Bollnäs Municipality Facts for Kids

Bollnäs Municipality (Bollnäs kommun) is a local government area in Gävleborg County, located in east-central Sweden. The main town and administrative center of the municipality is Bollnäs.

This municipality was formed over time through changes in local government during the 1950s and 1970s. It is made up of six original areas and has been in its current form since 1977.

Exploring Bollnäs Municipality
Famous People from Bollnäs
See also

Exploring Bollnäs Municipality

Nature and Geography

The Ljusnan river flows through Bollnäs Municipality from north to southeast. Towns like Bollnäs and Arbrå are located along this river. South of Bollnäs, the Ljusnan river meets its largest branch, the Voxnan river.

Many water areas near Bollnäs town are great for fishing. You can find fish like trout, bass, and pike. The Ljusnan and Voxnan rivers are also good for fishing. Even Lake Vågen in Bollnäs offers fishing opportunities.

Towns and Villages

Bollnäs Municipality is home to several towns and villages. The largest town is Bollnäs itself, with a population of over 12,000 people (as of 2005). Other notable places include Arbrå and Kilafors. There are also many smaller communities scattered throughout the area.

Protected Nature Areas

About 1,461 acres (or 5.9 square kilometers) of land in Bollnäs Municipality are protected. This means these areas are kept safe to preserve nature. There are six special nature reserves within the municipality.

These reserves include:

Djupsjön-Römmaberget: A reserve since 1999, about 86 hectares large.
Galvån: This reserve is 22 hectares in size.
Grossjöberget: A large reserve established in 1998, covering 423 hectares.
Hästhagsberget: Protected since 2000, it is 28 hectares large.
Kölberget: A reserve since 1980, with an area of 44 hectares.
Stora Bolleberget: This reserve was created on July 11, 2006, and is 99 hectares in size.

Eight areas in the municipality are also part of the Natura 2000 network. This is a European network of important natural sites. Four of these are also nature reserves: Djupsjön/Römmaberget, Galvån, Grossjöberget, and Hästhagsberget. The other four are Andersvallsslåtten, Haga, Myrsjömyrorna, and Tomtas.

Culture and Heritage

Bollnäs Municipality has a rich cultural history. You can explore hälsingegårdar, which are old farms built in a special style typical of the Hälsingland province.

Västerby hembygdsby in Rengsjö is a great place to see these traditional farms.
Other examples include Gästgivars in Vallsta, Erik-Larsgården in Arbrå, and Kämpens in Bollnäs.

Outside Växbo, you'll find a unique area with:

Växbo lin ("Växbo linen"): This is the only place left in Scandinavia that still spins and weaves linen.
Växbo kvarn ("Växbo Mill"): This is a water mill from the 1800s that still grinds flour using old methods.
Trolldalen: Here you can see old tools from the 1800s that were used to process linen.

Since 1997, a group called Kulturarv Hälsingegårdar has been working to get 15 villages and farms in Hälsingland recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These sites show off the amazing traditional architecture of the area. Västerby hembygdsby, Växbo kvarn, and Trolldalen are among the places on this list.

Getting Around

The Northern main line railway (Norra Stambanan) largely follows the Ljusnan river through the municipality. The biggest train station is in Bollnäs town, where longer-distance trains stop. The local train, X-tåget, also stops at Kilafors, Arbrå, and Vallsta.

Sister Cities

Bollnäs Municipality has special connections with six "twin towns" or "sister cities" around the world. These partnerships help promote friendship and cultural exchange.

Nykøbing Mors, Denmark (since 1948)
Flekkefjord, Norway (since 1948)
Kankaanpää, Finland (since 1950)
Misburg-Anderten, Germany (since 1960)
Shepton Mallet, England (since 1991)
Ogre, Latvia (since 1992)

Famous People from Bollnäs

Peter Stormare, a famous actor from the area.

Many talented people have come from Bollnäs Municipality:

Emma Engstrand (born 1977): A skilled Orienteering competitor who grew up in Bollnäs.
Anders Eriksson (born 1975): An ice hockey player from Bollnäs.
Ida Gawell-Blumenthal (1868–1953): Known as "Delsbostintan", she was an entertainer born in Arbrå.
Åke "Stan" Hasselgård (1922–1948): A talented jazz clarinetist who grew up in Bollnäs.
Hanna Hedlund (born 1975): A singer and TV show host from Hanebo near Kilafors.
Lina Hedlund (born 1978): Also a singer and Hanna's sister, from Hanebo near Kilafors.
C.-H. Hermansson (born 1917): A politician born in Bollnäs.
Anna-Karin Kammerling: A swimmer who grew up in Bollnäs.
Timo K. Mukka (1944–1973): A Finnish writer born in Bollnäs.
Gösta "Snoddas" Nordgren (born 1926): A singer and bandy player from Arbrå.
Thomas von Scheele (born 1969): A table tennis player born in Bollnäs.
Victoria Silvstedt: A supermodel who grew up in Bollnäs.
Peter Stormare: A well-known actor who grew up in Arbrå.
Per-Inge Tällberg (born 1967): A ski jumper born in Bollnäs.
Staffan Tällberg (born 1970): Another ski jumper, also born in Bollnäs.
Nils Molin (born 1988): A vocalist for the bands Dynazty and Amaranthe, born in Kilafors.

Bollnäs Municipality facts for kids

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