TELEMARK

fylke (county), southeastern Norway. It extends from the Hardanger Plateau in the northwest to the Skagerrak, an arm of the North Sea in the southeast. The mountains in the northwest become hills, interspersed with many long, narrow glacial lakes in the central portion, and rolling lowlands near the coast. Langesunds Fjord and other smaller inlets cut into the rocky coastline. Three of the many lakes, Bandak, Heddalsvatnet, and Norsj, are connected by canals with Telemark's county seat and main port, Skien, in the southeast. The canal system also extends east almost into Vestfold fylke. Hydroelectric resources have been developed, the largest project being at Rjukan, in the northeast. The economy is based on lumbering, fishing, the chemical industry, manufacture of wood and paper products, mining (copper, iron, and molybdenum), farming and stock raising, and small diversified industries. Area 5,913 square miles (15,315 square km). Pop. (1995 est.) 163,143.