The municipality of Klepp, belonging to the traditional district of Jæren in Norway, is a flat and open agricultural landscape. Its surface area is 113,9 km2, of which 15 km2 are water and a population of approximately 18.000. Of the dry land area, about 80 km2 are agricultural land. The highest point, Tinghaug, is at 102 meters above sea level. There are long stretches of sand beaches along the North Sea coastline in the west. The administrative center is called Kleppe (or Kleppekrossen), and is located in the centre of the municipality. It is not long from here to the nearest station of the Southland railway and Stavanger Airport Sola is only 15 kilometers away.
Most of the offices of public administration and services are under one roof at the modern town hall in Kleppe. Agriculture has always been a prime interest; nature has been generous. In addition to the traditional grazing and milk production, some of the land is devoted to crops of various kinds; there is breeding of fur bearing animals, pigs and chicken farms and a large greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.
The municipality is located 25 kilometers south of Stavanger. Neighbouring municipalities are Hå to the south, Time to the south and east, Sola and Sandnes to the north. The coastline is agricultural and consists of, from south to north, the areas Orre, Reve, Bore and Sele.
KVERNELAND GROUP
Klepp is the second largest agricultural municipality in Rogaland, with a total of around 600 farms. Kverneland Group, located in Øksnevad, is the largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment in the world.
FRØYLANDSVATNET LAKE
Frøylandsvatnet lake forms part of the division line between the municipalities of Klepp and Time. The origin of the name is from the Norse god Frey. The lake is quite shallow, with an average depth of 5.5 meters. The town of Bryne, and the villages Klepp stasjon and Kvernaland are all located close to the lake.
Klepp has been culturally important through the ages. A number of archaeological discoveries from the stone age have been made here, more than anywhere else in the country. There are riches from later eras as well: Orre Church dates from the 1200s, at Tighaug a burial mound with the tomb of a woman from the migratory period was found, as well as the remains of 16 houses.
ORRESTRANDA BEACH
The village Orre is located just southwest of the lake Orrevatnet, between the lake and the ocean. Orre is the location of the Orrestranda beach, one of the longest sand beaches in Norway. The area is very flat, and it is primarily used for agriculture. Orrestranda is the second largest sandy beach in Norway and is one of the Jærstrendene. The area extends from Vik in the south to Jæren´s reef (Revtangen) in the north. The beach zone is built by the sandy beach by the sea, the dunes and the backdyner landscape with a more varied plant life. The beach area of Orrestranda is broken by the Skårtangen and Åtangen with large rock in the sea. Friluftshuset near Orrestranda is a popular starting point for a beach trip summer and winter.
JÆREN
Jæren is the largest flat lowland area in Norway, stretching from the municipality of Randaberg in the north to Hå in the south. The coast is flat compared to the rest of the Norwegian coast, and has sandy beaches along most of the coastline. The largest city of Jæren are Stavanger and Sandnes.
The petroleum industry around Stavanger is an important part of economy of Jæren, with the headquarters of the country´s largest oil company Statoil being located on Jæren, as well regional offices of international companies like ExxonMobil, Eni, Shell, ConocoPhilips, BP, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and several others.
Jæren is also one of the most important agricultural areas of Norway, with a long crop period and a varied and well-developed livestock production. Industry here is also strongly connected to the farming industry, with one of the largest producers of agricultural machines in the world, Kverneland Group, located in Time and Klepp.
Author and poet Arne Garborg grew up in the traditional lowland landscape of Jæren, and in several of his works he describes the landscape and its inhabitants around the turn of the 19th century.
SWIMMING
Klepp also offers some of the finest sandy beaches in Norway. The beach is excellent for windsurfing, which is done year around. Three leisure centers for youth between 14-18 are also run by the municipality. Tourists who visit Sola will appreciate the attractive beaches. The beach is excellent for wind surfing, which is done year around. Sola municipality is rich in archaeological sites as well. Public access to the most interesting of these is being improved at present.
FISHING
Enjoy the rugged coastline, the invigorating sea air and the secluded coves. Sea-fishing is unrivaled here. Try your luck casting the line from the rocky foreshore. A day at sea is an unforgettable experience, fishing either from a smack or a cutter.