Hjelmeland

Infobox Kommune
name = Hjelmeland
idnumber = 1133


county = Rogaland
landscape = Ryfylke
capital = Hjelmeland
demonym = Hjelmelandsbu
language = Nynorsk


munwebpage = www.hjelmeland.kommune.no
governor = Bjørn Laugaland (Sp)
governor_as_of = 2007
arearank = 94
area = 1089
arealand = 975
areapercent = 0.34
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 287
population = 2,747
populationpercent = 0.06
populationdensity = 3
populationincrease = 0.6
lat_deg = 59 | lat_min = 13 | lat_sec = 2 | lon_deg = 6 | lon_min = 20 | lon_sec = 27
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6567293 | utm_easting = 0348222 | geo_cat = adm2nd

Audio|Hjelmeland.ogg|Hjelmeland is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Hjelmeland was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Årdal (in 1849) and Fister (in 1884), but these were both again merged with Hjelmeland on 1 January 1965.

Hjelmeland is known for their fruit (apples, pears, plums, cherries and strawberries) and fish production. Salmon has been important for the fish industry in Hjelmeland for a couple of decades, but white fish such as cod and halibut has increased its value in the latter years.

Hjelmeland is a very beautiful municipality, with deep fjords, mountains, archipelago, and good opportunities for outdoor activities, like fishing and mountain-trekking,

General information

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old "Hjelmeland" farm (Old Norse: "Hjalmaland"), since the first church was built there. The first element is the plural genitive case of "hjalmr" which means "helmet" and this is referring to two heights behind the farm which have the form of two helmets. The last element is "land" which means "land" or "farm".

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 30 November 1984. The arms show a plait of straw and are based on the local tradition of making chairs and other furniture with seats of woven twigs ("jærstoler"). The process of weaving is symbolised in the arms. At the same time the arms show the strength and solidarity of the municipality. [cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/h/hjelmela.htm|author=Norske Kommunevåpen|date=1990|title=Nye kommunevåbener i Norden|accessdaymonth=8 October|accessyear=2008]

References