Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. It is bordered in the north by the Saltfjellet mountains and Svartisen glacier, which form a natural border with the Salten district. In the south, Helgeland borders Trøndelag county.
The district covers an area of about 18,832 square kilometres (7,271 sq mi), with nearly 79,000 inhabitants. There are four towns in the district: from south to north these are Brønnøysund, Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, and Mo i Rana.[1]
Helgeland is characterized by pointed mountains and Strandflaten, a shallow lowland area, sometimes just above the sea surface, and sometimes just below the surface. People living on the coast have settled on this lowland (while inland towns, such as Mo and Mosjøen, are situated in valleys). A consequence of the Strandflaten is thousands of islands, and shallow waters going far into the sea. This has provided some shelter from stormy weather, which might occur in winter. Some islands are fairly large, often with unique mountains, such as Torghatten, De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters), Hestmannen, Rødøyløva (in Rødøy Municipality), Dønnamannen (picture), and several small islands in Træna Municipality. There are several sea bird colonies, such as Lovund (pictureArchived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine) with thousands of puffins.
The Solvær Islands (Solværøyene) in Lurøy Municipality consists of about 300 small and flat islands and has the highest densities of Eurasian eagle-owls in Europe.
Helgeland is the scene for Henrik Ibsen's 1857 historical play "The Vikings at Helgeland" (Hærmændene paa Helgeland), whose plot takes place at this region during the time of Erik Blood-axe (c. 930–934).
Helgeland Kammerkor, a mixed choir with members from all parts of Helgeland, have recorded an album of folk music from Helgeland (Folketoner fra Helgeland, 2005). The album contains 27 folk tunes from Helgeland, recorded in collaboration with folk musicians from the area. The album was recorded in Alstahaug Church, a 900-year-old stone church located near Sandnessjøen.
Media gallery
Dønnamannen (the Dønna man)
Rødøyløva mountain (the lion of Rødøy)
Part of the Lomsdalen-Visten National Park
View from Korgfjellet mountain north of Mosjøen
Røssvatnet, Norway's second largest lake, located inland nearly 400 m above sea level
Okstinden mountain (791 m.) in the municipality of Lurøy