Bardu ( sme, Bearddu suohkan, fkv, Perttulan komuuni) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The

administrative centre An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located. In countries with French as administrative language (such as Belgium, Lu ...

of the municipality is the village of Setermoen, the largest urban area in the municipality. The municipality is the 18th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Bardu is the 202nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,993. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 3% over the previous 10-year period. Norway's largest military

garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mil ...

is located at Setermoen. The military is the municipality's largest employer and more than 1,000 young soldiers perform their duty service here each year. The world's most northern zoo, Polar Park, is located in the southern part of the municipality.

General information

The municipality of ''Bardodalen'' was established in 1854 when the eastern part of the old Ibestad Municipality was separated to form the new municipality. The initial population of the new municipality was 757. The municipal borders have not changed since then, although the name was later changed to ''Bardu''. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.

Name

''Bardu'' is a Norwegianized form of the Sami language, Sámi name ''Beardu''. The meaning of the Sámi name is probably "long and steep mountain side". Prior to 1889, the municipality was called ''"Bardodalen"'' which meant "the valley/dale of Bardo". From 1889 until 1908, the name was written ''"Bardo"''. Since 1909, it has been spelled ''"Bardu"''.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 6 June 1980. The arms show a black wolverine on a gold background. It was chosen as a symbol for the large forests and the rich wildlife in the municipality. The rock speedwell (''Veronica fruticans'') is the municipal flower.

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish () within the municipality of Bardu. It is part of the Indre Troms prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Bardu, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient Health care, health services, old age, senior citizen services, unemployment and other Social work, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a Municipal council (Norway), municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Senja District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The Municipal council (Norway), municipal council of Bardu is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The Political party, party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Geography

Bardu borders the municipalities of Lavangen and Salangen to the west, Målselv to the north, Narvik (in Nordland county) to the south, and Sweden to the east. The Barduelva river runs through the municipality from south to north along the Bardudalen valley. The Salangsdalen valley is located along the western part of the municipality. The largest lake in the county, Altevatnet, is located in the eastern part of the municipality, near the smaller lakes Geavdnjajávri and Leinavatn. These lakes lie in and near Rohkunborri National Park.

Climate

Bardu, although not far from the coast, is known for its cold winters compared to the coastal areas. This is caused by mountains usually blocking the milder, coastal air from reaching the Bardu valley. In summer, however, it is usually warmer than the coastal areas.

Notable residents

* Alfred Henningsen (1918–2012) a military officer, spy and politician; Mayor of Bardu for over nine years, lived in Setermoen * Sissel Solbjørg Bjugn (1947 in Bardu – 2011) a Norwegian poet and children's writer * Regina Alexandrova (born 1967) a Norwegian politician, Bardu municipal councillor from 2007 to 2015

Sport

* Ole Hegge (1898 in Bardu – 1994) a cross-country skier and ski jumper, silver medallist at the 1928 Winter Olympics * Fred Børre Lundberg (born 1969) a Nordic combined performer, won two team silver medals and one team gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics, 1992, 1994 Winter Olympics, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics and an individual gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics, raised in Bardufoss * Kristian Hammer (born 1976) a Norwegian Nordic combined skier, grew up in Setermoen

Gallery

Bardu kirke (2).jpg, Bardu Church Bardu.jpg, The Bardu valley and river seen from Istind (Bardu), Istind in the direction of Setermoen Lynx lynx-Male+female-Polar Park Norway.jpg, Lynx lynx, Lynx at the Polar Park in Bardu.

References

External links

Municipal fact sheet
from Statistics Norway * *http://www.polarzoo.no {{Use dmy dates, date=March 2017 Bardu, Municipalities of Troms og Finnmark Populated places of Arctic Norway 1854 establishments in Norway