Ã…rdal

5458 ( March 31, 2013 )

Årdal is a commune in the Norwegian province of Sogn og Fjordane. It lies on the inner Sognefjord and forms the entrance to the mountain areas Hurrungane and Jotunheimen. The municipality is bordered to the north and west by Luster, on the east by Vang ( Oppland Province ) and on the south by Laerdal. The administrative headquarters are in Årdalstangen.

Another part of the municipality is the village Årdal. Between these towns on the lake is Årdalsvatnet.

Economy

Main employer is the system of Hydro-Aluminium/Årdal Verk plant The plant annually produces 180,000 tonnes of aluminum, which is exported via the 11 km distant port of export in Årdalstangen. Here the imported raw material in powder form is deleted. The photovoltaic suppliers NorSun AS manufactures monocrystalline silicon ingots and wafers. 2008, a new production facility went with currently 178 employees in operation.

Tourist

At the eastern tip of the Sognefjord, called Årdalsfjord, Årdalstangen lies with the loading area of the Hydro aluminum plant, 11 km further north in Årdal. Northeast of Årdal extends the Utladalen, where you can hike from Hjelle from walking in the Vettisgjelschlucht to 275 m high imposing Vettisfoss. A real experience is the private, navigable in summer pass road, the Tindevegen, the highly screws into narrow switchbacks of Årdal from and about the Fjell after Turtagro on the Sognefjelvegen leads over (toll caused suitable for caravans ).

Policy

Årdal is the undisputed stronghold of Norwegian social democracy. In the local elections of 2011, the Workers Party won 77.5 % of the vote and 16 of 21 seats in the municipal council. When Stortingswahl 2009 share of the vote was 70.2 %.