VEST-AGDER

southernmost fylke (county) of Norway, extending inland from the North Sea and its arm, the Skagerrak, to the southern fringes of the Setes valley. A mild marine climate favours horticulture, which is well developed along the level coastal areas, especially east of Lindes Point, which is the southernmost part of the Norwegian mainland. The northern portion of the fylke is mountainous and sparsely settled, while the central upland moors are used for pasturing of cattle and sheep. Fishing, lumbering (in the north), mixed farming, and dairying are the main economic activities. The seaport and county seat of Kristiansand (q.v.), in the extreme southeast, is an important fishing, shipping, and regional industrial centre. Area 2,811 square miles (7,281 square km). Pop. (1990 est.) 144,050.