Valdres

Valdres
District
View over Begnadalen from Lærskogen, with the large woodland ranging all over to Randsfjorden on the left and Hedalsfjella in the right background.
Administrative map of municipalities in Valdres.
Country	Norway
County	Oppland
Region	Austlandet
Adm. Center	Fagernes
Area
• Total	5,406 km2 (2,087 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	18,012
• Density	3.3/km2 (8.6/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Valdris

Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal. The region around Valdres consists of the six municipalities of Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. Valdres has about 18,000 inhabitants and is known for its excellent trout fishing and "beautiful" dialect. Its main road is E16 and Fylkesveg 51.

Valdres is located approximately midway between Oslo and Bergen. The valley is protected to the west and north by the Jotunheimen mountains (see Valdresflye) and to the south by the Gol mountain ridge (Golsfjellet). The main rivers are Begna and Etna. Historically, Valdres has had an agricultural economy, but tourism has grown in prominence in later years. Beitostølen, a highly developed tourist area for winter tourists and who have hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup multiple times is located in Valdres.

The name is from the Old Norse stem words völlr (a mountainous plain) and dres (a cleaved road to be ridden on by a horse). Another explanation to the etymology is that Valdres stems from "Valdles", which is from the stem words vald (forest) and les (pasture), i.e. "the valley of pastures in the forest".