Åna-Sira

Despite being divided by a river and situated on municipal and county borders, the community spirit in Åna-Sira is truly remarkable. The entire village comes together when needed, even building their local grocery store through volunteer efforts!

-The sense of community and care people have for each other is the best thing about this village, says Tina Kvelland Sivertsen. She works at the local store and knows pretty much everyone in Åna-Sira on a first-name basis.

-Here, people aren't afraid to ask, 'Are you okay? Can I help you?' It gives an incredible sense of security, she adds with a smile.

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Divided yet united, one might say. Åna-Sira belongs to both Flekkefjord and Sokndal municipalities. The villagers support each other and are undeterred by the Sira River, which marks the boundary between two municipalities, counties (Agder and Rogaland), and even regions, the West Coast and South Coast of Norway.

-In my view, we have the best of both worlds, Tina laughs.

-We have stunning nature! The village is located among mighty mountains, with easy access to the fjord.

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The Sira River flows into the Åna Fjord, teeming with fish. The river is rich in trout, and summer and autumn bring excellent salmon fishing.

-We have many fantastic fishing spots, including one that is wheelchair accessible. Many come here to catch a fresh, tasty dinner, Tina explains.

Åna-Sira is part of the world-renowned Magma Geopark, a UNESCO-listed area, making it a geologically significant region. Visitors flock to see the characteristic Brufjell Caves. Geologists believe the mountains here were once taller than Mount Everest millions of years ago, eroded by glaciers exposing magma.

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The approximately 175 residents of Åna-Sira are deeply involved in their village, something they have demonstrated time and again. When the local store closed, the villagers didn’t give up. Instead, they built a new store through collective effort!

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And social life in Åna-Sira isn’t limited to the store.

-This village has a special sense of community in many ways, Tina continues.

-Nowadays, when many are preoccupied with their own lives, it’s beautiful to live in a place where people care for and look after each other. It’s unique.

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The village has two food concepts that are mighty popular. First, we have the local legend and pop-up café, Oldemors Hage (“The Garden of Great-Grandma”). It is a café for the sunny summer days, where they serve food and drinks to hungry guests and hosts mini concerts. Here, quality food and fun goes hand in hand.

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-There’s plenty of subpar food and mediocre dining options out there. Here, we focus on local, high-quality food at an affordable price. Our signature dish is our fish soup. You get a steaming pot of fresh soup served at your table, ready to enjoy. People call months in advance to make reservations, says owner Rune Løyning.

-In the garden, we host bingo nights with a lively atmosphere, cowboy parties, and Danish evenings featuring red sausages, Bayer beer, and Kim Larsen music, for example.

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It was the great-grandparents of Rune who built the house, and what started as a small venture selling waffles and coffee has now become a destination of its own. And not just outside in the Garden of Great-Grandma.

Inside the house we find the second food concept, an exclusive little restaurant named Oldemors Hus ("The House of Great-Grandma"). This is a place of fine dining, authenticity and great tastes you will remember.

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Åna-Sira is soaked in natural beauty, and the locals are enjoying the mountains, fjord, forests, and beaches in their free time. Tina is among those who love hiking and is responsible for the 26 marked trails.

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-I love exploring the mountains. Others enjoy boating and fishing. For nature lovers, there’s plenty to do here.

The modest population triples during the summer season, bringing life and energy to the village. Children and young people gather at the football field, play disc golf and beach volleyball.

The residents also find common meeting points. Despite the small population, they have their own “party committee”, organizing events for all ages.

-We have trim bingo combining exercise and bingo, Halloween celebrations, bazaars, beer tasting nights, pub quizzes, and an activity day for adults with a special treasure hunt, to name a few. On May 17th, we have our own little celebration with a children’s parade, games, cakes, and hot dogs. It’s very cozy, Tina shares.

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Finny Sirevaag Shrimp Factory in Åna-Sira is Norway’s oldest producer of Norwegian peeled shrimp in brine. Established in 1904, it processes fresh Norwegian shrimp from the Skagerrak and North Sea and frozen Arctic shrimp from the Barents Sea. The factory employs 20 people and is vital to the village, which has a long history of fishing and seafaring.

Åna-Sira offers excellent opportunities for those seeking work and the amenities of city life. The South Coast gem, Flekkefjord, is just a 15-minute drive away, offering cozy cafés and bustling streets. Flekkefjord, with nearly 10,000 residents, is a charming city with good job prospects. Its white-painted wooden houses are typical of the South Coast, attracting visitors from afar. For Åna-Sira residents, it’s easy to commute daily. (For more information, check out Smaabyen Flekkefjord and listerregionen.no)

For those craving even more city life, Stavanger, Norway’s third-largest city, is just over a 90-minute drive from Åna-Sira.

In summary, Åna-Sira is a small village with plenty of opportunities. Residents are welcoming newcomers, both new residents and visitors.

-This village is pretty easy to settle into, says Tina.

-We have many visitors and people with cottages in the area. Newcomers are warmly welcomed, and many locals are eager to get to know them. I believe people who come here feel very included, she concludes.

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Sources:

Picture on top by Sandra Surdal, Smaabyen Flekkefjord

Åna-Sira – Wikipedia

Opplev månelandskapet i Brufjell - Magma Geopark

Oldemors hage (Facebook)

Finny Sirevaag - Din produsent av norske kvalitetsreker