Telemark

The county is located in southeastern Norway,extending from Hardangervidda to the Skagerrak coast. The coastline extends from Langesundsfjorden to Gjernestangen at the border to Aust-Agder. Telemark has a very broken and heterogenous landscape, including many hills and valleys.

The largest population centres are Skien, Porsgrunn, Notodden, Rjukan and Kragerø. Other important places are Stathelle, Ulefoss, Brevik, Langesund, Bø , Fyresdal and Vinje.

1 Districts
2 Notable people from Telemark
3 History
4 Municipalities
5 External links

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Districts

The county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. These are Grenland, Vest-Telemark, Midt Telemark, Øst Telemark and Vestmar.

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Notable people from Telemark

Hallvard Graatop (c.1400–1475), from Drangedal lead rebellion against Danish rule in 1438.
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (1818–1870), author from Vinje.
Sondre Norheim (1825–1897), father of skiing from Morgedal in Kviteseid
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), author from Skien
Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), politician, traitor from Fyresdal
Aslaug Vaa (1889–1965), author from Rauland in Vinje
Tarjei Vesaas (1897–1970), author from Vinje
Anne Grimdalen (1899–1961), sculptor from Skafså in Tokke
Eivind Groven (1901–1977), composer from Lårdal in Tokke
Klaus Egge (1906–1979), composer from Gransherad in Notodden
Hans Herbjørnsrud (1938–), author from Heddal in Notodden
Tor Åge Bringsværd (1939–), author from Skien
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen), musician

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History

Some old historians used to believe that in the early Viking Age, before Harald Fairhair, Telemark was a petty kingdom. This is, however, unfounded.

The film The heroes of Telemark is loosely based on the raid on a heavy water plant at Rjukan during World War II. Ray Mears made a documentary The real heroes of Telemark as a response to the inaccuracies of the film, giving an account more focused on the outdoor skills that were required for the operation (spending months in remote cabins). The graceful ski technique the Telemark turn and style of sking based on it is named after the area.

Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.

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