Selma (lake monster)

Norwegian lake monster

Selma depicted in the coat of arms of Seljord in Telemark

In Norwegian folklore, Selma (Norwegian: Seljordsormen, "Seljord serpent") is a legendary sea serpent said to live in the 13-kilometre-long (8-mile) Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet) in Seljord, Telemark, Norway.[1][2]

Seljord lake in Telemark

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.[3][4]

The sea serpent has been discussed for a long time and there have been witness descriptions of encounters, especially on 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.[5][6]

## References

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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.

## External links

[edit]

* Lakes portal

* Article from Aftenposten
* TV2 (Norwegian, 2012)

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Scandinavian folklore

Beings|

* Askafroa
* Bäckahäst
* Bøyg
* Bysen
* Changeling
* Church grim
* Cyprianus
* Deildegast
* Di sma undar jordi
* Draugr
* Land draugr
* Sea draugr
* Dwarf
* Elf
* Erlking
* Älvor
* Fossegrim
* Gjenganger
* Helhest
* Kraken
* Lindworm
* Mare (nightmare)
* Marmennill
* Myling
* Nisse
* Nis Puk
* Neck
* Pixie
* Rå
* Bergsrå
* Hulder
* Sjörå
* Skogsrå
* Tomterå
* Sea serpent
* Selma
* Skrømt
* Troll
* Forrest troll
* Mountain troll
* Sea troll
* Troll cat
* Valravn
* Vardøger
* Vargr
* Vittra
* Vættir
* Vǫrðr
* Wight
* Will-o'-the-wisp
* Ysätters-Kajsa

People|

* Amleth
* Askeladden
* Blenda
* Disa
* Feng
* Påskkärring

Origins|

* Norse mythology
* Old Norse religion

See also|

* Danish folklore
* Nordic folklore (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Faroe Islands)
* Finnish mythology

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