Setesdal

Setesdalen (also: Setesdalen ) is the name of a valley in the Norwegian province of Aust- Agder. Through the valley flows from north to south of the river Otra, the Riksvei 9 ( Kristiansand Haukeligrend ) is the main road through the valley.

The name Setesdalen was originally used only for the two northernmost municipalities of the province ( Bykle and Valle). The southern parts were called Otrudal. The boundary shifted but then south to Byglandsfjorden. We also used the name Øvre and Nedre Setesdalen ( Upper and lower Setesdalen ). Today, the district Setesdalen includes the four municipalities of Valle, Bykle Bygland and Evje og Hornnes, with 6,530 inhabitants ( 1 April 2009) and 4595 km ². The regional center is Evje.

By Setesdalen, along the river Otra, led the route of the now disused railway Setesdalen. The 78 km long stretch of narrow gauge railway ran from Kristiansand to the Byglandsfjorden. The railway line was first inaugurated in 1895 for a portion of Kristiansand to Hægeland 1896 and fully operational. In 1962, the railway line was closed. Today, a museum railway runs on an 8 -km-long section of the old route between the stations Grovane and Røyknes.