# Selfors > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Selfors > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Selfors.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfors > Source revision: 1324681496 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Selfors**[1] is a neighborhood in the town of [Mo i Rana](/source/Mo_i_Rana) in [Rana Municipality](/source/Rana_Municipality) in [Nordland](/source/Nordland) county, [Norway](/source/Norway). Selfors sits on the northern shore of the river [Ranelva](/source/Ranelva) in the northeastern part of the town of [Mo i Rana](/source/Mo_i_Rana). The [European route E06](/source/European_route_E06) highway passes through the neighborhood. Selfors has been inhabited since the [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age).[2] The [Helgeland Hospital Mo i Rana](/source/Helgeland_Hospital_Mo_i_Rana), the local branch of the [Helgeland Hospital](/source/Helgeland_Hospital), is located on Selfors. There are also two daycare centres, a primary school, and school with secondary classes. In connection with the expansion of the *Norsk Jernverk* iron and metal industry company in 1946, [Selfors Church](/source/Selfors_Church) was originally built by the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholicism). It was built in 1971 and constructed mainly out of glass and wood. It seats 200. Since 1976, however, it has also been used by the [Church of Norway](/source/Church_of_Norway). Additionally, Selfors has a grocery store (which includes the local post office); a flower shop; a store for hunting, fishing and outdoor life; a petrol station; and an inn located along [European route E06](/source/European_route_E06). There are six housing cooperatives in Selfors, owned by *Mo og Omegn Boligbyggelag*. ## Transportation The [Selfors Bridge](/source/Selfors_Bridge) over the [Ranelva](/source/Ranelva) river on the E6 highway connects Selfors with the town centre of [Mo i Rana](/source/Mo_i_Rana). The first bridge at Selfors was built in 1914. On 18 May 1940, it was blown up by the resistance in order to slow down the northward advance of the German occupation forces. It was, however, quickly rebuilt, and was used until it was torn down on 17 March 1965. A new bridge was then built, and is still in use today. Before the opening of the new bridge between [Mjølan](/source/Mj%C3%B8lan) and [Ytteren](/source/Ytteren), Selfors Bridge was the only road connection between [Mo i Rana](/source/Mo_i_Rana) and the northern suburbs of [Ytteren](/source/Ytteren) and [Båsmoen](/source/B%C3%A5smoen). The hillsides and mountains at Selfors are a popular terrain for outdoor activities. *Varmosletta*, *Skarvatnet*, and *Kvitbergan* ("the white cliffs") are located in untouched nature. ## History ### Selfors farm *Selfors farm* was one of the oldest farms in the area and it played a central role at that place until 1680. The farm was located along the river [Ranelva](/source/Ranelva) on the western parts of the present-day village of Selfors, near the [Ranfjorden](/source/Ranfjorden) and [Fossetangen](/source/Ranelva#Fossetangen).[3] *Selfors farm* is mentioned in "the [farm book of Aslak Bolt](/source/Aslak_Bolt's_cadastre)" in 1430, written by [Aslak Harniktsson Bolt](/source/Aslak_Harniktsson_Bolt) (ca.1380−1449), the [Archbishop of Nidaros](/source/Archbishop_of_Nidaros). Aslak Bolt wrote: *"af selfosse 1/2 spann"*[4] Selfors thus paid 1/2 bucket of butter to the Archbishop of the [Diocese of Nidaros](/source/Diocese_of_Nidaros). The [Leidang](/source/Leidang) census during the years 1566−1567 does not mention the farm. It had probably not ceased to exist, but was rather forgotten, since the farmer during the census in 1610 was registered as a sailor and in 1612 as a [bailiff](/source/Bailiff). In the 17th century *Selfors farm* belonged to the [Hemnes Church](/source/Hemnes_Church) parish. ### Name The name *Selfors* was first mentioned in 1430. It has been interpreted as *Sel-foss* ([Norwegian](/source/Norwegian_language) for "the pinniped waterfall"), meaning a waterfall where [pinnipeds](/source/Pinniped) lived. It also has been connected with the [Sami](/source/Sami_language) word *saelhtie*, meaning "ocean".[5] This interpretation of "Sel-foss", however, is doubtful. In the old dialect of [Rana](/source/Rana_Municipality) they never used the name "sel" for [pinnipeds](/source/Pinniped), but rather used "købbe". *Købbforsen* which literally means "the pinniped waterfall", is located in another place in Rana Municipality. The name could also be seen in connection with *sele* ("silent flowing and deep water"), similar to the Swedish place names of [Lycksele](/source/Lycksele), [Sorsele](/source/Sorsele), and [Åsele](/source/%C3%85sele). Selfors may then mean "a waterfall in a river with silent flowing, deep water". The waterfall is located at [Fossetangen](/source/Ranelva#Fossetangen), and the "silent flowing, deep water" might be to river [Ranelva](/source/Ranelva). ## Media gallery ### Kvitbergan Photos from the mountains around Selfors, taken in November 2005: ## References 1. ["Informasjon om stadnamn"](https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/198097) (in Norwegian). *Norgeskart*. [Kartverket](/source/Norwegian_Mapping_Authority). Retrieved 2024-09-28. 1. Store norske leksikon. ["Selfors"](http://snl.no/Selfors) (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2011-12-29. 1. Frøholm, Anders (1964). *Rana Bygdebok, Mo Prestegjeld Gardshistorie* (in Norwegian). Vol. 3. Mo Sparebank. pp. 333–334. 1. Bolt, Aslak (1852). *[Aslak Bolts Jordebog](/source/Aslak_Bolts_Jordebog)* (in Norwegian). [Christiania](/source/Oslo): [P.A. Munch](/source/Peter_Andreas_Munch) 1. Årbok for Rana (1987). *Registrering av samiske kulturminner i Rana og Hemnes* (in Norwegian). Rana Museums og Historielag, Rana Blads Trykkeri. p. 91. [ISSN 0333-0443](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0333-0443) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Selfors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfors) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfors?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.