Editing Sirdal

{{short description|Municipality in Agder, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Sirdal
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|image_skyline          = Sirdal_skiloeyper.jpg
|image_caption          = Ski-tracks in Sirdal
|idnumber               = 4228
|county                 = Agder
|district               = [[Lister Region|Lister]]
|capital                = [[Tonstad]]
|established            = 1849
|preceded               = [[Bakke, Norway|Bakke Municipality]]
|disestablished         = 1 January 1905
|succeeded              = [[Tonstad (municipality)|Tonstad]] and [[Øvre Sirdal]] municipalities
|established2           = 1 January 1960
|preceded2              = [[Bakke, Norway|Bakke]], [[Tonstad (municipality)|Tonstad]], and [[Øvre Sirdal]] 
|demonym                = Sirdøl
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Sirdal komm.svg
|webpage                = www.sirdal.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Jonny Liland
|mayor_party            = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2019
|area_rank              = 52
|area_total_km2         = 1554.27
|area_land_km2          = 1372.87
|area_water_km2         = 181.40
|area_water_percent     = 11.7
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 290
|population_total       = 1837
|population_density_km2 = 1.3
|population_increase    = 0.3
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|51|43|N|06|48|48|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6526760 |utm_easting = 0373888 |geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Sirdal''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Agder]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the northwestern part of the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Lister Region|Lister]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Tonstad]]. Other villages in Sirdal include [[Bjørnestad]], [[Haughom]], [[Kvæven]], [[Lunde, Sirdal|Lunde]], and [[Tjørhom]].

The {{convert|1554|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 52nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Sirdal is the 290th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,837. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|1.3|PD/km2}} and its population has inmcreased by 0.3% 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==
[[File:Brudler.JPG|thumb|left|Landscape of Sirdal]]
[[File:Rosskreppfjord.jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[Rosskreppfjorden]]]]
[[File:Taumevatn 01.jpg|thumb|left|Winter landscape in Sirdal]]
[[File:Lunde kyrkje02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Lunde Church]]
The old [[prestegjeld|parish]] of Sirdal was first established as a municipality in 1849 when it was separated from the large municipality of [[Bakke, Norway|Bakke]]. Initially, Sirdal had 1,804 residents. On 1 January 1903, a small area of Sirdal (population: 63) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of [[Fjotland (municipality)|Fjotland]]. On 1 January 1905, the municipality of Sirdal was dissolved and its territories were divided into two new municipalities: [[Tonstad (municipality)|Tonstad]] (population: 828) and [[Øvre Sirdal]] (population: 753). These large, sparsely populated municipalities merged along with the Øksendal area of Bakke municipality to recreate the municipality of Sirdal on 1 January 1960. This time, Sirdal started out with a population of 1,426. On 1 January 1987, the Virak and Espetveit areas of northern [[Flekkefjord]] (population: 41) were transferred to Sirdal municipality.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |year=1999 |isbn=9788253746845 |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the [[Sirdalen]] valley ({{langx|non|Sírudalr}}) since the valley runs through the municipality. The first element is the [[genitive case]] of the river name ''Síra'' (now the [[Sira (river)|Sira]] river). The river name has an unknown meaning, but it could be something like "strong stream". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|dalr}} which means "[[valley]]" or "dale".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mt1LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Lister og Mandals amt |date=1912 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=9 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=328–329 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref> {{see also-text|the name of [[Utsira Municipality#Name|Utsira]]}}

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 17 January 1986. The official [[blazon]] is "[[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]], three ptarmigans [[Volant (heraldry)|volant]] [[argent]]" ({{langx|no|I grønt tre oppflygande sølv ryper, 2 - 1}}). This means the arms have a green [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a [[willow ptarmigan]] (''[[Lagopus lagopus]]''). The ptarmigan has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The green color in the field and the ptarmigans were chosen as a symbol for the hills and [[moorland]] which make up the largest part of the municipality. The willow ptarmigan is a typical bird for the area. The arms were designed by Stein Davidsen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Sirdal |access-date=2023-01-16 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sirdal, Vest-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-10-46.html |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-01-17 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-01-17-70?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> {{See also-text|Coats of arms of [[Coat of arms of Lierne|Lierne]] and [[Coat of arms of Holtålen|Holtålen]]}}

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Sirdal. It is part of the [[Lister og Mandal prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Sirdal'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="4"|Sirdal||[[Haughom Chapel]]||[[Haughom]]||1930
|-
|[[Kvævemoen Chapel]]||[[Kvæven]]||1962
|-
|[[Lunde Church (Vest-Agder)|Lunde Church]]||[[Lunde, Sirdal|Lunde]]||1873
|-
|[[Tonstad Church]]||[[Tonstad]]||1852
|}

==Geography==
Sirdal municipality includes the westernmost valley in Agder county, bordering [[Rogaland]] county to the west. To the south, it borders on the municipality of [[Flekkefjord]] and to the east is [[Kvinesdal]]. Sirdal is the largest municipality by area in [[Agder]]. Lakes in the region include [[Gravatnet]], [[Kulivatnet]], [[Kvifjorden]], [[Øyarvatnet]], [[Rosskreppfjorden]], [[Sirdalsvatnet]], and [[Valevatn]]. The mountain [[Urddalsknuten]] lies at the northern end of the municipality.

In 1990, the mountain road opened between the Sirdalen valley and the [[Setesdal]] valley over the [[Suleskard]] mountain pass. It connected Sirdal to [[Brokke]] in the neighboring municipality of [[Valle, Norway|Valle]] to the east. It shortened the distance from [[Oslo]] to [[Stavanger]] by {{convert|110|km}} in the summer, and the road passes through barren, [[glacier]]-scoured highland. As it passes by the [[Rosskreppfjorden]], it ascends to over {{convert|1000|m}} [[above sea level]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Welle-Strand |first=Erling |title=Adventure Roads in Norway |publisher=Nortrabooks |year=1996 |isbn=9788290103717}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|location     = [[Tonstad]] 1961-90
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C = -2.0
|Feb mean C = -2.2
|Mar mean C = 0.8
|Apr mean C = 4.4
|May mean C = 9.8
|Jun mean C = 13.4
|Jul mean C = 15.0
|Aug mean C = 14.4
|Sep mean C = 10.7
|Oct mean C = 6.9
|Nov mean C = 2.3
|Dec mean C = -1.3
|year mean C = 6.0
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour = <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
|Jan precipitation mm = 185
|Feb precipitation mm = 131
|Mar precipitation mm = 139
|Apr precipitation mm = 74
|May precipitation mm = 102
|Jun precipitation mm = 99
|Jul precipitation mm = 109
|Aug precipitation mm = 147
|Sep precipitation mm = 213
|Oct precipitation mm = 248
|Nov precipitation mm = 239
|Dec precipitation mm = 204
|year precipitation mm = 1890
<!-- 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=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
Sirdal 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 [[Dalane District Court]] and the [[Gulating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Sirdal is made up of 19 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                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/sirdal#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/sirdal#seats |access-date=2020-12-05 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|smallparty                = Joint list of the [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]] and the Sirdal list
|smallparty_color          = linear-gradient(135deg, {{Party color|Progress Party (Norway)}} 50%, #FFFFFF 50%);
|smallparty_no             = Fremskrittspartiet og Sirdalslisten
|smallparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Sirdal local list
|otherparty_no             = Sirdal Bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Vest-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/vest-agder/sirdal#seats |access-date=2020-12-05 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Rural development list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdeutviklingslista
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 3
|otherparty                = Sirdal local list
|otherparty_no             = Sirdal Bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Sirdal local list
|otherparty_no             = Sirdal bygdeliste 
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 2
|DLF/KrF                   = 3
|otherparty                = Sirdal local list
|otherparty_no             = Sirdal Bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 3
|Local_Lists               = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 3
|AFS                       = 1
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|NKP                       = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 4
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Sirdal
|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=2020-12-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 10
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Sirdal (incomplete list):
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1893-1894: Bernt Andreas Lindeland
*1897-1898: Bernt Andreas Lindeland
*''(1905-1959: Municipality dissolved)''
*1960-1963: Erik Kvæven
*1964-1995: Sven Tjørhom
*1995-2003: Torjus Kvæven ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2003-2011: Thor Jørgen Tjørhom ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2011-2015: Jonny Liland ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2015-2019: Thor Jørgen Tjørhom ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2019-present: Jonny Liland ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
[[File:ValevatnValevatn.jpg|thumb|right|View of the lake [[Valevatn]]]]
[[File:Dorgefoss, Sirdal - no-nb digifoto 20160225 00118 NB MIT FNR 05900.jpg|thumb|right|View of the Dorgefoss waterfall in Sirdal, circa 1948]]
The main source of income for Sirdal is the [[:no:Sira-Kvina Kraftselskap|Sira-Kvina Power Company]] which gets its power from the big [[Sira (river)|Sira]] and [[Kvina]] rivers. The [[waterfall]]s on the river [[Sira (river)|Sira]] are utilized in four power stations owned by Sira-Kvina power company. The company also owns three power stations in the [[Kvina]] river system, hence the company's name. Total annual production is {{convert|6000|GWh}}, total installation is {{convert|1760|MW}}. The largest power station, [[Tonstad Hydroelectric Power Station]], was inaugurated in 1968, with two units, each producing {{convert|160|MW}}. The power station has now 4 units, each 160 MW, and one unit at {{convert|320|MW}}, giving a total output of {{convert|960|MW}}. Total annual production in this station is approximately {{convert|4000|GWh}}, which makes Tonstad the largest power station in [[Norway]] in terms of production. Sira-Kvina power company applied in 2007 for concession to expand the power station with two new units (reversible turbines), each containing {{convert|480|MW}}, and the concession is pending.<ref name="south" />

The number of [[wind turbine]]s is 51; in 2024, a political process for more wind turbines, was ended by a municipal council vote.<ref>https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/kommunen-sier-nei-til-vindturbiner_-__ingen-lett-avgjorelse-1.17107052. NRK.no. Retrieved 2024-11-01</ref>

[[Tourism]] is also an important source of income for the Sirdal economy, taking advantage of the extensive mountains, mountainous plateaus, lakes, and great views. There are multiple alpine resorts and hotels in the valley, as well as cottages and camping spots. Winter activities include six [[ski resort]]s for winter enjoyment. Downhill ski areas include Tjørhomfjellet, [[Bjørnestad]] Ski Centre, [[Ålsheia]] Ski Centre, Fidjeland Ski Centre, and Ådneram Ski lift. [[Cross-country skiing|Cross-country skiers]] can enjoy dozens of trails over spectacular terrain. Summer activities include [[hiking]], [[Equestrianism|horseback riding]], and river [[rafting]].<ref name="south">{{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |title=South Norway |publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. |year=1958}}</ref>

==History==
From the oldest times the Sirdalen valley was divided by the river [[Sira (river)|Sira]] with [[Rogaland]] county controlling the west side and [[Agder]] county controlling the east side. The two sides of the valley, however, was established as one single parish in Christian times, even though it crossed county lines, something that was not very common in Norway.

In 1837, it was decided that every [[parish]] should be a municipality, but no municipality should belong to more than one county (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). Sirdal parish was therefore first divided in two municipalities. This was a bad decision because they had very few inhabitants separately. A new solution was found in 1839 when the two municipalities were re-joined, and the county border was moved so that all of Sirdalen was in Vest-Agder county.

At Kvæven, in northern Sirdal one finds the Sirdal Mountain Museum. This museum has a collection of old Sirdal buildings. Former lifestyles are visible in the farmhouse, a schoolhouse, stable, [[blacksmith]]'s shop, barn, and mountain farm cottage as well as original equipment.

==Notable people==
* [[Berit Kvæven]] (born 1942 in [[Øvre Sirdal]]), a [[sivilingeniør]] and politician
* [[Gunnar Tjomlid]] (born 1974), a skeptic, secular humanist, blogger, and author who was brought up in Sirdal
* [[Linda Grubben]] (born 1979), a [[Biathlon World Cup|World Cup]] [[biathlon|biathlete]] 
* [[Arild Haugen]] (born 1985 in Sirdal), a boxer and former strongman

==International relations==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway}}

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
*{{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Väike-Maarja Parish]], Estonia (since 1994)<ref name="vaike-maarja">{{Cite web |title=Sõprusvallad |url=http://www.v-maarja.ee/?part=html&id=12 |access-date=21 March 2011 |publisher=Väike-Maarja vald |language=et}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sirdal}}
{{wiktionary|Sirdal}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Vest-Agder}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/sirdal Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://kart.norge.no/default.asp?st=fylker&coordType=img&command=&geObjecType=auto_point&geObject=&mapWidth=375&mapHeight=375&zoomWidthValue=&zoomFactor=8&mapExtent=-8405%2C6513760%2C66835%2C6589000&mapType=2 Map of Sirdal]
*[http://www.olavsrosa.no/en/objektinfo.aspx?id=27080 Sirdal Mountain Museum]
*[http://www.sirdalfjellmuseum.no Sirdal Mountain Museum, Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123043125/http://sirdalfjellmuseum.no/ |date=23 January 2005 }} {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080917173359/http://www.sirdalsnett.com/ SirdalsNett] - All you need to know about Sirdal {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.sirdalsferie.com Sirdalsferie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915162704/http://www.sirdalsferie.com/ |date=15 September 2008 }} - Information for tourists
*[http://www.sirdal.kommune.no Sirdal kommune] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.stavanger-guide.com/sirdal/map_english.pdf To & From Sirdal Transport Map]

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[[Category:Sirdal| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Agder]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:1905 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Valleys of Agder]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Norway]]