{{short description|Municipality in Nordland, Norway}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Saltdal |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Saltdalen herred |image_skyline = Saltdalselva_seen_from_the_air.jpg |image_caption = View of Saltdal where the valley meets the fjord |idnumber = 1840 |county = Nordland |district = Salten |capital = Rognan |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |demonym = Saltdaling |language = Bokmål |coatofarms = Saltdal komm.svg |flag = |webpage = www.saltdal.kommune.no |mayor = Runar Løvdal Jensen |mayor_party = Ap |mayor_as_of = 2023 |elevation_max_m = 1755.98 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/fakta-om-norge/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen |publisher=Kartverket |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 26 |area_total_km2 = 2216.19 |area_land_km2 = 2083.96 |area_water_km2 = 132.23 |area_water_percent = 6 |population_as_of = 2024 |population_rank = 186 |population_total = 4880 |population_density_km2 = 2.2 |population_increase = 4.1 |coordinates = {{coord|66|55|12|N|15|33|36|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Saltdal''' ({{langx|se|Sálát}}) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rognan. Other villages in Saltdal include Røkland, Lønsdal, Langset, and Saksenvika.
The {{convert|2216|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 26th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Saltdal Municipality is the 186th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,880. The municipality's population density is {{convert|2.2|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 4.1% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>
==General information== The municipality of Saltdal was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1949, a small area of Skjerstad Municipality (population: 10) was transferred to Saltdal Municipality. Other than that one change, the borders have never changed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no}}</ref>
===Name=== The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Saltdalen valley ({{langx|non|Salptardalr}}). The river Saltdalselva runs through the Saltdalen valley. The first element of the name is the old name of the river, {{lang|no|Salpti}}. The river name is {{lang|non|salpt}} which means "strong stream". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|dalr}} which means "valley" or "dale".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |author-link=Oluf Rygh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K21BAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1905 |edition=16 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=228 |language=no}}</ref> Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled ''Saltdalen''. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Saltdal'', removing the definite form ending ''-en''.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1917 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381014_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |pages=1057–1065}}</ref>
===Coat of arms=== The coat of arms was granted on 28 October 1988. The official blazon is ''"Gules, a rowan twig Or"'' ({{langx|no|I rødt en gull rognekvist}}). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is two rowan twigs. The rowan twig has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. This design was chosen to represent nature and the prevalence of rowan forests in the municipality. They are also canting arms because the Norwegian word for rowan is ''rogn'' and the municipal centre is the village of Rognan. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway – Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Saltdal |access-date=2023-02-04 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saltdal, Nordland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-18-40.html |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1988-11-28 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1988-10-28-872 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Saltdal |url=http://snl.no/Saltdal |access-date=28 March 2012 |language=no}}</ref>
===Churches=== The Church of Norway has two parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Saltdal Municipality. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Saltdal Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |Saltdal||Saltdal Church||Rognan||1862 |- |Øvre Saltdal||Øvre Saltdal Church||Røkland||1938 |}
==History== [[File:Blodveien.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial for the Blood Road]] During World War II, the Germans decided to lengthen the Nordland Line from Lønsdal in Saltfjellet going northwards. Over a period of three years, the original plan was to first have both the road and the railroad all the way to Narvik and then on to Kirkenes, but they only managed to build the railroad to Bodø.
The Germans continued to lengthen the road to Kirkenes, and it came to be known as ''Blodvegen'' ("the Blood Road") by locals. This project involved prisoners of war, mostly from Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, in building this road under extremely harsh conditions. The workers lived in prison camps where they did not receive enough food for their hard work building the road. This caused many of the workers to collapse and die. A famous sign of this road is the blood cross one of the prisoners drew on the mountainside with his recently killed friend's blood. It has become a tradition to repaint this cross with red paint, so people who pass this will never forget what happened. It's still possible to walk this road, which stretches from Saltnes to Soksenvika. At Saltnes, you will find the Blood Road museum.
Saltdal was known for having some of the most horrifying prisoner-of-war camps in Norway during World War II. A grand total of 15-18 camps with 9,500 Russian, Polish, and Yugoslavian prisoners were located in the valley.
==Government== Saltdal Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite SNL|kommunestyre| kommunestyre|2024-12-31|Hansen|Tore|2024-11-25|editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref> The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
===Municipal council=== The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Saltdal Municipality is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party. {{div col}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/nordland/saltdal#seats |access-date=2023-12-27 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref> |collapsed = |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 5 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Rødt = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |otherparty = Saltdal List |otherparty_no = Saltdalslista |otherparty_number = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/nordland/saltdal#seats |access-date=28 October 2019 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 2 |Rødt = 2 |Senterpartiet = 7 |otherparty = Saltdal List |otherparty_no = Saltdalslista |otherparty_number = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |otherparty = Saltdal List |otherparty_no = Saltdalslista |otherparty_number = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference =<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/nordland/saltdal#seats |access-date=28 October 2019 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |Høyre = 2 |Fremskrittspartiet = 7 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4 |Venstre = 1 |otherparty = Saltdal local politics list |otherparty_no = Saltdal Lokalpolitiske Liste |otherparty_number = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |Rød_Valgallianse = 1 |otherparty = Saltdal local politics list |otherparty_no = Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste |otherparty_number = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |Rød_Valgallianse = 1 |otherparty = Saltdal local politics list |otherparty_no = Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste |otherparty_number = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Rød_Valgallianse = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |otherparty = Saltdal local politics list |otherparty_no = Saltdal lokalpolitiske liste |otherparty_number = 2 |otherparty1 = Saltdal cross-party list |otherparty_no1 = Saltdal tverrpolitiske liste |otherparty_number1 = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Rød_Valgallianse = 2 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |otherparty = Cross-party list |otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk liste |otherparty_number = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 14 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Rød_Valgallianse = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Høyre = 7 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 1 |otherparty = Socialist common list |otherparty_no = Venstresosialistiske felleslister |otherparty_number = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Høyre = 3 |NKP = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Folkeparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 13 |Høyre = 2 |NKP = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Høyre = 2 |NKP = 2 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 13 |NKP = 2 |Høyre = 2 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |NKP = 3 |Venstre = 3 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |NKP = 2 |Venstre = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |NKP = 3 |Venstre = 3 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Saltdal |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Venstre = 3 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |}} {{div col end}}
===Mayors=== The mayor ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Saltdal Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:<ref>{{Cite web |year=2024 |editor-last=Fiva |editor-first=Jon H |editor2-last=Sørensen |editor2-first=Rune J. |editor3-last=Vøllo |editor3-first=Reidar |title=Local Candidate Dataset |url=https://www.jon.fiva.no/docs/FivaSorensenVollo2024.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Saltdalsboka |date=1994 |publisher=Saltdal kommune |pages=28-35 |language=no |chapter=Ordførerne i Saltdal |issn=0802-6009}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1838–1840: Petter Ellingsen Saltnæs, Sr. *1840–1842: Rev. Jacob Preus Breder *1842–1844: Petter Ellingsen Saltnæs, Sr. *1844–1848: Rev. Anders Otterbech *1848–1850: Jens Erik Angell Schjelderup *1850–1856: Rev. Christian Wilhelm Koren *1857–1859: Georg Wasmuth Sejersted *1859–1861: Carl Olsen<ref name="S1" /> *1861–1863: Rev. Ole Christian Gjersing *1863–1864: Simon Kildal Nilsen<ref name="S1" /> *1864–1870: Rev. Wollert Dankertsen Meyer<ref>{{Cite news |date=1870-08-10 |title=Bodø |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_nordlandsamtstidende_null_null_18700810_23_32_1 |access-date=2026-04-28 |work=Nordlands Amtstidende |page=1 |language=no}}</ref> *1871–1873: Carl Olsen<ref name="S1" /> *1873–1875: Petter Ellingsen Saltnæs, Jr. (H) *1875–1885: Iver Michael Bentsen<ref name="S2" /> *1886–1892: Ole Johannes Andreas Monsen (V)<ref name="S2" /> *1893–1895: Kristen Olsen Langset (V)<ref name="S1">{{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Alan |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2009011304041 |title=Saltdal: gård og slekt |date=2000 |publisher=Saltdal kommune, Kulturetaten |isbn=8299562511 |volume=1 |location=Rognan |language=no}}</ref> *1895–1897: Ole Martinus Benjaminsen (H)<ref name="S3">{{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Alan |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2011030308045 |title=Saltdal: gård og slekt |date=2004 |publisher=Saltdal kommune, Kulturetaten |isbn=8299562554 |volume=3 |location=Rognan |language=no}}</ref> *1897–1910: Peder Carl Olsen Vik (H)<ref name="S1" /> *1911–1913: Ole Kristensen Langset<ref name="S1" /> *1914–1916: Andor Hasselberg Hansen (V)<ref name="S2" /> *1917–1919: Mons Høihilder (ArbDem) *1919–1922: Andor Hasselberg Hansen (V)<ref name="S2">{{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Alan |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2011030308043 |title=Saltdal: gård og slekt |date=2002 |publisher=Saltdal kommune, Kulturetaten |isbn=8299562546 |volume=2 |location=Rognan |language=no}}</ref> *1923–1934: Arnt Ove Krane (H) *1935–1938: Oskar Theodor Støre (V)<ref name="S3" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1935-02-18 |title=De nye ordførere i Nordland fylke |url=https://www.nb.no/items/47b04b4316faa8c5c34f9037908ec5b7?page=1 |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=Nordlandsposten |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1938–1941: Kristen J. Næstby (Ap) *1941–1942: Johan Kristoffersen (NS) *1942–1943: Samuel Giæver (NS) *1943–1945: Julius B. Wilson (NS)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1943-01-05 |title=Nye ordførere og varaordførere i Nordland fylke |url=https://www.nb.no/items/c10fa807143570c46bd48eceab31a56f |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=Nordlandsposten |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1945–1946: Kristen J. Næstby (Ap) *1946–1975: Hilmar Konrad Hansen (Ap)<ref name="S2" /> *1975–1979: Johan Solberg (Ap) *1979–1983: Odd Storteig (H) *1983–1987: Terje Torkildsen (Ap) *1987–1991: Odd Storteig (H) *1991–1995: Terje Torkildsen (Ap) *1995–1999: Tove Engan (Sp) *1999–2011: Kjell Magne Johansen (Ap) *2011–2015: Finn-Obert Bentsen (Ap) *2015–2023: Rune Berg (Sp) *2023–present: Runar Løvdal Jensen (Ap) {{div col end}}
==Geography== [[File:Nordland-Nasjonalparksenter.jpg|thumb|right|Nordland National Park Centre is situated at Storjord, Saltdal]] [[File:Zwischen Narvik & Mo i Rana 1 Norwegen.JPG|thumb|left|To the north, Saltdal borders Saltdal Fjord, innermost part of Skjerstadfjord, with road and railway to Fauske on the eastern slope of the fjord.]] thumb|left|Part of Junkerdal Nature Reserve The main population centre in the municipality is Rognan, on the southern shore of the Saltdal Fjord, where the valley floor meets the fjord. When the Ice age ended and the ice had melted 9,000 years ago, the valley was a fjord as the sea reached what is today an elevation of {{convert|120|m}} due to isostatic depression. The valley is situated north of the Arctic Circle. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|1755.98|m|adj=on}} tall mountain ''Nordre Saulo'', located within Junkerdal National Park.<ref name="elev" />
Two national parks are partially in the municipality: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park in the southwest, and Junkerdal National Park in the eastern part. This makes Saltdal one of the municipalities in Norway with the largest percentage of protected areas within its borders. The river Saltdalselva runs through the valley. The riverbed appears very bright in some places due to the minerals in the sand. The valley is covered with pine forest and birch and other trees are common as well. Lakes in the region include Balvatnet, Fiskeløysvatnet, Kjemåvatnet, and Nordre Bjøllåvatnet. The mountain Ørfjellet is also located in the municipality.
===Climate=== Certain areas are particularly arid, with the southern part of the Saltdalen valley being the driest area in Northern Europe except Svalbard. Here, the Saltfjellet mountains blocks precipitation from the west and south, while several other mountain ranges blocks precipitation from the east. Between 2001 and 2005, and again in 2007 and 2008, the weather station at Borkamo (81 m) in the southern part of the valley recorded the least precipitation in mainland Norway. Only {{convert|74|mm}} fell in 2005, setting a new national record. Located on a farm from 1982 to 2012, data reveal it to be driest location on the Norwegian mainland, with only {{convert|211|mm}} precipitation annually.
From 2013 onwards, the weather station at Nordnes (39 m) seized the operations of the old station at Borkamo. This station is located about {{convert|10|km}} northwards at a camping site, but still in the upper part of the valley (''Øvre Saltdal''). This station receives considerably more precipitation, with {{convert|661|mm}} annually, highlighting the significant microclimatic variations in the area.
Despite the generally low precipitation, there is lush vegetation with meadows and forests on the side of the mountains due to the low temperatures reducing evapotranspiration. Due to the rarity of extreme cold snaps, the environment and plant hardiness resemble latitudes further south in the Nordic interior.
Saltdalen is often one of Norway's warmest areas when the right weather situation occurs (wind from the south/southeast). It is not uncommon with daytime temperatures approaching and sometimes exceeding {{convert|30|C}} in the summer months. During a heatwave in June 2011, Borkamo recorded four days in a row with daytime temperatures exceeding {{convert|30|C}}. On 11 June 2011, Borkamo recorded a daytime high of {{convert|33.8|C}}, which was a new heat record for Nordland county in the month of June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saltdal/statistics.html |url=http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Nordland/Saltdal/%c3%98vre_Saltdal/statistics.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821193502/http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Nordland/Saltdal/%C3%98vre_Saltdal/statistics.html |archive-date=21 August 2018 |access-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> During the July 2019 European heat wave the temperature reached {{convert|34.6|C}} at Nordnes, the highest temperature ever measured north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |title=Weather statistics for Nordnes, Saltdal |url=https://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Nordland/Saltdal/Nordnes/statistics.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810125450/https://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Nordland/Saltdal/Nordnes/statistics.html |archive-date=10 August 2019 |access-date=11 August 2019 |website=yr.no/ |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |date=28 July 2019 |title=Saltdal-Nordnes |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=01169&ano=2019&mes=7&day=28&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |access-date=11 August 2019 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET}}</ref> Similarly, winter temperatures can be quite cold, often dropping below {{convert|-20|C}} on a clear day. The all-time low {{convert|-32.2|C}} was recorded January 2010 at Borkamo.
{{Weather box |metric first= yes |single line = yes |location = Saltdal - Borkamo 1991-2020 (81 m, avg high/low 1991-2012, extremes 1982-2020 also including Nordnes) |Jan record high C = 12.9 | Jan record low C = -32.5 |Feb record high C = 11.8 | Feb record low C = -31.6 |Mar record high C = 14.8 | Mar record low C = -26.5 |Apr record high C = 19.5 | Apr record low C =-20.3 |May record high C = 29.7 | May record low C = -7.0 |Jun record high C = 33.8 | Jun record low C = -3.0 |Jul record high C = 34.6 | Jul record low C = -1.0 |Aug record high C = 32.6 | Aug record low C = -2.4 |Sep record high C = 25.9 | Sep record low C = -8.2 |Oct record high C = 20.3 | Oct record low C = -18.0 |Nov record high C = 15.3 | Nov record low C = -26.6 |Dec record high C = 13.3 | Dec record low C = -28.0 |Jan high C = -1.1 |Feb high C = -1.5 |Mar high C = 2.3 |Apr high C = 6.9 |May high C = 12.0 |Jun high C = 16.9 |Jul high C = 20.4 |Aug high C = 17.3 |Sep high C = 13.2 |Oct high C = 6.5 |Nov high C = 1.7 |Dec high C = -0.6 <!-- Mean daily temperature --> |Jan mean C=-4.3 |Feb mean C=-4.7 |Mar mean C=-2.7 |Apr mean C=1.9 |May mean C=7.0 |Jun mean C=11.4 |Jul mean C=14.3 |Aug mean C=12.8 |Sep mean C=8.1 |Oct mean C=3.2 |Nov mean C=-1.0 |Dec mean C=-2.9 |year mean C= |Jan low C = -6.1 |Feb low C = -7.5 |Mar low C = -5.3 |Apr low C = -0.9 |May low C = 2.8 |Jun low C = 6.1 |Jul low C = 9.7 |Aug low C = 8.7 |Sep low C = 5.3 |Oct low C = 0.7 |Nov low C = -3.2 |Dec low C = -5.2 |year low C = <!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. --> |precipitation colour= green<!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. --> |Jan precipitation mm=27.6 |Feb precipitation mm=16 |Mar precipitation mm=15.8 |Apr precipitation mm=6.7 |May precipitation mm=10.2 |Jun precipitation mm=14 |Jul precipitation mm=21.6 |Aug precipitation mm=22.4 |Sep precipitation mm=24.5 |Oct precipitation mm=20.1 |Nov precipitation mm=14.9 |Dec precipitation mm=17.4 |year precipitation mm= <!-- Mandatory fields, source --> |source 1= eklima/Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref> |source 2=Infoclimat Saltdal 1991-2012<ref>{{Cite web |title=Infoclimat Saltdal 1991-2012 (average high and low) |url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2012/saltdal/valeurs/01169.html}}</ref> |date=22 July 2021 }}
==Transportation== The European route E6 highway passes through the entire length of Saltdal, with the Nordland Line running alongside it. A road running east through the Junkerdalen valley (National Road 77) leads to Sweden. The nearest main airport is in Bodø, about 90 minutes from Rognan by road. There is a general aviation airport—Rognan Airport.
==Economy== One of the largest employers in Saltdal Municipality is Nexans. The company's Rognan factory specializes in telecommunications, fibre optics and copper cables. There is also some agriculture in Saltdal, and many people work within public services.
In September 2023, a local manufacturer of cabins laid off many workers during a time where demand was slowing.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mestergruppen-selskap permitterer opptil 50 ansatte |url=https://e24.no/naeringsliv/i/nQx0ad/mestergruppen-selskap-permitterer-opptil-50-ansatte?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vg.no. |access-date=2023-09-28 |work=E24 Næringsliv |language=no}}</ref>
Saltdal has a history in boat building out of local timber. Especially before World War II, the boatbuilding industry employed a large percentage of Saltdal's population.
== Notable people == 125px|thumb|Ludvig Kristensen Daa, 1877 * Ludvig Kristensen Daa (1809 in Saltdal – 1877), a historian, ethnologist, auditor, editor of magazines and newspapers, educator and politician * Arne Hjersing (1860 in Saltdal – 1926), a painter * Bernhoff Hansen (1877 in Rognan – 1950), a wrestler, gold medallist in the 1904 Summer Olympics * Erling Engan (1910 in Saltdal – 1982), a Norwegian politician * Trygve Henrik Hoff (1938 in Rognan – 1987), a singer, composer, songwriter and writer * Hans-Erik Husby (1972 – 2021), a rock singer (Turbonegro); lived about five years in Rognan in his childhood and early teens * Ragnhild Furebotten (born 1979 in Saltdal), a fiddler, folk musician and composer * Lena Kristin Ellingsen (born 1980 in Saltdal), an actress<ref>{{IMDb name|3014145|Lena Kristin Ellingsen}}. Retrieved 27 August 2020.</ref>
==See also== *Blodveien ["The blood road"]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/saltdal Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}} *[https://www.norgesnasjonalparker.no/en/nationalparks/junkerdal/ Junkerdal National Park] *[http://www.polarsirkelsenteret.no/ Polarcircle center]
{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Nordland|wikt=Saltdal}} {{Geographic location |state = collapsed |Centre = 20px Saltdal Municipality |North = Fauske Municipality |Northeast = Fauske Municipality |East = Arjeplog Municipality<br />{{flag|Sweden}} |Southeast = Arjeplog Municipality<br />{{flag|Sweden}} |South = Rana Municipality |Southwest = Rana Municipality |West = Beiarn Municipality |Northwest = Bodø Municipality }} {{Nordland}} {{authority control}}
Category:Saltdal Municipality Category:Municipalities of Nordland Category:Valleys of Nordland Category:Populated places of Arctic Norway Category:1838 establishments in Norway Category:Populated places established in 1838