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Øystre Slidre

Øystre Slidre kommune
Municipality
Buahaugen in Øystre Slidre
Buahaugen in Øystre Slidre
Coat of arms of Øystre Slidre kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Øystre Slidre kommune
Oppland within
Norway
Øystre Slidre within Oppland
Øystre Slidre within Oppland
Coordinates: 61°14′11″N 9°8′37″E / 61.23639°N 9.14361°E / 61.23639; 9.14361Coordinates: 61°14′11″N 9°8′37″E / 61.23639°N 9.14361°E / 61.23639; 9.14361
Country Norway
County Oppland
District Valdres
Administrative centre Heggenes
Government
 • Mayor (2011) Kjell Berge Melbybråten (Ap)
Area
 • Total 963 km2 (372 sq mi)
 • Land 881 km2 (340 sq mi)
Area rank 109 in Norway
Population (2004)
 • Total 3,116
 • Rank 264 in Norway
 • Density 4/km2 (10/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years) 0.5 %
Demonym(s) Øystreslidring
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code NO-0544
Official language form Nynorsk
Website www.oystre-slidre.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Øystre Slidre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Heggenes.

The old municipality of Slidre (created in 1838) was divided into Øystre Slidre and Vestre Slidre in 1849. The majority of today's residents live in the villages of Heggenes, Rogne, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen.

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse: Slíðrar), since the first church was built here. The name is probably derived from slíðr which means "sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). The meaning of the name Øystre Slidre is "(the) eastern (part of) Slidre" (since the parish and municipality of Slidre was divided in 1849.)

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted in 1989. The arms show blue and silver tiles made of slate. This recognizes that the slate industry was a formerly important industry in the area. Slate roofing was very common in Valdres.

Båtskaret (The boat pass) is a narrow pass along Bitihorn where in medieval times people from Øystre Slidre dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstervatnet with a lot of fine trout. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdal, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore, they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.


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