Southern Norway

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Southern Norway Sørlandet
—  Region (landsdel)  —
The city of Risør
Nickname(s): South-Norway
Country	Norway
Capital	Kristiansand, Arendal
Counties (fylker)	Aust-Agder Vest-Agder
Area
- Total	16,434 km2 (6,345.2 sq mi)
Population (2009)
- Total	277,250
- Density	16.9/km2 (43.7/sq mi)
- Demonym	Southlendic people

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	%±
1951	172,753	—
1960	185,302	7.3%
1970	215,874	16.5%
1980	225,429	4.4%
1990	240,906	6.9%
2000	257,869	7.0%
2010	279,024	8.2%
2020	308,220	10.5%
2030	337,339	9.4%
Source: Statistics Norway [1][2].

Southern Norway (Norwegian: Sørlandet) (lit. "southern land") is the name of the geographical region (landsdel) of the Skagerrak coast of southern Norway consisting of the two counties Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder. The total combined area of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder is 6368 sq. mi. or 16493 sq. km.

Contents 1 Origin and use of the concept 2 Coastal region 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Origin and use of the concept

The name, and modern concept of this part of the country considered as a separate region, was introduced as late as 1902 by the local author Wilhelm Krag. Before this, the area was considered part of Western Norway. Southern Norway coincides roughly with the historic petty kingdom of Agder.

Occasionally, adjacent parts of the county of Rogaland and Telemark might be considered part of this region, as well.

If defined as an informal region, Southern Norway is perhaps more properly defined as the Skagerrak coastal belt, thus excluding the inland valleys to the north.

[edit] Coastal region

About 80% of the population of the two counties live along the coast, which has the warmest climate as well as offering quick access to the rich fishing grounds and maritime roads of the Skagerrak. The coastal towns of Southern Norway, from west to east, are:

• Flekkefjord
• Farsund
• Mandal
• Kristiansand
• Lillesand
• Grimstad
• Arendal
• Tvedestrand
• Risør

Kirkehavn on Hidra, Vest-Agder, Norway

Lighthouse on Cape Lindesnes, Norway

Arendal in Norway

Kristiansand harbor

[edit] See also

• Demographics of Southern Norway

[edit] External links

• Southern Norway
• Agder
• Destination Sørlandet
• University of Agder
• Tonal characteristics of some varieties of spoken South Norwegian.

v • d • e Regions of Norway Nord-Norge • Østlandet • Sørlandet • Trøndelag • Vestlandet

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