Sola municipality has an area of 69,5 km2 and a population of about 24.000 people. Historically and traditionally, the economy of Sola municipality has been tied to the primary industries of agriculture and fishing. A gradual change has taken place, particularly in recent times, as a consequence of the development of the oil industry. Although agriculture is still important, it is the other industries that dominate now with their growth potential, development of new jobs, production and economy.
As examples we can name the airport with its attendant activities, the oil refinery, service bases for the oil industry, docks, workshops, service companies, etc. The municipality´s administrative and commercial centre is located at Solakrossen. There are other urban areas within the municipality as well: Tananger, Sørnes, Grannes and Tjelta. Sola beach is particularly noteworthy as this is where bathers flock to, whenever Rogaland´s summer weather permits. Stavanger Airport is located here.
SOLASTRANDA BEACH
Solastranda or Solastranden is a 2.3-kilometer long sandy beach, located 2 kilometer from Stavanger Airport, Sola and 15 kilometer rom Stavanger. The beach is a popular beach for swimming and sunbathing in the summer. Windsurfing and surfing are popular all-year-round activities at Solastranden. Sola Strand Hotel that also houses toilets and dressing room facilities is at the south end of the beach. A farm beach resort also offers dining and banquet facilities. There are also traces of German military activity from World War II. Sola Golfcourse is nearby the beach.
THE SWORD in STONE
The Sword in Stone at Møllebukta (“Sverd i fjell”) monument at Hafrsfjord is a powerful memorial of the decisive battle that took place here in the year of 872, when King Harald Hårfagre made Norway one kingdom. The battle itself was, according to Snorre, fought at Ytreberget. There is a strange tranquillity at the monument here and a tangible aura of history. The church ruins at Sola, and the stone crosses at Tjora are also monuments to the Viking age.
ONE KINGDOM
Where Norway became one kingdom. In 872 AD, a bloody battle was fought in Hafrsfjord. On the one side stood an ambitious, long-haired king from the Ringerike district, on the other local chieftains and noblemen. It was an away win, and King Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fair Hair) could finally keep his oath. Having united Norway, he let his flowing locks fall to the barber’s knife.
TANANGER
Tananger, close to the North Sea Road, is a traditional lobster port, and well worth a visit. The coastal life collection in Tananger exhibits local culture.
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
Sola also offers some of the finest sandy beaches in Norway. Sola beach is well known throughout the country, especially for its windsurfing, and the summer paradises of Ølbergstranda and Hellestø are not far behind.
The beach is excellent for windsurfing, which is done year around. Three leisure centres for youth between 14-18 are also run by the municipality. Tourists who visit Sola will appreciate the attractive beaches. Sola beach is particularly noteworthy as this is where bathers flock to, whenever Rogaland’s summer weather permits. 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.
KITE FESTIVAL
An annual kite festival is held at Hellestø, a riot of colours that is not to be missed. The Sola Aviation Museum is close to the seaplane port, near the main airport. Rogaland War Museum is located at Soma on Rv 509.
GOLF
Sola Golfclub is a golf course with 18 holes and a variation of difficulties near Forus.
Sandnes and Sola Golfclub is a golf course with 18 holes and a variation of difficulties against the airport.