Key facts about the Lillehammer Region

Geography

The Lillehammer Region and Gudbrandsdalen Valley lie approximately 180 kilometres north of Oslo. The Lillehammer Region comprises the southern and middle part of the Gudbrandsdalen Valley, and has around 45,000 inhabitants living in an area of 5,500 square kilometres. The region has a wealth of flora and fauna and a varied natural environment, with large areas of forests, mountains and cultivated land, as well as several watercourses. Seven national parks can be found in the region itself or close by.

Lillehammer

Lillehammer is the largest town locally and serves as the entrance gate to the region and the Gudbrandsdalen Valley.

• Distance from Oslo Airport Gardermoen: 150 kilometres
• Located at the northern shore of Norway's largest lake, Mjøsa
• Population approximately 26,000 inhabitants
• Lillehammer's total area is 477 square kilometres
• Commercial, administrative, cultural and educational centre
• Popular tourist destination - more than 800,000 visitors (guest nights) every year
• World famous as the home of the Olympic Winter Games in 1994
• Lillehammer offers 15,000 jobs, mainly in the service industry
  

Climate

The temperature in the summer is pleasant, normally ranging from 14 to 22 degrees Celsius. In winter Lillehammer has a typical inland climate; dry and cold with temperatures ranging from – 2 to – 10 degrees Celsius.  

History

Lillehammer was granted its town charter as recently as in 1827. Nonetheless, its coat of arms, which features a Viking on skis (the only coat of arms in the world to feature a skier), bears witness to a stirring medieval deed that changed the course of Norwegian history. The skier dates from the early 13th century, when Norway was torn by civil war between the Baglere and Birkebeinere, who supported rival claimants to the Norwegian throne.

Mjøsa - Norway's largest lake

Lake Mjøsa is the largest lake in Norway, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway (after Hornindalsvatnet in the county of Sogn og Fjordane) and in Europe as a whole.

From its southernmost point at Minnesund in Eidsvoll to its northernmost point in Lillehammer, Lake Mjøsa is 117 kilometres long. At its widest, near the town of Hamar, it is 15 kilometres wide. Mjøsa has a surface of 336 square kilometres. Maximum depth is 443 metres. Lake Mjøsa borders three counties (Oppland, Akershus and Hedmark) and seven municipalities.

The total length of the shoreline is 273 kilometres. Most of Mjøsa's shores are dominated by gentle agricultural landscape - the area has one of Norway's most fertile grain production. There are strong traditions for common use of both the lake and the surroundings. Furthermore the area is of great importance for recreation, for local people as well as tourists.