west by Balestrand
Balestrand
Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand....
, and on the south by Vik
Vik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
.
Buildings and structures
East of Leikanger, there are the Sognefjord SpanSognefjord Span
The Sognefjord Spans are the second, third, and fourth longest spans in the world situated east of Hermansverk and are part of different powerlines. As Sognefjord Span is a deep valley the pylons of these spans are not taller than ordinary pylons...
s, three powerline spans with length over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), which are currently the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th longest spans in the world. In 1955, the first Sognefjord Span
Sognefjord Span
The Sognefjord Spans are the second, third, and fourth longest spans in the world situated east of Hermansverk and are part of different powerlines. As Sognefjord Span is a deep valley the pylons of these spans are not taller than ordinary pylons...
was built near Leikanger. It was the longest span in the world from 1955 until 1997.
Sister cities/Twin towns
Leikanger has sister city agreements with the following places: RibeRibe
Ribe , the oldest extant Danish town, is in southwest Jutland and has a population of 8,192 . Until 1 January 2007, it was the seat of both the surrounding municipality, and county...
, Esbjerg Municipality, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...