Naustdal

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Naustdal farm (Old Norse: Naustdalr) since the first Naustdal Church was built there. The first element is the name of the local river Nausta. The river name is identical with the word naust which means "boathouse". The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".[8]

The coat of arms was granted on 11 December 1987. The official blazon is "Argent, a chief dancetty azure" (Norwegian: På sølv grunn blått skjoldhovud laga med breitt tannsnitt). This means the arms are divided with a line that is dancetty which divides the chief from the rest of the shield in a ratio of 1:3. The field (background) above the line has a tincture of blue. Below the line, the field has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The two colors are divided by a jagged line which symbolizes the profile of the gables of three boathouses. The arms are canting since the Norwegian word naust means "boathouse". The two colors symbolize the sky above and the silver/white represents the sea. The arms were designed by Inge Rotevatn. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]

The Church of Norway had two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Naustdal. It was part of the Sunnfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Naustdal was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:

The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Naustdal:[30]

The climate in Naustdal is wet with a short summer and a mild winter. Naustdal has a yearly precipitation of 2,335 millimetres (91.9 in). There are great regional differences in the climate. There is snow rarely more than a week furthest out in the fjord. Up in the valley the first snow comes in early October and stays until late April/May and 1 to 2 metres (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in) of snow is common.

The municipality of Naustdal is ideal for freshwater fishing. Over 30 lakes and connecting streams contain trout. Many of the lakes also contain char. Most of your catch will be small fish but will taste delicious when fried in a pan. In the right places, you can also catch really big fish–6 kilograms (13 lb) trout have been caught in this area.

The Nausta river is one of the best rivers for salmon in Sogn og Fjordane county. Salmon travel 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) upstream from the river mouth. The stretch from the fjord to the Hovefoss waterfall is also good for sea trout fishing. The small Redal water system contains small salmon, sea trout, trout, and char. Small salmon and sea trout are best caught during floods.

Naustdal has 40 kilometres (25 mi) of shoreline bordering on the fjord. Distances from motor roads to the sea are short at all locations. In outlying, non-farming areas, fishing from the seashore is unrestricted. Fishing from boats on the fjord using a rod or line is free for all. The main types of fish caught in the area include cod, saithe, mackerel, herring, salmon, and sea trout, although every type of fish commonly found in Norwegian waters can be caught here. The Russenes recreational area near the sound at Ålesundet is an excellent place for fishing from land, offering a one-mile shoreline. For boat fishing trips contact boat rental agents or the "Russenes Tur og Fiske", who will bring you to the best fishing places.

From the old bridge across the Nausta river near the waterfall Naustdalsfossen you can watch salmon conquer the waterfall in powerful leaps—unless they are caught by rivaling anglers on the banks of the plunging pool. Hooking the fish is difficult — landing it a work of art. The local landowners will show you the best fishing places. Fishing permits may be purchased at the local petrol station or from the landowners. Nausta was in 2005 ranked best in Sogn og Fjordane and number 19 nationally with a total catch of 4,698 kilograms (10,357 lb).

The large mountain area in the eastern part of Naustdal offers a wealth of scenery. There are large lakes and connecting streams. The trout fishing is excellent and fishing permits are available. "Longvasshytta", a self-catering cabin for hikers, can be reached after a 6-hour hike from the nearest road.

Recreational grounds have been laid out at Russeneset near the inlet Ålesundet. Several footpaths in the area are signposted. Along the paths, you will find information posters about cultural history, flora, and fauna. Excellent for fishing, swimming, bird watching or just walking.

Recreational grounds are laid out along the fjord near the center of Naustdal. There is a marina, sandy beach, diving tower, and a place for beach volleyball.

The museum covers the air battle between German and British aircraft over Sunnfjord on 9 February 1945, also known at the Black Friday. In the museum there are objects from the battles, airplane parts, maps, and photographs. It has a rich collection of splendid model airplanes from the navigator Bernard Nicholl, who participated in the battles.[33]