Voss

Voss is a municipality and a traditional district in Vestland county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen. Voss is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests, lakes and fast-flowing white water rivers. This has led to its development as a notable center of skiing, skydiving, paragliding, rafting and other adventure sports.

Geography

Voss is located in the heart of Fjord Norway, situated between the famous fjords Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. The municipality covers an area of 1,807 square kilometers. It is known for its unique and varied landscape, which includes high mountains, deep valleys, and beautiful waterfalls.

History

The district of Voss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. The areas of Bolstadøyri and Evanger were separated from Voss to become separate municipalities in 1885.

Culture

Voss is known for maintaining its local culture and traditions, especially in music and food. The annual Vossajazz and Ekstremsportveko extreme sports week, both originated and are hosted here.

Economy

The economy of Voss is diverse, with tourism and agriculture being the main industries. The area is known for its production of sheep's wool, cattle farming, and traditional food products such as smalahove, a traditional dish made from a sheep's head.

Transportation

Voss is a transportation hub in the region. It is served by Voss Station, which is on the Bergen Line between Bergen and Oslo. The European route E16 and the Norwegian National Road 13 both pass through Voss.

Notable people

Several notable people hail from Voss, including Ole Bull, a famous violin virtuoso, and Knut Hamsun, a Nobel laureate in literature.

See also

• List of municipalities of Norway
• Voss (district)