Årdal Municipality
Årdal Municipality
Årdal kommune | |
|---|---|
| Aardal herred (historic name) | |
Øvre Årdal in early-June 2008 | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
Vestland within Norway | |
Årdal within Vestland | |
| Coordinates: 61°17′29″N 07°47′53″E / 61.29139°N 7.79806°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Vestland |
| District | Sogn |
| Established | 1863 |
| • Preceded by | Lærdal Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Årdalstangen |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2023) | Christian Sønstlien (Ap) |
| Area | |
• Total | 976.58 km2 (377.06 sq mi) |
| • Land | 930.05 km2 (359.09 sq mi) |
| • Water | 46.53 km2 (17.97 sq mi) 4.8% |
| • Rank | #119 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 2,402.12 m (7,881.0 ft) |
| Population (2025) | |
• Total | 5,213 |
| • Rank | #181 in Norway |
| • Density | 5.3/km2 (14/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | −4.7% |
| Demonym | Årdøl |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-4643 |
| Website | Official website |
Årdal is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Årdalsfjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Årdalstangen is the administrative center of the municipality. Other villages in the municipality include Øvre Årdal, Indre Offerdal, and Seimsdalen. Årdal Municipality was established in 1863 when it was separated from Lærdal Municipality.
The 976.58-square-kilometre (377.06 sq mi) municipality is the 119th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Årdal Municipaltiy is the 181st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,213. The municipality's population density is 5.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (14/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 4.7% over the previous 10-year period.
Årdal is a modern industrial community, with ties to the old society of farming and fishing. It is surrounded by dramatic nature with high mountains and waterfalls. The climate is rather mild and with less rain than normal in the west part of Norway. Årdal is a good starting point to explore the wild nature of Jotunheimen National Park, and with summer and winter activities within its boundaries. The Vettisfossen waterfall (highest in Norway) is located within the municipality.
The Valdres Express stops in Øvre Årdal and has its end stop in Årdalstangen. The bus line originates from Oslo.