North Trøndelag County is one out of 19 counties in Norway with a area of 22.396 km2 and a population of approximately 135,738.
Each County is divided into different municipality. For North Trøndelag County that is: Flatanger, Fosnes, Frosta, Grong, Høylandet, Inderøy, Leka, Leksvik, Levanger, Lierne, Meråker, Namdalseid, Namsos, Namsskogan, Nærøy, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Snåsa, Steinkjer, Stjørdal, Verdal, Verran and Vikna.
Principal industries in North Trøndelag County are Farming and forestry, industry, trade and commerce, public and private service industries.
Places you must visit are: Stiklestad, Rock Carvings in Hell, Namsen Salmon Aquarium, Røyrvik Museum, Namsskogan Family Park, Woxengs Collections, South Gjeslingan fishing village, Steinvikholm fortress, Hegra fortress, Namsos municipal gallery, Børgefjell National Park, Bølarein rock carvings, a boat trip along the North Trøndelag coast on board the Coastal Steamer: Namdalingen or Snåsavatnet on board the Bonden II are recommended.
North Trøndelag on a fine summer day would surprise anybody. The fertile and luxuriant fields undulate inland along Trondheimsfjorden, and are framed by forest clad ridges which stretch up towards the border mountain range.
Over 1.000 years ago, the great farm owners governed Central Norway from the court at Frosta. This was before Norway became a kingdom. At Stiklestad, the saint-king Olav Haraldson (Olav the Holy) was defeated by the farmers” army during his crusade to christianise the country. The dethroned king managed to achieve his objective, albeit post mortem. He was canonised and his mortal remains were later placed in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, the seat of the Primate of All Norway. This status remained until the fall of Catholicism in 1536.
The last archbishop, Olav Engelbrektson, built the fort at Steinvikholm, but fled before the superior forces. People from Trøndelag are conscious of their past. Stiklestad continues to be a cultural centre attended by an Increasing number of visitors.
Each July, on St.Olav´s day, the battle is re-enacted. Several thousand spectators relive the dramatic days of 1030 through a magnificent performance involving actors, choir and orchestra. Today, the large farms dominate the area. The special Trønderlag building style comprising large, long dwelling houses dominates the cultural landscape. Farmland gradually gives way to forest as we approach the mountainous region. Community centres, villages and the two towns, Steinkjer and Namsos, break up the landscape on the journey northwards.
The soil becomes more barren in the mountain districts and out towards the coast. Nevertheless, varied and efficient agriculture dominates most of the county. Although the climate can easily create problems for crops throughout the region, the geography also has its advantages. The products are top quality and the slow growing Norwegian forest produces strong, first-class timber.
The wood is tighter grained and stronger than that grown farther south. Thus forestry and agriculture form the basis of a large part of the industry in this region. Dairy farming, preserving and meat-processing provide thousands of jobs. Norske Skog A/S supplies Europe with newsprint and timber. Timber-built Norwegian houses are also making inroads in the European market. North Trøndelag has more than just farming and forestry.
The county has a well-developed infrastructure, in which the public and private service sectors are steadily expanding. Good communications link the county with the rest of Norway. The E 6 winds northwards from Stjørdal, parallel with the railway. This is the site of the main airport for Central Norway, only 30 km from Trondheim.
Hell is approximately 2.657.000 square yards, with a population of 352 – which includes Miss Universe 1990. Perhaps the most famous feature is the Hell railway station, with the famous sign stating “Gods Expedition”, which is the Norwegian term for “Cargo Service”. Visit Hell or Goto Hell.
The E 14 and a railway line link Norway with Sweden. There are two minor airports linked to Norway´s schedule network in the north of the county, one at Namsos and one right out in the mouth of the fjord at Røyrvik. Here, this modern form of transport meets the Coastal Steamer (Hurtigruta), a fast ferry scrvice that has served the coastal community for over 100 years. Aker Verdal is an example of how the petroleum industry has brought new growth to the region.
The administration for Statoil´s petroleum operations is centred at Stjørdal. In addition to traditional fisheries and aqua culture, the existence of oil emphasises Trønderlag´s link with the sea. A link that we share with our compatriots in the rest of the Green Arctic. The extensive forest and mountain areas hide a rich and exciting animal life. North Trøndelag has two national parks: Gressåmoen in Snåsa and Børgefjell National Park (which is shared with Nordland). The fauna is dominated by elk, but there are also smaller hardy deer such as red deer and roe-deer.
Responsible management over many years has led to a substantial increase in the number of wild animals. More than 3.700 elk are hunted each year in North Trøndelag alone. Several rivers offer good salmon fishing, the most famous being Namsen. This is regarded as one of the best rivers for salmon in Norway. North Trøndelag also has lynx and wolverine; a bear population that is shared with Sweden; and wolves that sometimes prey on herds of tame reindeer and sheep.
To keep grazing animals while simultaneously maintaining sustainable numbers of predators can lead to conflict. Perhaps this conflict is the price we have to pay for protecting one of Europe´s last wildernesses, Villmarka, along Norway´s eastern border in the Green Arctic.
Archaeological studies provide evidence of old agricultural traditions. Relics found in caves and ancient settlements comprise bones of cattle, horses, sheep and goats. There is also evidence of grain production. Through their property and effects, these agrarian ancestors have informed us that a primitive form of agriculture already existed in the New Stone Age. The leap from these Neolithic “farmers” to today”s mechanised agriculture is, of course, quantum. Even the climate has changed – for the worst, if you ask a farmer!
Remaining in the present, agriculture in the Green Arctic is also characterised by great contrasts. Not only between north and south, but also between coastal and inland areas. The length of the growing season is determined by the temperature, and thanks to the Gulf Stream, agriculture thrives even in the most northern areas of mainland Norway. The fertile areas often lie as small oases in a rocky and barren terrain. These become fewer and smaller the farther north we travel.
In general, North Trøndelag is the agricultural county of the region. The large farms along Trondheimsfjorden and at Inherred are testament to this claim; undulating wheat fields as far as the eye can see. The villages act mainly as service centres and are an economic consequence of primary industry. But take a detour to the mountain districts. Here the reality is quite different. Individual communities organise festivities in June to celebrate the snow melt. The mountain farmers of North Trøndelag can look north wards with envy.