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Buskerud

Buskerud is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. In 2002 there were 239,793 inhabitants, which is 5.3% of the total population in Norway. Its area is 14,927 km². The county administration is located in Drammen.


Buskerud fylke
Image:Norway coa.png
County NO-06
Administrative centre Drammen
County mayor  
Area 14,927 km²
Population
 - Total (2002)
 - Percent
 - Density

239,793
5.3 %
x.x/km²
Image:Norwaymap oslo.png


Buskerud extends from Hurum at the Oslofjord to the Halling mountains and Hardanger. Its western part is a mountaneous plateau with forested valleys and high, grassy pastures; its eastern part contains a lowland basin with many lakes and streams. Tyrifjorden and Krøderen are the biggest lakes. Numedalslågen , the third longest river in Norway, starting in Hordaland, runs through Buskerud unto Vestfold where it reaches the sea, while river Begna sweeps into lake Sperillen.

The area Ringerike may once have been a small kingdom. During the 10th century, Norway's kings Olav Trygvasson and Olav Haraldsson grew up at Bønsnes in Ringerike. Hønefoss is the district capital of Ringerike. In the Numedal valley, silver has been mined in Kongsberg from the 17th century but was discontinued in 1957. Weapons industry had been developed in Kongsberg from 1814, and various high tech industry companies now represent the town's major employers. At Modum there once was a cobolt production works (Blaafarveværket, "The Blue-Color Works").

Today, agriculture, lumbering, wood-pulp mills, and industry are the county's main economic activities; ample hydroelectric power is produced by Begna and Rands rivers.

Municipalities



Last updated: 01-28-2005 10:41:14
Last updated: 02-11-2005 17:47:38