Hallingdal is one of the major valleys in Eastern Norway. The
valley is U-shaped and roughly coincides with the
Hallingdalsvassdraget. The valley floor extends northwards, from the
northern end of Lake Krøderen, through the north-eastern and
northern parts of the landscape Buskerud in Viken county, and is
surrounded by high mountains on both sides.
Hallingdal is one
of the country's busiest valleys with the Bergen line and national
road 7. With national road 52 and county road 50, national road 7
also has connections to Sogn.
At Gol, the valley floor bends
westwards, the side valley Hemsedal takes off northwards, and the
river Hemsil flows into the Hallingdal river. From Ål, a side valley
turns north to Leveld and Vats. West of Strandafjorden, the valley
splits in two. The main valley to the northwest leads to the village
center Hol by the Holsfjord. Ustedalen leads west along the river
Usta to Geilo.
The valley has been characterized by small
farms, ranching and a barren soil, where wool, dairy products and
meat production have been the main industries for centuries. Fishing
has been a traditional food week in the many mountain lakes. Since
the 1960s, the valley has had an explosive development in tourism
and cottage construction. The valley also has a number of large and
small hotels and accommodation companies, both down in the valley
and up in the mountains.
The Hallingdal district comprises
six municipalities with a total of 20,566 inhabitants (1 January
2015) and a total area of 5,830 km².
Hallingdal is a major valley and traditional district in the
northern part of Buskerud county (now part of Viken), in eastern
Norway's Austlandet region, west and northwest of Oslo.
It spans
approximately 5,830 km² (about 2,250 sq mi) with a low population
density (around 3.5 people/km²). The valley consists of six
municipalities: Flå, Nes (administrative center at Nesbyen), Gol,
Hemsedal, Ål, and Hol. It stretches roughly 150–200 km from Lake
Krøderen near Gulsvik in the southeast to the Hardangervidda plateau
and borders with (former) Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane (now
Vestland county) in the northwest/west. A branch valley extends into
Hemsedal.
The topography is characterized by a V-shaped valley
with a relatively gentle, flat valley floor at lower elevations
transitioning to steep surrounding hills and mountains. Central
parts feature relatively flat mountain plateaus or areas at
700–1,100 m (2,300–3,600 ft) above sea level. The valley floor lies
lower (e.g., around 340 m near Ål, with Nesbyen and Krøderen areas
lower), rising toward the northwest. Prominent mountains and ridges
include Hallingskarvet, Skogshorn (in Hemsedal), Reineskarvet,
Høgevarde, and others. The landscape transitions from lowland lake
areas near Ringerike/Krøderen to forested hills, open plateaus, and
barren high mountains bordering the vast Hardangervidda plateau
(treeless high mountain plateau) and the distinct Hallingskarvet
ridge.
Hallingdalselva (Hallingdal River, locally Storåne in
parts of the valley) is the central drainage system. It originates
on the Hardangervidda plateau from the confluence of the Usta River
(from Lake Ustevatn) and Holselva (from Lake Strandavatnet). The
river flows generally southward/eastward through the valley,
receiving tributaries such as the Votna, Lya, Hemsil, Todøla, and
Rukkedøla, before emptying into Lake Krøderen (at 132 m a.s.l.) near
Gulsvik. The total system length is about 220 km, with a catchment
area of 4,587 km²; it drops 318 m overall to the lake mouth. The
river has been extensively developed for hydropower, with 13 power
plants (including major ones like Hol I-III, Nes, Usta, and Hemsil
I-II) producing around 4 TWh annually.
Hallingskarvet National
Park (450 km²) covers much of the Hallingskarvet mountain
range/plateau in Hol (Buskerud/Viken) and parts of Ulvik/Aurland
(Vestland), protecting high plateaus, western high mountains,
valleys (e.g., Såtedalen, Lengjedalen), and features like the
Vargebreen glacier. The highest point is Folarskardnuten at 1,933 m.
It borders the Bergen Line (southern edge) and County Road 50
(northern); access includes Finse station. The landscape was shaped
by multiple ice ages, with steep cliffs, plateaus, and connections
to nearby Hardangerjøkulen glacier and the broader Skarvheimen area
(extending toward Aurlandsdalen and fjords). Hardangervidda National
Park adjoins or is accessible from the region.
The climate is
relatively dry continental (Köppen Dfc/Dfb bordering), with warm
summers and cold winters. Precipitation is modest compared to
coastal Norway, but strong winds occur on exposed plateaus. Nesbyen
holds Norway's all-time high temperature record of 35.6°C (June
1970) and very low winter temperatures (record −38°C in 1914); it
ranks among the warmest summer spots on average. Geilo (higher
elevation) experiences prolonged frost (December–March consistently
below 0°C, extending into November/April nights). Higher elevations
have mountain/tundra climates with cooler temperatures, more snow,
and harsher conditions. The Oslo-Bergen railway and roads facilitate
access despite the terrain.
Geologically, the valley was carved
through bedrock by glacial action over multiple ice ages, resulting
in the V-shaped profile, U-shaped tributary valleys, moraines, and
the current post-glacial landscape of plateaus, ridges, and steep
slopes. The bedrock includes Precambrian and Paleozoic formations
typical of the Norwegian highlands.
Ecology features varied
zones: lower valley forests (pine, spruce, birch) supporting
moose/elk; higher barren mountains and plateaus with reindeer (wild
populations prominent in Hallingskarvet NP and Hardangervidda); some
brown bears (rare in wild, or in parks like at Flå). Steep cliffs
host birds like peregrine falcon and golden eagle. Protected/rare
plants include Draba cacuminum and Botrychium lanceolatum in
high-altitude areas. Hallingskarvet NP was established largely to
protect wild reindeer habitat and unique high-mountain ecosystems.
Human geography centers on towns like Nesbyen, Gol, Ål, Geilo (major
ski resort in Hol), and Hemsedal (ski resort in its branch valley
with steep slopes). Geography drives economy and culture: winter
sports (skiing on mountains/plateaus), hydropower, tourism (hiking
in national parks, access via E16/Road 7 and Bergen Line), and
traditional farming/pastoralism on valley floors and lower slopes.
The valley serves as a key corridor and gateway to Hardangervidda,
Hallingskarvet/Skarvheimen hiking areas, and western fjords.
Hallingdal (Halling Valley) is a major valley and traditional
district in eastern Norway, primarily in Buskerud county (now part
of Viken), covering about 5,830 km². It stretches roughly 200 km
from Gulsvik at Lake Krøderen (Krøderfjorden) in the southeast to
the borders with Hordaland (now Vestland) and Sogn og Fjordane in
the northwest/west. The V-shaped valley is drained by the
Hallingdalselva (Hallingdal River or Storåne), which originates on
the Hardangervidda plateau, flows eastward then southward, and has a
total length of ~220 km with tributaries like the Usta, Hemsil, and
others. Central areas feature relatively flat mountain plateaus at
700–1,100 m (2,300–3,600 ft) elevation, surrounded by mountains and
hills (more open terrain southeast near Krøderen).
The six
municipalities are Flå, Nes (admin center Nesbyen), Gol, Hemsedal,
Ål, and Hol (sometimes Geilo in Hol is highlighted). Population is
low-density (~20,500 in 2014, ~3.5/km²). The valley has long served
as a key east-west route between eastern Norway (Østlandet) and
Vestlandet, with ancient paths through Valdres or over mountains
like Røldal to Odda.
Etymology: Old Norse Haddingjadalr ("valley
of the Haddingjar" or "Hadding's valley"). First recorded with
"Hall-" in 1443. The root likely refers to the people Haddingjar or
a figure Haddingr/Haddingi, possibly from haddr ("woman's hair,"
interpreted as "the long-haired ones"). Parallels Gudbrandsdalen
(from Gudbrand). In sagas (e.g., Flateyjarbók), a king Haddingr of
Hallingdal is mentioned.
Prehistory and Early Settlement
Evidence for Stone Age (pre-1800 BC) settlement is general for
inland Norway: hunter-gatherers along rivers and lakes, with
possible rock art or seasonal sites (some 3,000–5,000-year-old finds
noted regionally). Bronze Age (~1700–500 BC) saw early farming and
metal trade influences. Iron Age (from ~500 BC, especially
Roman/Migration periods ~1–550 AD) marks prosperity, with local
bog/marsh iron production traded regionally. Round dwelling
structures documented in/near Hallingdal may indicate Sámi-Norse
interactions or ethnic processes in the Viking Age/Early Middle Ages
(AD 800–1200), alongside Norse farm settlements. Migrants from
Vestlandet (western Norway) populated the area, bringing western
dialects possibly mixing with local mountain hunters; this explains
western cultural ties.
Specific archaeological sites in
Hallingdal are not extensively detailed in major sources (no large
publicized burial grounds or major excavations like Vang noted), but
the pattern fits broader Scandinavian Iron Age weapon graves,
farmsteads, and trade networks.
Legendary Origins and Viking
Age (c. 800–900s AD)
Norse sagas portray Hallingdal (part of
broader Oppland petty kingdoms) as a semi-independent realm founded
around 800 AD. Legendary kings (semi-historical, drawn from sagas
like Gautreks Saga, Heimskringla, Saxo Grammaticus):
Hadding
Raumsson (fl. c. 800): Possibly first king; son of Raum (of
Telemark/Møre areas). Lived at Hoff in upper Ål (per some
traditions). Brother Gudbrand ruled Gudbrandsdal.
Hadding
Haddingsson (c. 830s–840s).
Högni Haddingsson 'the Red' (late
800s).
Helgi Haddingjaskati (late 800s; "lord of the
Haddingjar").
These reflect early river-valley settlements
and inter-kingdom alliances/wars. In the late 860s–872, internecine
conflicts and Harald Fairhair's (Haraldr Hárfagri) campaigns from
Vestfold/Agder unified many petty kingdoms, including those in
Oppland/Hallingdal. Hallingdal reportedly accepted Harald around
870. This marked the birth of a more unified Norwegian kingdom
alongside Christianity's gradual arrival.
Medieval Period
(900s–1400s)
Iron production and trade continued from marshlands,
with cattle droving/trading over mountains (west to east,
necessitated by sometimes barren valley soils). Routes reinforced
western connections (Vestlandet migrants). In 1153, papal legate
Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear (later Pope Adrian IV) incorporated
Hallingdal/Valdres into the Diocese of Stavanger due to these ties.
Farming and animal husbandry dominated, using extensive mountain
pastures (seter/shielings) for summer grazing, plus hunting/fishing.
The Black Death (1349 onward) devastated Norway, spreading from
Bergen inland; local traditions (e.g., in Nes) claim extreme
mortality (~80% in some areas, though exact figures vary and are
often anecdotal). Repeated outbreaks caused long-term depopulation
and economic shifts.
Early Modern Period (1500s–1800s)
Forestry gained importance from the 1600s, providing timber and
income. Valley men worked as drovers (herding livestock east) or
peddlers (west). Traditional square farmyards featured clustered
buildings: dwellings, storehouses (stabbur), barns, stables, and
seter summer farms (e.g., examples from Hol, Ål, Hemsedal, Nes, Flå
preserved at Norsk Folkemuseum). Economy centered on self-sufficient
farming/animal husbandry with trade supplements.
Folk culture
flourished: Rosemaling (rose-painting) developed a distinctive
symmetric style in the 18th–19th centuries (unlike
Telemark/Valdres); notable local painters. Hardanger fiddle
(hardingfele) adopted ~1750, with regional tune traditions (e.g.,
Nes south, Ål rolling bow style); some adapted later to accordion
post-Bergen Line railway. The Halling (or lausdans) is a solo
acrobatic folk dance climaxing in the "hat kick" (kicking a hat off
a pole). Rich folk tales, music, and dialect (Hallingdøl-Valdris,
western features with local variation).
19th–21st Centuries:
Emigration, Modernization, and Tourism
Mass emigration to America
(U.S., Canada) peaked in the 1800s–early 1900s, driven by
overpopulation, land scarcity, economic hardship, and opportunities
abroad (part of broader Norwegian wave; ~800,000+ total emigrants).
Hallingdal contributed significantly; organizations like Hallinglag
preserve heritage among descendants.
The Bergen Line railway
(completed 1909) transformed connectivity (Oslo–Bergen), boosted
accordion adoption (adapting fiddle tunes), and spurred
tourism/modernization. Hydropower development (e.g., Nes station)
and 20th-century infrastructure followed. Ski resorts (Hemsedal,
Geilo) and outdoor activities (hiking, cycling Rallarvegen) made it
a major tourism/family destination. Open-air museums like Hallingdal
Folk Museum (founded 1899, one of Norway's oldest; branches in
multiple municipalities, ~30 historic buildings) preserve
17th–19th-century farm culture.