- Luster, Norway
Infobox_Kommune
name = Luster
idnumber = 1426
county = Sogn og Fjordane
landscape = Sogn
capital =Gaupne
language =Nynorsk
demonym = Lustring
munwebpage = www.luster.kommune.no
governor = Torodd Urnes (KrF)
governor_as_of = 2003
arearank = 15
area = 2707
arealand = 2603
areapercent = 0.84
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 194
population = 4,926
populationpercent = 0.11
populationdensity = 2
populationincrease = -8.1
lat_deg = 61 | lat_min = 29 | lat_sec = 38 | lon_deg = 7 | lon_min = 19 | lon_sec = 46
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6818960 | utm_easting = 0411072 | geo_cat = adm2ndLuster (spelled "Lyster" before 1918) is a municipality in the county of
Sogn og Fjordane ,Norway . It is located in the traditional district ofSogn . The administrative centre isGaupne .Luster centers around the inner branch of the
Sognefjord , which is called the Lustrafjord. Luster is one of the largest municipalities by area in all of southern Norway. It is a fascinating part of Norway with breathtaking fjords, steep mountains, water-abundant waterfalls, blue glaciers, and luxuriant valleys.General information
Name
The name (
Old Norse "Lústr") originally belonged to thefjord (now Lustrafjorden). The name was derived from the word "ljóss" which means "light" or "bright" - referring to the bright color of the water from theglacier s. Until 1917 the name was written "Lyster".Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1990, but is inspired by an old woodcarving from the
Urnes stave church . It shows a roundedtilia twig.Background
"Lyster" was established as a municipality on
1 January 1838 (seeformannskapsdistrikt ). The original municipality was identical to the "Lyster" parish "(prestegjeld)" with the sub-parishes "(sokn)" of Fortun, Dale, Nes, andGaupne . In 1917, "Lyster" was re-named "Luster".On
1 January 1963 , the neighboring municipalities ofHafslo andJostedal were merged with Luster. After the merger, Luster had 5,854 residents.cite web|first=Dag|last=Jukvam|publisher=Statistics Norway|title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen|date=1999|url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf no icon]Since the consolidation of the three municipalities of
Hafslo ,Jostedal and Luster in 1963, the area has been characterized by scattered rural settlements and large distances between these settlements. Luster is the largest municipality inSogn og Fjordane county.cite web|url=http://www.emigration.no/sff/emigration3.nsf/0/326D0346278A5909C1256F570048962C?OpenDocument|title=Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes|first=Oddvar|last=Natvik|date=9 Feb 2005|accessdaymonth=23 June|accessyear=2008]Churches
The
Church of Norway has 12 churches within the municipality of Aurland. It is part of theDiocese of Bjørgvin and the RuralDeanery "(Prosti)" of IndreSogn . [cite web|url=http://www.tha.no/kirkerinorge-v2.htm|title=Alle kirker og kirkegårder i Norge|date=2008no icon]Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Luster, are responsible for
primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services,unemployment and other social services,zoning ,economic development , and municipalroad s. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect amayor .Municipal council
The municipal council "(Kommunestyre)" of Luster is made up of 29 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the party breakdown is as follows: [cite web|publisher=Statistics Norway|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/01/20/kommvalgform_en/tab-2008-01-29-15-en.html|title=Members of the local councils|accessdaymonth=23 June|accessyear=2008|date=2007] Infobox_Kommunestyre
name = Luster
start = 2007
end = 2011
Total = 29
Arbeiderpartiet = 10
Fremskrittspartiet = 3
Høyre = 2
Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4
Rød_Valgallianse =
Rødt =
Senterpartiet = 7
Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
Venstre = 2
Local_Lists = |Mayor
The
mayor "(ordførar)" of a municipality in Norway is usually a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Torodd Urnes of the Christian Democratic Party ("Kristeleg Folkeparti") was re-elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. [cite web|author=Luster Kommune|title=Ordførar|date=27 Dec 2007|url=http://www.luster.kommune.no/sogn/luster/lusterk.nsf/id/89E011B2F84DE65EC1256F28004DB7AA?OpenDocument|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008 no icon]Geography
Location
Luster, one of the largest municipalities in southern Norway, is located in the glacial mountains where the
Sognefjord begins its path to theNorth Sea . The fjord is fed by many large glaciers such as the Nigard glacier, Bergset glacier, Austerdal glacier and Fåbergstøl glacier. [cite web|url=http://norwegen.piranho.de/Sogn%20og%20Fjordane_Lustere.htm|title=Luster, Sogn og Fjordane|date=2008|first=Andreas|last=Wobig]It is bordered by five municipalities in
Sogn og Fjordane county:Stryn to the north,Jølster andBalestrand to the west, and bySogndal andÅrdal to the south. It is also bordered by three municipalities inOppland county:Skjåk to the northeast and by Lom and Vang to the east.Mountains
Store Skagastølstind (or Storen) is the third highest mountain peak inNorway at 2,405 meters (7,890 feet) high. It is located on the southern border of Luster andÅrdal . It is part of theHurrungane mountain range which contains some of the most alpine peaks in Norway. There are many beautiful lakes (such as Veitastrondsvatnet,Austdalsvatnet , Tunsbergdalvatnet, and Hafslovatnet) as well as many big waterfalls such as the "Feigumfoss" waterfall (218 meters tall).Jostedalsbreen Glacier andNigardsbreen , is the biggestglacier in continentalEurope . It is located inJostedal nearbyGaupne in theJostedalsbreen National Park , much of which is located in the municipality of Luster.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Economy
The inhabitants of Luster make their living by farming, growing berries and fruit,
tourism , andHydroelectricity . Jøstedal and Fortun have large hydroelectric power stations. Summer tourism is quite busy. Tourist activities include mountain climbing, skiing, fishing, hiking, and hunting.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Attractions
Feigumfoss waterfall
With a vertical drop of 218 meters, the Feigumfoss Waterfall is one of the highest in
Scandinavia .cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Historic churches
Urnes stave church
Urnes stave church was built around 1150 and isNorway 's oldestStave church . The Church lies majestically on the top of Urnes. The Stave church is one of four Norwegian Churches onUNESCO `s list of the most precious cultural monuments in the world.The
Stave church es are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Gaupne old church
This magnificent church was built in 1647 on a hill directly opposite
Gaupne centre.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Dale church
This church is a stone church that was built in gothic style in the year 1250.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]
Breheim center
The Breheim center contains a comprehensive exhibition. A journey through 20,000 years - from the
Ice age to the present day, an audio/visual show takes visitors inside the glacier. Glacier boat "M/S "Jostedalsrypa" crosses the Nigard Glacier Lake. There are internationally approved guides, glacier and climbing courses, and ski-trips.cite web|publisher=GoNorway.no|url=http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/sogn-and-fjordande/luster/7637a9b6ae72bf0/|title=Luster Kommune|date=2008|accessdaymonth=24 June|accessyear=2008]Twin cities/towns
*
Viroqua, Wisconsin ,United States [cite web|url=http://www.luster.kommune.no/sogn/luster/lusterk.nsf/id/5B6496C31A7B9C1DC125722600283B72|title=Local History of Luster|date=2008]Photo gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.luster.kommune.no/ Luster Municipality Website] no icon
* [http://whc.unesco.org/sites/58.htm Urnes Stave Church]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.