Telemark
Telemark (pronounced [ˈtêːləmɑrk] ⓘ) is a county and a current electoral district in Norway. Telemark borders the counties of Vestfold, Buskerud, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder.[4] In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark.[5][6] On 1 January 2024, the county of Telemark was re-established after Vestfold og Telemark was divided again.
For other uses, see Telemark (disambiguation).
Telemark County
Telemark fylke
Telemark
1662
1 Jan 2020
1 Jan 2024
Fred-Ivar Syrstad (Ap)
Sven Tore Løkslid (Ap)
15,298.2 km2 (5,906.7 sq mi)
13,832.4 km2 (5,340.7 sq mi)
1,465.7 km2 (565.9 sq mi) 9.6%
#8 in Norway
175,546
#13 in Norway
12.7/km2 (33/sq mi)
+2.7%
Teledøl
Telemarking[1]
139,900 kr
219,404 kr (2001)
#12 in Norway
(2.38% of country)
The name Telemark means the "mark of the Thelir", the ancient North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as Upper Telemark in the Migration Period and the Viking Age.
In the Middle Ages, the agricultural society of Upper Telemark was considered the most violent region of Norway.[7] Today, half of the buildings from medieval times in Norway are located here.[8] The dialects spoken in Upper Telemark also retain more elements of Old Norse than those spoken elsewhere in the country.[9] Upper Telemark is also known as the birthplace of skiing.[9]
The southern part of Telemark, Grenland, is more urban and influenced by trade with the Low Countries, northern Germany, Denmark and the British Isles.
Telemark has been one of Norway's most important industrial regions for centuries, marked in particular by the Norske Skog Union paper mills in Grenland and the Norsk Hydro heavy water and fertilizer production in Upper Telemark.[10]
Telemark county was re-established on 1 January 2024, following a vote of the county council of Vestfold og Telemark on 15 February 2022 to split the newly established county into its respective counties that existed before the merger took place; Telemark and Vestfold.
Infrastructure[edit]
The international road E18 goes through the southern parts of Telemark, namely Grenland and the municipality of Kragerø. E134, another important motorway and the fastest route between Oslo and Bergen, goes through the municipalities of Vinje, Tokke, Kviteseid, Seljord, Hjartdal and Notodden. RV36, stretching from Porsgrunn to Seljord, links the E18 and E134 motorways.
Telemark is well served by railways. The Sørlandet Line runs through the traditional districts of Vestmar and Midt-Telemark, serving the municipalities of Drangedal, Nome, Bø and Sauherad. Grenland is primarily served by the Vestfold Line, but also has connections through the Bratsberg Line which runs between Skien and Notodden.
From Langesund, Fjordline operates ferry services to Sweden and Denmark.
The main bus lines in the region are operated by Telemark Bilruter, serving western and middle parts of the region, and Nettbuss which serves the middle, eastern and southern parts of the region. Drangedal Bilruter serves the Vestmar region.
Coat of arms[edit]
The coat of arms of Telemark is from modern times (1970). It shows an old type of battle axe, significant for the county.
The county coat of arms valid from 1 January 2024 is a redesigned version of the county coat of arms for Telemark county from 1970 until the county merger in 2020.