Editing Saltdal Municipality

{{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            = [[Labour Party (Norway)|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 [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Nordland]] [[Counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. It is part of the [[Districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Salten]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Rognan]]. Other villages in Saltdal include [[Røkland]], [[Lønsdal]], [[Langset (Saltdal)|Langset]], and [[Saksenvika]].

The {{convert|2216|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 26th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Saltdal 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=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|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 decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Saltdal'', removing the [[Definite article|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 (heraldry)|Or]]"'' ({{langx|no|I rødt en gull rognekvist}}). This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is two [[rowan]] [[twig]]s. The [[rowan]] [[twig]] has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|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'''''
!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 (town)|Narvik]] and then on to [[Kirkenes]], but they only managed to build the railroad to [[Bodø (town)|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 [[Prisoner of war|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 camp]]s in Norway during World War II. A grand total of 15-18 camps with 9,500 [[Russia]]n, [[Poland|Polish]], and [[Yugoslavia]]n prisoners were located in the valley.

==Government==
Saltdal Municipality is responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}}</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 (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Saltdal 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 [[Political party|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#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Saltdal 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 (incomplete list):<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>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1935-1939: O. Støre<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>
*1941-1942: Peder K. Hagen<ref>{{Cite news |date=1941-01-16 |title=De nye ordførere og varaordførere i Nordland opnevnt |url=https://www.nb.no/items/7902f42afc9a253a68881b1ab5f4bd63 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=[[Lofotposten]] |pages=1 & 6 |language=no}}</ref>
*1943-1944: Julius Wilson<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>
*1945-1945: Kristian J. Næstby<ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-05-14 |title=De nye, midlertidige ordførere i Nordland og Troms |url=https://www.nb.no/items/4e1d0a67c4e89251d112ccefbc3df255 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=[[Lofotposten]] |page=6 |language=no}}</ref>
*1971-1975: Hilmar Hansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1975-1979: Johan Solberg ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1979-1983: Odd Storteig ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*1983-1987: Terje Torkildsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1987-1991: Odd Storteig ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*1991-1995: Terje Torkildsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1995-1999: Tove Engan ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1999-2011: Kjell Magne Johansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2011-2015: Finn-Obert Bentsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2015–2023: Rune Berg ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2023–present: Runar Løvdal Jensen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|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.]]
[[File:Junkerdalen-nature-reserve-saltdal2-norway.jpg|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 [[Stream bed|riverbed]] appears very bright in some places due to the minerals in the sand. The valley is covered with [[Scots pine|pine]] [[forest]] and [[birch]] and other trees are common as well. Lakes in the region include [[Balvatnet]], [[Fiskeløysvatnet (Saltdal)|Fiskeløysvatnet]], [[Kjemåvatnet]], and [[Nordre Bjøllåvatnet]]. The mountain [[Ørfjellet]] is also located in the municipality.

===Climate===
The municipality lies on the northeastern side of the [[Saltfjellet]] mountains, in the [[rain shadow]] of the mountains. With mountains surrounding it in almost all directions, Saltdal is one of the driest areas in Norway, especially the upper part of the valley. For five years in a row, 2001 to 2005, and then again in 2007 and 2008, the weather station in the upper part of the Saltdal valley recorded the least [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] in all of continental Norway, with only {{convert|74|mm}} in 2005. The weather station (81 m ASL) was situated in the upper part of the valley (''Storjord'') at a farm from 1982 to 2012. From 2013 onwards, the weather station (39 m) is situated about {{convert|6|km}} down the valley at a camping site (''Nordnes''), but still in the upper part of the valley (''Øvre Saltdal''). Data from the first station (81 m) shows this to be the driest place in Norway (excluding Svalbard), with on average just over {{convert|200|mm}} precipitation annually.

In spite of the low precipitation, Saltdal has 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.

Located in an inland valley, Saltdal is also known for its warm summer days, frequently being one of Norway's warmest locations if the right weather situation occurs (with easterly or southeasterly winds blowing). It is not uncommon with daytime temperatures approaching and sometimes exceeding {{convert|30|C}} in the summer months. Similarly, winter temperatures can be quite cold, often dropping below {{convert|-20|C}} on a clear day.

During a heatwave in June 2011, Saltdal recorded four days in a row with daytime temperatures exceeding {{convert|30|C}}. On 11 June 2011, Saltdal recorded a daytime high of {{convert|33.8|C}}, which was a new heat record for Nordland county in the month of June.<ref>[http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Nordland/Saltdal/%c3%98vre_Saltdal/statistics.html Saltdal/statistics.html]</ref> During the [[July 2019 European heat wave]] the temperature reached at {{convert|34.6|C}} in Saltdal, 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 |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>
The all-time low {{convert|-32.2|C}} was recorded January 2010.

{{Weather box 
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Saltdal 1991-2020 (81 m, avg high/low 1991-2012, extremes 1982-2020 incl earlier and present station)
|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
|Feb precipitation mm=16
|Mar precipitation mm=15
|Apr precipitation mm=6
|May precipitation mm=10
|Jun precipitation mm=14
|Jul precipitation mm=21
|Aug precipitation mm=22
|Sep precipitation mm=24
|Oct precipitation mm=20
|Nov precipitation mm=14
|Dec precipitation mm=17
|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 ([[Norwegian National Road 77|National Road 77]]) leads to Sweden. The nearest main airport is in [[Bodø (town)|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 ==
[[File:Ludvig Kristensen Daa.png|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
* [[Hank von Hell|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 [[fiddle]]r, 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==
*[[:no:Blodveien|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}}
{{Nordland}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Saltdal| ]]
[[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]]