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Sauda Municipality
Sauda kommune | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Sauda within Rogaland | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Rogaland |
| District | Ryfylke |
| Administrative centre | Sauda |
| Government | |
| • Governor (2005) | Laura Seltveit (Ap) |
| Area | |
• Total | 546 km2 (211 sq mi) |
| • Land | 509 km2 (197 sq mi) |
| • Rank | #195 in Norway |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 4,878 |
| • Rank | #195 in Norway |
| • Density | 10/km2 (30/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) |  −6.2% |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1135[2] |
| Website | Official website |
Sauda is a municipality and town in the county of Rogaland, Norway. The name Sauda is based on a word in the old Norwegian language which means "boil" (like a boiling water fall).
Sauda is the fifth largest town in Rogaland, and the town center is home to Northern Europe's largest melting plant, Eramet Norway AS. It lies in the end of the fjord called Saudafjorden.
History
Archaeological findings in Saudasjøen shows that it's been living people in Sauda since the latest Ice Age. During the medieval time a new type of industry started to grow. Along the fjord the power from several water falls where used to build and run sawmills, and a large scale of lumber production was started. People from all over the world, especially from Netherland, started to trade with the citizens. This resulted in a major ship traffic, giving the ability for further developement of the villages and farms in Sauda. By the end of the 19th century, a new type of adventure would change the inhabitants life for ever. The mining industry started in the mountains of Hellandsbygd, making Sauda a small industrial town, working place and trading center for the surrounding region. But it wasn't until 1910 the real adventure started. The American company Electric Furnage Company (EFP) began the construction of Europes largest smelting plant. This could only be done because of the large amounts of water falls and rivers that made the possibility to build powerplants situated in a short distance from the high energy demanding plant. Sauda like a farmers village was over, and a new city started to evelope making the foundation that people still are living of.
Geography
Sauda is located inside of a fjord, with very mountainous terrain, with mountains like Skaulen (1560m), and Kyrkjenuten (1620m) in proximity. The town is located only about 2 hours from Stavanger, 3 hours from Bergen, and 5 hours from Oslo. It is also one of the biggest resorts on the west coast of Norway.
Sauda Ski Area
Sauda ski area, (skisenter) is a scenic and snow-rich mountain located only about 5 miles from Sauda sentrum, (downtown). The base of Sauda skisenter, formerly called Svandalen skisenter is at an altitude of about 360 meters above sea level, but you will reach 1100 meters by taking the T-bar lifts to the top. Surrounding mountains reach up to 1500 meters.
Family and youth recreational facility
Sauda skisenter is an enticing family venue, but also offers extreme skiing peaks, and a terrain park, with multiple half-pipes, big jumps, rails, and rolls with a skier-cross course.
Sauda skisenter, built in 1968 has a large base lodge, and offers ski/snowboard/telemark and other equipment rentals.
Major plans
Recently, Sauda skisenter proposed to spend $2,000,000 on a new chairlift which would greatly encourage a lot of extra tourism. Mountain cabins, ski in and out have since 2002 been built in abundance around the ski area. Cabins are expected to rise heavily in value due to the expansion in the mountain village.
Popular places to stay are: Sauda Fjord Hotel (1915), Kloever Hotel, and many more appealing hotels. Notable alpine racers, and other athletes come from Sauda.
Entertainment
Sauda has a fabulous nightlife, which is suited for all adult ages. There are young-adult bars, as well as more mature-adult bars accessible. A movie theater, many tourist attractions and restaurants exist as a way of relaxing after skiing. However, the most highly recommended first stop is the après-ski at the ski area.
- ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2024-01-09). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.