Selfors

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Selfors
Village
E6 passing Selfors.JPG
View of the E6 highway passing through Selfors
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Selfors
Location in Nordland
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Selfors
Selfors (Norway)
Coordinates: 66°19′37″N14°10′28″E / 66.3269°N 14.1744°E / 66.3269; 14.1744 Coordinates: 66°19′37″N14°10′28″E / 66.3269°N 14.1744°E / 66.3269; 14.1744
Country Norway
Region Northern Norway
County Nordland
District Helgeland
Municipality Rana
Elevation
[1]
24 m (79 ft)
Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
8604 Mo i Rana

Selfors is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. Selfors sits on the northern shore of the river Ranelva and it is a northeastern suburb of the town of Mo i Rana. The European route E06 highway passes through the village. Selfors has been inhabited since the Iron age. [2]

Rana, Norway Municipality in Nordland, Norway

Rana is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mo i Rana, which houses the National Library of Norway. Other population centers in Rana include Alterneset, Båsmoen, Dunderland, Eiteråga, Flostrand, Hauknes, Mæla, Myklebustad, Nevernes, Røssvoll, Selfors, Skonseng, Storforshei, Utskarpen, and Ytteren.

Nordland County (fylke) of Norway

Nordland is a county in Norway in the Northern Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Trøndelag in the south, Norrbotten County in Sweden to the east, Västerbotten County to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is in Bodø. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen has been administered from Nordland since 1995.

Norway constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe

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.

Contents

The local branch of the Helgeland Hospital in Rana, is located on Selfors. There are also two daycare centres, a primary school, and school with secondary classes. In connection with the expansion of the Norsk Jernverk iron and metal industry company in 1946, Selfors Church was originally built by the Catholic Church. It was built in 1971 and constructed mainly out of glass and wood. It seats 200. Since 1976, however, it has also been used by the Church of Norway.

Selfors Church Church in Nordland, Norway

Selfors Church is a rented parish church of the Church of Norway in Rana Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Selfors. It is an annex church for the Nord-Rana parish which is part of the Indre Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The concrete, wood, and glass church was built in 1971 for the Catholic Church in Rana and has been leased by the Nord-Rana parish since 1976. The church seats about 200 people.

Church of Norway Evangelical-Lutheran denomination in Norway

The Church of Norway is an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway, with membership mandatory for everyone until the 19th century.

Additionally, Selfors has a grocery store (which includes the local post office); a flower shop; a store for hunting, fishing and outdoor life; a petrol station; and an inn located along European route E06. There are six housing cooperatives in Selfors, owned by Mo og Omegn Boligbyggelag.

Transportation

The Selfors Bridge over the Ranelva river on the E6 highway connects Selfors with the town of Mo i Rana. The first bridge at Selfors was built in 1914. On 18 May 1940, it was blown up by the resistance in order to slow down the northward advance of the German occupation forces. It was, however, quickly rebuilt, and was used until it was torn down on 17 March 1965. A new bridge was then built, and is still in use today.

Ranelva river in Rana, Norway

Ranelva is a 130-kilometre (81 mi) long river in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is one of the longest rivers in Nordland county. The catchment area of the river is 3,790 square kilometres (1,460 sq mi). Before the power stations of Reinforsen (1925) and Langvatnet (1964) were built, the catchment area was 3,843 square kilometres (1,484 sq mi).

Mo i Rana Town in Northern Norway, Norway

Mo i Rana is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Helgeland region of Nordland, just south of the Arctic Circle. Some of the outlying areas of the town include the suburbs of Båsmoen and Ytteren in the north and Selfors in the east and Åga/Hauknes/Dalsgrenda in the south.

Before the opening of the new bridge between Mjølan and Ytteren, Selfors Bridge was the only road connection between Mo i Rana and the two urban districts Ytteren and Båsmoen.

Ytteren Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Ytteren is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. Ytteren and the neighboring village of Båsmoen are northern suburbs of the town of Mo i Rana. They are both located on the northern edge of the mouth of the Ranelva river at the Ranfjorden. Norwegian County Road 12 runs through the village. The large lake Langvatnet lies about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the village.

Båsmoen Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Båsmoen is a small village located in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northwest of the town Mo i Rana. Båsmoen has grown together with its neighboring village to the east, Ytteren. Both villages are sometimes considered a northern suburb of the town of Mo i Rana.

The hillsides and mountains at Selfors are a popular terrain for outdoor activities. Varmosletta, Skarvatnet, and Kvitbergan ("the white cliffs") are located in untouched nature.

History

View of Selfors in 1948 Selfors 1948 NBR960202972.jpg
View of Selfors in 1948

Selfors farm

Selfors farm is one of the oldest farms in Nord-Rana and it played a central role at that place until 1680. The farm was located along the river Ranelva on the western parts of the present-day village of Selfors, near the Ranfjorden and Fossetangen. [3]

Nord-Rana Former municipality in Nordland, Norway

Nord-Rana is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The 3,980-square-kilometre (1,540 sq mi) municipality existed from 1839 until its dissolution in 1964. From 1839 until 1844, it was named Nord-Ranen, from 1844 until 1923, it was called Mo, and then from 1923 until 1964 it was named Nord-Rana. The former municipality was located at the innermost part of the Ranfjorden. It encompassed the eastern 90% of what is now Rana Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Ytteren, just north of the town of Mo i Rana.

Selfors farm is mentioned in "the farm book of Aslak Bolt" in 1430, written by Aslak Harniktsson Bolt (ca.1380−1449), the Archbishop of Nidaros. Aslak Bolt wrote: "af selfosse 1/2 spann" [4] Selfors thus paid 1/2 bucket of butter to the Archbishop of the Diocese of Nidaros.

The Leidang census during the years 1566−1567 does not mention the farm. It had probably not ceased to exist, but was rather forgotten, since the farmer during the census in 1610 was registered as a sailor and in 1612 as a bailiff. In the 17th century Selfors farm belonged to the Hemnes Church parish.

Name

The name Selfors was first mentioned in 1430. It has been interpreted as Sel-foss (Norwegian for "the pinniped waterfall"), meaning a waterfall where pinnipeds lived. It also has been connected with the Sami word saelhtie, meaning "ocean". [5] This interpretation of "Sel-foss", however, is doubtful. In the old dialect of Rana they never used the name "sel" for pinnipeds, but rather used "købbe". Købbforsen which literally means "the pinniped waterfall", is located in another place in Rana municipality. The name could also be seen in connection with sele ("silent flowing and deep water"), similar to the Swedish place names of Lycksele, Sorsele, and Åsele. Selfors may then mean "a waterfall in a river with silent flowing, deep water". The waterfall is located at Fossetangen, and the "silent flowing, deep water" might be to river Ranelva.

Kvitbergan

Photos from the mountains around Selfors, taken in November 2005:

Related Research Articles

Hemnes Municipality in Nordland, Norway

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Ranfjord fjord in Nordland, Norway

The Ranfjorden is a fjord in the Helgeland district of Nordland county, Norway. The largest part of the fjord is in the municipality of Rana, but the fjord also passes through the municipalities of Hemnes, Vefsn, Leirfjord, Nesna, and Dønna. The river Ranelva meets the Ranfjord in at the town of Mo i Rana at the innermost part of the fjord. It then flows to the west for about 68 kilometres (42 mi) to where it meets the sea along the border of Dønna and Nesna municipalities.

Bjørnefossvatnet lake in Rana, Norway

Bjørnefossvatnet or Flatisvatnet is a lake in the northwestern part of the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The lake is located inside the Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of the town of Mo i Rana. The glacial lake is also the headwaters of the Glomåga river which flows south into the lake Langvatnet.

Bogvatnet lake in Rana, Norway

Bogvatnet (Norwegian) or Tjoamodisjávrre (Lule Sami) is a lake in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The lake is located inside the Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of the town of Mo i Rana. The glacial lake is also the headwaters of the Blakkåga river, a tributary to the main river Ranelva.

Langvatnet (Rana) lake in Rana, Norway

Langvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The 26.38-square-kilometre (10.19 sq mi) lake lies just northwest of the town of Mo i Rana. The lake flows out into the river Langvassåga just north of Mo i Rana Airport, Røssvoll. The lake used as a reservoir for the Langvatn hydroelectric power plant in the village of Ytteren, just down the hill from the lake.

Revelelva is the native name of the lowest part of the river Tverråga, which has its outlet in Ranelva in Rana municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The river change its name at the bridge connecting European route E6 with Gruben. Before this bridge it is called Tverråga. Passing this bridge, it is called Revelelva.

Langvassåga river in Rana, Norway

Langvassåga is a river that flows out of the lake Langvatnet in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It flows in a southeastern direction and almost immediately, it is joined by the river Røvassåga. It then continues a short distance southwards before joining the main river Ranelva, just south of the village of Røssvoll. The Langvassåga catchment area covers about 1,114 square kilometres (430 sq mi). The river passes by the Mo i Rana Airport, Røssvoll.

Tverråga river in Rana, Norway

Tverråga is a river in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The river flows from lake Tverrvatnet north until it joins the river Ranelva. The river absorbs seven other rivers during its course, the last one by Hamaren near the village of Gruben.

Eiteråga Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Eiteråga or Eiterå is a village in the Dunderland Valley in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located along the Ranelva river about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) east of the village of Storforshei and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the village of Dunderland. The European route E6 highway passes through the village. "Stjernen Art and Silver Gallery" is a local shop that produces pieces of jewelry from silver and precious stones.

Utskarpen Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Utskarpen is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway, about 37 kilometres (23 mi) west of the town of Mo i Rana. The village is located at the end of the Utskarpen fjord, an arm of the main Ranfjorden. On the western side of Utskarpen is the intersection with Norwegian County Road 17 and Norwegian County Road 12. The neighboring villages are Mæla to the north and Myklebustad to the west.

Gruben Church Church in Nordland, Norway

Gruben Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Rana Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the eastern part of the town of Mo i Rana. It is the church for the Gruben parish which is part of the Indre Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The white, concrete church was built in a long church style in 1965 by the architect Nils Toft. The church seats about 550 people.

Ytteren Church Church in Nordland, Norway

Ytteren Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Rana Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ytteren, a northern suburb of the town of Mo i Rana. It is the main church for the Nord-Rana parish which is part of the Indre Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The brick church was built in a long church style in 1977 by the architect Nils Toft. The church seats about 500 people.

Nevernes Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Nevernes is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The rural village is located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast of the town of Mo i Rana. The village is located in the Dunderland Valley along the river Ranelva, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Storforshei. European route E06 and the Nordland Line both pass through the village. Nevernes Church is located in this village.

Røssvoll Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Røssvoll is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of the town of Mo i Rana. The village is located along the north side of the river Ranelva. The European route E06 highway passes through the village, passing right by Røssvoll Church in the centre of the village. Mo i Rana Airport, Røssvoll is also located here.

Gruben, Rana Village in Northern Norway, Norway

Gruben is a village in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. Gruben sits on the southern shore of the river Ranelva and it is a southeastern suburb of the town of Mo i Rana. European route E12 originally passed through of the village, but since 1995 it has passed north of the village.

References

  1. ↑ "Selfors, Rana (Nordland)". yr.no . Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  2. ↑ Store norske leksikon. "Selfors" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  3. ↑ Frøholm, Anders (1964). Rana Bygdebok, Mo Prestegjeld Gardshistorie (in Norwegian). 3. Mo Sparebank. pp. 333–334.
  4. ↑ Bolt, Aslak (1852). Aslak Bolts Jordebog (in Norwegian). Christiania: P.A. Munch.
  5. ↑ Årbok for Rana (1987). Registrering av samiske kulturminner i Rana og Hemnes (in Norwegian). Rana Museums og Historielag, Rana Blads Trykkeri. p. 91. ISSN   0333-0443.
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