Editing Nordland (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Trollfjord from the opposite coast of Raftsundet 3.JPG|thumb|left|Autumn near [[Trollfjord]] in [[Hadsel Municipality]]. Nordland is home to innumerable fjords and fjord branches.]]
Nordland is located along the northwestern coast of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]] in [[Northern Norway]]. Due to the large distance to the densely populated parts of Europe, this is one of the least [[pollution|polluted]] areas in Europe. Nordland extends about {{convert|500|km}} from [[Trøndelag]] to [[Troms]] county. The distance by road from [[Bindal Municipality]] in the far south of the county to [[Andenes]] on the northern tip of [[Andøy Municipality]] in the northern edge of Nordland is roughly {{convert|800|km}}.

Nordland has a rugged coastline, with many [[fjord]]s. From south to north, the main fjords are Bindalsfjord, [[Vefsnfjorden]], [[Ranfjorden]], [[Saltfjorden]]-[[Skjerstadfjorden]], [[Folda, Nordland|Folda]], [[Tysfjorden]], [[Ofotfjorden]] (the longest) and [[Andfjorden]], which is shared with Troms county. The best-known is perhaps the [[Vestfjorden (Norway)|Vestfjorden]], which is not really a fjord, but an open stretch of sea between the [[Lofoten]] island group and the mainland. The [[Raftsundet]] [[strait]], with its famous branch [[Trollfjorden]], is the shortest waterway connecting Lofoten and Vesterålen. The [[continental shelf]] is very narrow west of Andenes, nowhere else in Norway is the deep ocean only a few kilometres from shore. [[Saltstraumen]] whirlpool is just south-east of [[Bodø (town)|Bodø]], and [[Moskenstraumen]] is located in southern Lofoten.

[[File:Berg i Helgeland.jpg|thumb|left|The majority of the population is located at the ''Strandflaten'' lowland. Berg in [[Sømna Municipality]].]]

Steep mountains near the sea and an almost flat lowland area in between the mountains and the sea (''Strandflaten'', coastal brim) is very typical for the long coastline in Nordland, and ''Strandflaten'' often continues out from the shore, the result is numerous islands (skerries), of which Helgeland have thousands; these islands are usually mountainous, but with smaller or larger ''strandflate'' areas. The southern part of Norway's largest island (apart from [[Svalbard]]), [[Hinnøya]] is in Nordland, as is the third-largest island, [[Langøya]]. In the fjords, the coastal brim is much less developed: There might be a more gradual slope, with hills, towards the mountains, or no lowland at all. There are often [[valley]]s at the head of fjords (the fjord is an extension of the valley), usually with a river at the centre of the valley. [[Mo i Rana]], [[Mosjøen]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hjorthern |first=Øyvinn |title=Galleri Mosjøen |url=http://www.mosjoen.com/galleri.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221234326/http://www.mosjoen.com/galleri.shtml |archive-date=2006-02-21 |access-date=2006-02-24 |website=Mosjoen}}</ref> and [[Rognan]] are situated in such valleys.
[[File:Langvassåga 03.JPG|thumb|right|The largest rivers follow the longest inland valleys. [[Ranelva]] at the confluence with [[Langvassåga]] in [[Rana Municipality]].]]

Norway's second-largest [[glacier]], [[Svartisen]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flere bilder fra Svartisen |url=http://www.eskilolsen.no/svartisen%20andre.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905222217/http://www.eskilolsen.no/svartisen%20andre.htm |archive-date=2010-09-05 |access-date=2006-02-24}}</ref> the second-largest lake, [[Røssvatnet]], and the second-deepest fjord, [[Tysfjorden]] (897 m) are all located in Nordland. The largest river (waterflow) is [[Vefsna]] which forms the [[Laksforsen]] waterfall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Galleri Grane |url=http://www.grane.net/galleri.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109052211/http://www.grane.net/galleri.htm |archive-date=2005-11-09 |access-date=2006-02-24 |website=Grane.net}}</ref>
[[File:Stetind 2009 2.JPG|thumb|left|[[Stetinden (Narvik)|Stetinden]] towering over a branch of the Tysfjorden; voted Norway's national mountain.]]
The [[Saltfjellet]] mountain range forms a natural border between Helgeland and Salten, and is where the [[Arctic Circle]] cuts through the county. The western part of this mountain range is dominated by steep mountains and fjord inlets, with glaciers stretching towards the sea, while the eastern part of the mountains is more gentle and rounded, with some forested valleys, and is well suited for hiking. The interior of Nordland, towards the border with [[Sweden]], is dominated by the [[Kjølen Mountains]] ([[Scandinavian Mountains]]). The highest mountain in Nordland is [[Oksskolten]] {{convert|1915|m}} in [[Okstindan]] range, the second-highest is [[Suliskongen]] {{convert|1907|m}} in [[Fauske Municipality]], and the third is [[Storsteinfjellet]] {{convert|1894|m}} in [[Narvik Municipality]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorsnæs |first=Geir |last2=Engerengen |first2=Lars |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Oksskolten |url=https://snl.no/Oksskolten |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=[[Store norske leksikon]] |language=no}}</ref> [[Stetinden (Narvik)|Stetinden]] in Narvik has been voted as Norway's national mountain.

There are many glaciers in the mountains, like [[Blåmannsisen]], [[Okstindbreen]], the [[Sulitjelma Glacier]], and [[Frostisen]]—7 of the [[List of glaciers in Norway|15 largest glaciers]] in continental Norway are located in Nordland.

=== Geology ===
[[File:Englevingen.jpg|thumb|left|Inside Vikgrotta (cave) in [[Saltdal Municipality]]]]
[[File:Trollhatten-july08.jpg|thumb|[[Torghatten]], in [[Brønnøy Municipality]], with its characteristic hole. July 2008.]]
In the geological past, a collision with [[Greenland]] pushed long slices of the seabed on top of the existing bedrock, today forming the bedrock from [[Dovrefjell]] and [[Trollheimen]] south of [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]] stretching north in Trøndelag and through Nordland to just north of [[Tromsø (city)|Tromsø]]. This [[Cambrian]]—[[Silur]]ian bedrock, much of it [[mica]] [[schist]], is by far the largest area in Norway with soft bedrock rich in nutritions good for plant growth. It forms the bedrock in the fjord areas, while the islands off the coast and some of the easternmost areas along the border with Sweden are made up of hard bedrock (usually [[granite]]). In some areas, as in [[Hamarøy Municipality]] and [[Sørfold Municipality]], the bedrock is a mix of soft bedrock and hard granite. 

Much of the Lofoten mountains are of [[precambrian]] eruptive origin and 3.5 billion years old, among the oldest on earth. The youngest rock in Norway is on [[Andøya]], also known for its [[fossil]]s of [[dinosaur]]s and other life forms.  As the land was depressed by the [[ice sheet]] in the ice age, substantial areas in the lowest altitudes was beneath the surface of the sea for thousands of years acquiring marine deposits. Due to [[post-glacial rebound]], this is now dry land, reaching {{convert|120|m}} above sea level today in Saltdal, {{convert|100|m}} in [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]] and [[Brønnøysund]], and {{convert|30|m}} to {{convert|50|m}} in Lofoten and Vesterålen. [[Limestone]] is very common in Nordland, with many [[cave]]s<ref>{{Cite web |title=www.arctic-circle.no |url=http://www.arctic-circle.no/caves_nordland.htm |website=www.arctic-circle.no}}</ref> throughout the county, such as [[Grønligrotta]] in Rana. There are more caves in [[Rana Municipality]] than any other area in northern Europe. In August 2006 the [[Tjoarvekrajgge]] cave in [[Sørfold Municipality]] was explored and verified as the longest cave in [[Scandinavia]] {{convert|22|km}} long); [[Raggejavreraige]] in Tysfjord is the deepest in Scandinavia and Svarthamarhola in [[Fauske Municipality]] has the largest cavity. There are more than 900 caves in Nordland, one of these have a {{convert|70|m|adj=off}} high waterfall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=David |first=Heap |title=The caves of Nordland |url=https://eurekamag.com/research/020/300/020300456.php |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=EurekaMag}}</ref> [[Marble]] is found in several locations. Fauske is sometimes referred to as the ''marble capital'', and has exported marble worldwide (one customer being the UN building in [[New York City]]).

=== Climate ===
[[File:Midnattsol på Holm - IMG 0359a.jpg|thumb|left|Midnight sun seen from Holm, [[Sortland Municipality]].]]
[[File:Saltfjell-E6-south.jpg|thumb|right|The Saltfjell mountains still snow-covered in May. Most areas except the outer seaboard have at least four months with snowfall; at least six months in the highlands, and all year in the highest mountains.]]
The largest area of Nordland, including fjord areas, inland areas and highlands below the treeline, the area is dominated by the [[boreal climate]] (Dfc), but an atypical oceanic variant with relatively mild winters, lack of permafrost, and often with autumn as wettest season. Towns with this climate include [[Mosjøen]], [[Mo i Rana]], [[Rognan]], [[Fauske (town)|Fauske]] and [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]]. Along the coast and on islands (including Vega) along the southern and middle part of Nordland is a warmer, temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Cfb]]) with winter mean temperature above {{convert|0|C}} and a four-month long summer. This includes [[Brønnøysund]], [[Sandnessjøen]] and some islands north to [[Skrova]]. Just inland of this is a narrow area with coldest winter month mean temperature just below {{convert|0|C}} but still a four-month long summer, this area has a [[humid continental climate]] (Dfb), and includes the county seat [[Bodø (town)|Bodø]]. 

On the outer islands from Myken in [[Rødøy Municipality]] in the south and north including most of [[Lofoten]] and [[Vesterålen]], the summers become slightly shorter; winter months are still relatively mild (above {{convert|-3|C}}; some areas above {{convert|0|C}} like [[Værøy Municipality]] and [[Bø Municipality (Nordland)|Bø Municipality]]), making this an area with [[subpolar oceanic climate]] (Cfc). Towns within this area includes [[Leknes]], [[Stokmarknes]], [[Sortland (town)|Sortland]] and [[Andenes]]. 

The strongest climate gradient in Nordland is seen in winter, as the interior inland away from the fjords, as well as mountains, have much colder winters than the coast. Large fjords bring with them significant oceanic moderation in winter temperatures to the surrounding land area, as seen in [[Fauske Municipality]] and [[Narvik Municipality]]. Temperatures will generally drop {{convert|0.7|C-change}} as elevation increases by {{convert|100|m}}. Snow cover can persist all year at altitudes above {{convert|1100|m}} to {{convert|1500|m}}. Annual snow accumulation can exceed {{convert|5|m}} in the mountains, this is the main reason for the many glaciers in Nordland. With mountains in almost all areas, [[alpine tundra]] is common in Nordland.

Easterly winds give dry, sunny weather (the air must climb the Kjølen mountains), with warmth in summer and cold, clear air in winter. Southwesterly winds are common, bringing moist and mild air from the Atlantic Ocean. Autumn and  winter is the wettest season along the coast of Nordland, while April–June on average is the driest. The strongest winds occur in late autumn and winter, as the Atlantic low-pressure systems are strongest then. High-pressure weather can occur in all seasons, and in summer this brings 24-hour sunshine north of the Arctic Circle.

[[Lurøy Municipality]] {{convert|115|m}}, west of Saltfjell, averages {{convert|3066|mm}} precipitation annually; the wettest location in North Norway and in the world at such high latitude. Some of the wettest areas along the coast (a narrow band) north to [[Glomfjord]] fulfills the climatic criteria for a [[temperate rainforest]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation |url=http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/elements_of_ecology/images/biome_graph.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227224828/http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/elements_of_ecology/images/biome_graph.jpg |archive-date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=Pearson Education}}</ref> East of the mountains, upper part of [[Saltdal Municipality]] has an annual precipitation less than {{convert|300|mm}}.

Many locations in Nordland have recorded what Norwegians know as "tropical nights" when the overnight low does not fall below {{convert|20|°C}}. The warmest night ever recorded in Norway was July 29, 2019 at Sømna-Kvaløyfjellet {{convert|302|m}} in [[Sømna Municipality]] near [[Brønnøysund]] with overnight low {{convert|26.1|°C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2019 |title=Sømna målte varmeste tropenatt noen gang i Norge |trans-title=Sømna measured the warmest tropical night ever in Norway |url=https://www.nrk.no/nordland/somna-malte-varmeste-tropenatt-noen-gang-i-norge-1.14640611 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=NRK |language=no}}</ref>

The warmest temperature recorded in Nordland is {{convert|35|°C}} recorded July 27, 2019 at [[Mosjøen Airport]], this is also a tie with the national high for July.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juli med både kulde- og varmerekorder |url=https://www.met.no/nyhetsarkiv/juli-med-bade-kulde-og-varmerekorder}}</ref> On the same day, Laksfors south of Mosjøen recorded {{convert|35.6|°C}} but this recording was not approved due to too much vegetation and gravel near the weather station. Also on the same day, Saltdal Municipality recorded {{convert|34.6|°C}}, this is the warmest temperature ever recorded in Norway north of the Arctic Circle. 

The warmest month recorded in Nordland was July 2014 with mean {{convert|19.3|°C}} at Mosjøen airport and Mo i Rana airport, while the warmest average daily high was at Laksfors with {{convert|26.6|°C}} the same month. The coldest low ever recorded in Nordland is {{convert|-44.5|°C}} on December 30, 1978 in Svenningdal valley in [[Grane Municipality]].
{{Weather box
|metric first = yes 
|single line  = yes
|location     = Brønnøysund Airport 1991–2020 (9 m, precipitation 1961–90, extremes 1873-2020 includes earlier stations)
|Jan record high C = 10.2 | Jan record low C = -17.1
|Feb record high C = 10.9 | Feb record low C = -18.4
|Mar record high C = 14.7 | Mar record low C = -15.5
|Apr record high C = 21.1 | Apr record low C = -10.1
|May record high C = 27.2 | May record low C = -5
|Jun record high C = 30.3 | Jun record low C = 0
|Jul record high C = 32.1 | Jul record low C = 1
|Aug record high C = 30.1 | Aug record low C = 1.1
|Sep record high C = 24.6 | Sep record low C = -4.4
|Oct record high C = 20.3 | Oct record low C = -5.2
|Nov record high C = 17.6 | Nov record low C = -11.3
|Dec record high C = 12.2 | Dec record low C = -18.2
|Jan high C = 2
|Feb high C = 2
|Mar high C = 4
|Apr high C = 8
|May high C = 12
|Jun high C = 15
|Jul high C = 18
|Aug high C = 17
|Sep high C = 14
|Oct high C = 9
|Nov high C = 6
|Dec high C = 4
<!--Mean daily temperature-->
|Jan mean C= 1.1
|Feb mean C= 0.4
|Mar mean C= 1.4
|Apr mean C= 4.7
|May mean C= 8.1
|Jun mean C= 11.2
|Jul mean C= 14.3
|Aug mean C= 14
|Sep mean C= 11.1
|Oct mean C= 6.8
|Nov mean C= 4
|Dec mean C= 1.9
|year mean C= 
|Jan low C = 0
|Feb low C = -1
|Mar low C = -1
|Apr low C = 2
|May low C = 5
|Jun low C = 9
|Jul low C = 12
|Aug low C = 12
|Sep low C = 9
|Oct low C = 5
|Nov low C = 2
|Dec low C = 1
|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= 138
|Feb precipitation mm= 102
|Mar precipitation mm= 114
|Apr precipitation mm= 97
|May precipitation mm= 66
|Jun precipitation mm= 83
|Aug precipitation mm= 113
|Jul precipitation mm= 123
|Sep precipitation mm= 180
|Oct precipitation mm= 192
|Nov precipitation mm= 145
|Dec precipitation mm= 157
|year precipitation mm= 1510
<!--Mandatory fields, source-->
|source 1=yr.no - Meteorologisk Institutt<ref name="yr.no">{{Cite web |title=Brønnøysund Airport statistics |url=https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-76330/Norway/Nordland/Br%C3%B8nn%C3%B8y/Br%C3%B8nn%C3%B8ysund?q=last-13-months |access-date=28 March 2021 |publisher=yr.no}}</ref>
|source 2=Weatheronline.co.uk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Max. Temperature - Brønnøysund - Climate Robot Norway |url=https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?LANG=en&PLZ=_____&PLZN=_____&WMO=01112&CONT=euro&R=0&LEVEL=162&REGION=0004&LAND=NO&MOD=tab&ART=TMX&NOREGION=1&FMM=1&FYY=1996&LMM=12&LYY=2020 |website=www.weatheronline.co.uk}}</ref>
|date=March 2021
}}
{{Weather box 
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|location     = Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes 1991–2020 (26 m, precipitation 1961–90, extremes 2002–2024)
|Jan record high C = 10 | Jan record low C = -25.5
|Feb record high C = 8 | Feb record low C = -24
|Mar record high C = 11 | Mar record low C = -24.2
|Apr record high C = 19 | Apr record low C =-20.6
|May record high C = 27.9 | May record low C = -6.6
|Jun record high C = 28.7 | Jun record low C = 0.1
|Jul record high C = 32.2 | Jul record low C = 4.2
|Aug record high C = 30.8 | Aug record low C = -0.3
|Sep record high C = 23.7 | Sep record low C = -4.9
|Oct record high C = 19.1 | Oct record low C = -9.8
|Nov record high C = 13 | Nov record low C = -20.9
|Dec record high C = 10.1 | Dec record low C = -24.5
|Jan high C = -2
|Feb high C = -1
|Mar high C = 1
|Apr high C = 6
|May high C = 11
|Jun high C = 14
|Jul high C = 17
|Aug high C = 16
|Sep high C = 12
|Oct high C = 7
|Nov high C = 2
|Dec high C = 0
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C=-3.5
|Feb mean C=-3.9
|Mar mean C=-2
|Apr mean C=1.8
|May mean C=6.4
|Jun mean C=10.1
|Jul mean C=13.3
|Aug mean C=12.2
|Sep mean C=8.5
|Oct mean C=3.5
|Nov mean C=0.2
|Dec mean C=-2.3
|year mean C=
|Jan low C = -6
|Feb low C = -6
|Mar low C = -6
|Apr low C = -1
|May low C = 4
|Jun low C = 7
|Jul low C = 10
|Aug low C = 9
|Sep low C = 6
|Oct low C = 2
|Nov low C = -2
|Dec low C = -4
<!-- 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=108
|Feb precipitation mm=100
|Mar precipitation mm=74
|Apr precipitation mm=68
|May precipitation mm=53
|Jun precipitation mm=65
|Jul precipitation mm=75
|Aug precipitation mm=89
|Sep precipitation mm=106
|Oct precipitation mm=155
|Nov precipitation mm=107
|Dec precipitation mm=120
|year precipitation mm=1120
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=14 June 2004 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
|source 2= Weatheronline climate robot<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2021 |title=Weatheronline average highs and lows 1996-2020 |url=https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?LANG=en&PLZ=_____&PLZN=_____&WMO=01183&CONT=euro&R=0&LEVEL=162&REGION=0004&LAND=NO&MOD=tab&ART=TMX&NOREGION=1&FMM=1&FYY=1996&LMM=12&LYY=2020 |publisher=Weatheronline.co.uk}}</ref> (avg highs/lows)  
}}

Research using [[sediment]] in lakes near the Okstind Glacier has shown that the summer climate in Nordland was up to {{convert|2.5|C-change}} warmer 9,000 to 6,000 years ago, and then slowly cooled—it was {{convert|0.5|C-change}} warmer 2,000 years before present (see [[Holocene climatic optimum]]). This research also concluded that the eastern Okstind Glacier did not melt completely during this warm period, the first glacier in Norway known to have survived since the [[Ice age]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bjerknes climate research centre - Norwegian |url=http://www.bjerknes.uib.no/filer/789.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326104628/http://www.bjerknes.uib.no/filer/789.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-26 |access-date=2008-09-09 |website=uib.no}}</ref>