Dalarna is a historical province in central Sweden.
ROADMAP: [[url=http://www.last.fm/forum/5/_/448611#f7090569]?]
You are in the province Dalarna, in the kingdom of Sweden.
Cities and towns of Dalarna:
- Avesta
- Borlänge
- Falun
- Svärdsjö
- Enviken
- Hedemora
- Ludvika
- Rättvik
- Säter
- Vansbro
- Leksand
- Mora
- Orsa
- Tällberg
- Malung
- Sälen
- Idre
Celebrities
- Karin Park, singer, songwriter actor, pop star
- Lars Frölander, swimmer
- Jussi Björling, opera singer
- Nils Karlsson, "Mora-Nisse", skier
- Hypocrisy (band), death metal band from Ludvika
- Gunnar Myrdal, politician
- Sabaton (band), power metal band from Falun
- Charlie Norman, pianist
- Björn Skifs, singer, actor
- Katatonia, death metal band from Avesta
- Gunde Svan, skier, "celebrity".
- Hans Werthén, former CEO of Electrolux
- Anders Zorn, artist (painter)
- Gustaf de Laval (1845-1913), inventor and engineer
- Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman, chef; and consequently The Muppets' Swedish Chef
- Mats "Dalmas" Bäckström, Top Shooter
- Santa Claus, has a home off the North Pole too, in Mora
- Tord Nygren, illustrator of children's books
- Mando Diao (rock band)
- Niklas Lidström, ice hockey player (Detroit Red Wings)
History:
The province was part of Svealand before Sweden was consolidated in the 11th century.
Two historically notorious rebellions started in the Dalarna province: In 1434, led by Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, the miners rose against the oppression of the officers of Eric of Pomerania, and in 1519–1523 it was among the miners that Gustavus Vasa found his staunchest supporters in his revolt against the Kalmar Union under Christian II of Denmark.[1]
Culture
Historically, Dalarna has enjoyed a rich and unique folk culture, with distinct music, paintings (often centered on Biblical themes) and handicraft[citation needed]. The province was also the last province to abandon the use of the Runic alphabet, a local dialect of which, the so called Dalecarlian runes or Dalrunes, survived into the 19th century[1].
A famous symbol of the province is the Dalecarlian horse, in Swedish Dalahäst, a painted and decorated wooden horse.
The Vasaloppet, a cross country skiing race over 90 km, is held annually, on the first Sunday of March, between Sälen and Mora, in commemoration of the ski-borne escape of Gustav Vasa, who would later become king Gustav I of Sweden, from the Danish troops in 1520.
The mining area of the Stora Kopparberg ("Great Copper Mountain") in Falun has been named a UNESCO World heritage site.
Geography:
The geography is distinguished by lake Siljan in the middle part, and the Västerdal River and Österdal River that join into the Dal River.
The northern part of the province are within the Scandinavian mountain range, and are mountainous with many lakes. The southern part consists of plains, with several mines, most notably copper, traditionally forming part of Bergslagen.
Highest point is Storvätteshågna with 1,204 meters. Lowest point is at 55 meters, in the south-east part. .
