Selma (lake monster)

Selma depicted in the coat of arms of Seljord in Telemark

In Norwegian folklore, Selma (Norwegian: Seljordsormen, "the Seljord serpent") is a legendary sea serpent said to live in the 13-kilometre-long (8-mile) Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet) in Seljord Municipality, Telemark, Norway.

The sea serpent Selma has been depicted in the coat of arms of Seljord since 1989. Designed by sculpturer Trygve Magnus Barstad, the arms show Selma in a gold-color on a red background.

The sea serpent has been the subject of discussion since at least the 18th century. Eyewitness descriptions of encounters have tended to peak during hot, quiet summers. The oldest written account of the creature dates from 1750, when it was said to have rounded a rowboat belonging to a man from Bø rowing across from Ulvenes to Nes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Secret life of the Norwegian Nessie". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. 1 September 1999. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ↑ Mæhlum, Lars. "Seljordsvatnet" (in Norwegian). Store norske leksikon. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Kommunevåpenet". Seljord kommune (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "Trygve Magnus Barstad" (in Norwegian). OceanWP. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Dubroff, M. Dee (15 September 2016). "Is Selma the sea serpent alive and well in the lakes of Norway?". Blasting News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Fjågesund, Peter. "Seljord og sjøormen" (in Norwegian). seljord.kommune.no. Archived from the original on 19 March 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.