The coat of arms of Sogn og Fjordane is an official symbol of Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. [1]
Sogn og Fjordane is a county in western Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the village of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality. The largest town in the county is Førde.
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northwestern Europe whose territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula; the remote island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard are also part of the Kingdom of Norway. The Antarctic Peter I Island and the sub-Antarctic Bouvet Island are dependent territories and thus not considered part of the kingdom. Norway also lays claim to a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land.
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The coat of arms features the geographical layout of the county. The three blue peaks on a silver background symbolize the three fjords of the county: Nordfjord, Sunnfjord, and Sognefjord. The name of the county is derived from these fjords. Nearly all villages, towns and population centers are situated on one of these fjords. [2]
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon, surcoat, or tabard. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement which in its whole consists of shield, supporters, crest, and motto. A coat of arms is traditionally unique to an individual person, family, state, organization or corporation.
Nordfjorden is the sixth longest fjord in Norway and the second longest fjord in all of Sogn og Fjordane county. It flows through the municipalities of Stryn, Gloppen, Eid, Bremanger, and Vågsøy, and it is the central feature of the entire Nordfjord region which makes up the northern third of the county.
Sunnfjord is a traditional district in Western Norway located in Sogn og Fjordane county. It includes the municipalities of Askvoll, Fjaler, Flora, Førde, Gaular, Jølster, Naustdal, and the southernmost parts of Bremanger. It covers an area of about 4,476 square kilometres (1,728 sq mi) and has a population (2006) of 41,156–about 32% of the population of Sogn og Fjordane county.
The coat of arms was introduced on 23 September 1983. It is almost exclusively used by the County Administration and use by others must be approved by them in advance. A banner of the coat of arms is used as the county flag.
Sogn og Fjordane County Municipality is the regional governing administration for Sogn og Fjordane county in Norway. The main responsibilities of the county municipality includes the running of 14 upper secondary schools with 4,500 pupils. It administrates the county roadways, public transport, dental care, culture, and cultural heritage.
The flag of Sogn og Fjordane is the official flag for Sogn og Fjordane county in Norway. It was introduced on 23 September 1983. The flag is a banner of the Coat of arms of Sogn og Fjordane. The design of the flag shows the geographical layout of the county: three large fjords protruding into the land. The three fjords are the Nordfjord, Sunnfjord, and Sognefjord. Nearly all villages and towns are situated on one of these fjords and the name of the county is based on the fjords.
