Hälsingland

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Hälsingland (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɛ̌lːsɪŋland] ^ⓘ), sometimes referred to as Helsingia in English, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. It borders Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is part of the land of Norrland.

Administration

The traditional provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purpose, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Hälsingland the province constitutes the northern part of the län ('administrative county') Gävleborg County. Minor parts of the province are in Jämtland County and in Västernorrland County.

The following municipalities have their seats in Hälsingland:

• Bollnäs
• Hudiksvall
• Ljusdal
• Nordanstig
• Ovanåker
• Söderhamn

The six largest settlements are:

• Bollnäs
• Hudiksvall
• Söderhamn
• Ljusdal
• Edsbyn
• Iggesund

Heraldry

The coat of arms were granted in 1560 in the era of King Gustav Vasa. At that time, Hälsingland was known for its large scale goat breeding, and the arms depicted a standing goat facing heraldic right (blazon: Sable, a Goat rampant Or attired and hoofed Gules). This, combined with the arms of Gästrikland, forms the coat of arms for Gävleborg County.

Geography

The terrain is mostly hilly and rocky, sloping down towards the coast. The highest elevation in the northern part is 530 meters, and 671 meters in the western part. Approximately 85% of the land area is covered with forest, and the timber industry has historically been the main source of income. Apart from some areas around the river systems, notably around the River Ljusnan, the soil is barren. Large areas consist of rocks and bogs and are unsuitable for agriculture.

A notable geological feature is the Dellen lake system, created from flooded meteoric impact craters. It is the only occurrence in Sweden of the volcanic Andesite rock, to which it has given the name dellenite.

History

The earliest mention of the people of Hälsingland may be in the

In the medieval age, the "Helsings" were the Swedish speaking inhabitants of the entire coastal region north of Uppland, a rather imprecise denomination. In the early provincial law of Uppland, the border between northern Uppland and Hälsingland was the Ödmården [sv] forest.

In the 13th century a large number of people emigrated from Hälsingland to the southern coasts of

Riksdag

Culture

Dialect

The local dialect is known as Hälsingemål or Hälsingska but has no official linguistic recognition.

Folk architecture

The magnificent Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland—"Hälsingegårdar"—are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two or even three storeys high, the farmhouses are built to show wealth and independence, and much inventiveness has gone into decorating their interiors, which combine aristocratic fashions with traditional materials and techniques.

Sports

Bandy is very popular in Hälsingland; it is the only district where bandy is bigger than ice hockey.^{[citation needed]}

Football in the province is administered by Hälsinglands Fotbollförbund.

Hockey teams in Hälsingland include:

• Järvsö IK- HockeyTrean
• Gällsta IK- HockeyTrean
• Bollnäs IS- HockeyTrean
• Soderhamn/Ljunse HC- HockeyTvåan
• Hudiksvalls HC- Hockeyettan

Notable natives

• Tomas Brolin former football player, who played in the World Cup All Star Team 1994, was born in Finflo outside the town of Hudiksvall.
• Swedish and world champion, is originally from Edsbyn
  .
• Photographer and author Hilding Mickelsson, who spent his life documenting and preserving Hälsingland's cultural, intangible and natural heritage.
• Actress
  Millennium series
  , was born in Norrbo, Hudiksvall.
• Marie Richardson, an actress appearing in over a hundred productions on the stage, television and film, was born in the town of Ljusdal.
• Archbishop Nathan Söderblom, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1930, was born in Trönö, Hälsingland in 1866.

Subdivisions

Hälsingland was historically divided into districts:

• Arbrå Court District
• Bergsjö Court District
• Delsbo Court District
• Enånger Court District
• Forsa Court District
• Hälsingland South-Eastern Court District
• Hälsingland South-Western Court District
• Järvsö Court District
• Ljusdal Court District

In popular culture

• Midsommar
  , a 2019 film set in Hälsingland

References