Dalarna

Dalarna, or Dalecarlia, is a traditional province or landskap in the east of middle Sweden. It borders to Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bounded by Norway in the east. There is futhermore a County of Dalarna.

County For current affairs see: County of Dalarna

The province of Dalarna has virtually the same boundaries as the County of Dalarna. The main exception is a smaller part to the north which belongs to the County of Gävleborg.

History Main article: History of Dalarna[?]

Chartered cities before 1971:

• Avesta (1641 - 1686, renewed 1919)
• Borlänge (1944)
• Falun (1641)
• Hedemora (approximately 1400)
• Ludvika (1919)
• Säter (1642)

Geography Main article: Geography of Dalarna[?]

The southern part consists of plains, with several mines, most notably copper, traditionally forming part of Bergslagen. The northern part is mountainous.

Culture Main article: Culture of Dalarna[?]

A famous symbol of the province is the Dala horse or Dalahästen, a painted and decorated wooden horse. The Vasa race, a cross country skiing race over 85 km, is held annually, on the first Sunday of March, between Sälen[?] and Mora, in commemoration of King Gustav I of Sweden of the House of Vasa.

Heraldry Main article: Heraldry of Dalarna[?]

Arms granted in 1560, the use of two crossed arrows as a symbol precedes this. The province is also a duchy and the arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Azure, two Dalecarlian Arrows Or in saltire point upwards pointed Argent and in chief a Crown of the first."

External links

• Dalarna (http://www.dalarna.se/) - Tourist site