Odal or Odalen is a valley and traditional district in Innlandet county, Norway. The district encompasses the area around the lake Storsjøen in the north and to the areas around the river Glåma in the south. The district is currently divided between the two municipalities of Sør-Odal and Nord-Odal. A person from Odalen is commonly called an odøling.[1]
The Glommadal (or Glåmdalen) valley is a designation for the valley formed by the river Glomma (or Glåma), which is the longest and largest river in Norway. From the lake Aursund in the north on southwards to Elverum, the valley is called the Østerdalen. From that point and further south until Kongsvinger, the valley is referred to as Solør. As the river turns and heads west from Kongsvinger all the way to the border with Nes Municipality, the valley is called the Odalen (Nes is part of the district of Romerike). These designations are traditional districts, reflecting the designations that the locals have historically used for their valleys.[2][3]
Historyedit
The name Odalen is derived from the Old Norse name Ódalr. The first part of the name comes from the Old Norse word Ó or À, which means 'river' (here referring to the Glomma river). The last element is dalr, which means 'valley' or 'dale'. The name can be documented to have been in use since 1386. Traces of human habitation dating back to the Nordic Bronze Age, between 1500 and 500 BCE. The first farms were probably cleared close to the lake about 500 BCE, in the early Iron Age. Settlement spread slowly around the lake and inland, and by the year 800, there may have been as many as 50 farms in the area. Settlement accelerated in the Viking Era, increasing the number of farms by as much as an order of magnitude. Increased mobility in the Norwegian population likely changed the character of the society in Odalen, and there is evidence the area was under the administration of the Thing in Eidsvoll.[4]
When the region was Christianized around 1030, several churches were built, including locations at Oppstad, Strøm, Ulleren, Mo and Trøftskogen. The area became politically more autonomous. The valley may have become overpopulated until the Black Death and following plagues, when a huge proportion of the population died. Farms were abandoned and consolidated during this time, and it took at least 200 years for the population to reach its previous levels. During the 17th century, Odalen suffered economic setbacks as a result of taxation and general economic downturns. Forestry rose as a complementary source of income to agriculture. By all accounts, the agricultural sector has not grown appreciably in the area since the 18th century. Trautgruva iron ore mine was operated until 1830.[4]
^ (in Norwegian). 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
^Moen, A. (1998). Nasjonalatlas for Norge: Vegetasjon (in Norwegian). Hønefoss: Statens Kartverk. ISBN8290408269.
^ abKirkeby, Birger (1966). Odalsboka : fellesbind for Nord- og Sør-Odal : bygdehistorie inntil 1819 (in Norwegian). Lørenskog, Norge: Sør- og Nord-Odal kommuner.
December 12, 2023
odal, norway, odal, odalen, valley, traditional, district, innlandet, county, norway, district, encompasses, area, around, lake, storsjøen, north, areas, around, river, glåma, south, district, currently, divided, between, municipalities, sør, odal, nord, odal,. Odal or Odalen is a valley and traditional district in Innlandet county Norway The district encompasses the area around the lake Storsjoen in the north and to the areas around the river Glama in the south The district is currently divided between the two municipalities of Sor Odal and Nord Odal A person from Odalen is commonly called an odoling 1 OdalOdalenView of the lake Storsjoen in northern OdalOdalLocation of the valleyShow map of InnlandetOdalOdal Norway Show map of NorwayArea1 025 km2 396 sq mi GeologyTypeRiver valleyGeographyLocationInnlandet NorwayCoordinates60 19 46 N 11 36 52 E 60 3295 N 11 6144 E 60 3295 11 6144 RiverGlommaGeography editThe Glommadal or Glamdalen valley is a designation for the valley formed by the river Glomma or Glama which is the longest and largest river in Norway From the lake Aursund in the north on southwards to Elverum the valley is called the Osterdalen From that point and further south until Kongsvinger the valley is referred to as Solor As the river turns and heads west from Kongsvinger all the way to the border with Nes Municipality the valley is called the Odalen Nes is part of the district of Romerike These designations are traditional districts reflecting the designations that the locals have historically used for their valleys 2 3 History editThe name Odalen is derived from the Old Norse name odalr The first part of the name comes from the Old Norse word o or A which means river here referring to the Glomma river The last element is dalr which means valley or dale The name can be documented to have been in use since 1386 Traces of human habitation dating back to the Nordic Bronze Age between 1500 and 500 BCE The first farms were probably cleared close to the lake about 500 BCE in the early Iron Age Settlement spread slowly around the lake and inland and by the year 800 there may have been as many as 50 farms in the area Settlement accelerated in the Viking Era increasing the number of farms by as much as an order of magnitude Increased mobility in the Norwegian population likely changed the character of the society in Odalen and there is evidence the area was under the administration of the Thing in Eidsvoll 4 When the region was Christianized around 1030 several churches were built including locations at Oppstad Strom Ulleren Mo and Troftskogen The area became politically more autonomous The valley may have become overpopulated until the Black Death and following plagues when a huge proportion of the population died Farms were abandoned and consolidated during this time and it took at least 200 years for the population to reach its previous levels During the 17th century Odalen suffered economic setbacks as a result of taxation and general economic downturns Forestry rose as a complementary source of income to agriculture By all accounts the agricultural sector has not grown appreciably in the area since the 18th century Trautgruva iron ore mine was operated until 1830 4 nbsp View of the Odalen areaReferences edit Thorsnaes Geir ed 12 February 2021 Odalen Store norske leksikon in Norwegian Kunnskapsforlaget Retrieved 20 March 2022 Glamdalsregionen Glamdal regionrad in Norwegian 16 March 2012 Archived from the original on 16 March 2012 Moen A 1998 Nasjonalatlas for Norge Vegetasjon in Norwegian Honefoss Statens Kartverk ISBN 8290408269 a b Kirkeby Birger 1966 Odalsboka fellesbind for Nord og Sor Odal bygdehistorie inntil 1819 in Norwegian Lorenskog Norge Sor og Nord Odal kommuner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Odal Norway amp oldid 1171430516, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
