Rena, Norway

In the center of Rena

Rena is a small town in eastern Norway. It is the administrative centre of Åmot municipality in the Norwegian county of Hedmark. Rena is a rather rural but picturesque town, and is situated at the meeting point of Glomma (Norway's longest river) and Rena rivers (a tributary to Glomma). The latter is one of the best for fishing in Norway.

Its population was 2,009 in 2005. There is a train station of the Røros Line in Rena.

A campus (modern school building and student dormitories) of Hedmark University College is located there. There are two Chinese restaurants, a public cinema, several hotels and an abandoned cardboard factory (Rena kartonfabrikk) that was torn down in 2007.

The valley of Østerdalen, where it lies, is a mountainous and forested area used by the military for special forces training; the Norwegian army's Rena military camp is located nearby. The surrounding area is abundant in lakes, forests and rivers.

Rena is the starting point of both the Birkebeinerrennet ski race and the Birkebeinerrittet Mountain bike race.

It's the birthplace of Anne-Cath. Vestly, prominent author of children’s literature.

Also, Rena is the location of the farm of Anders Behring Breivik where police believe he planned the 2011 Norway attacks that killed 8 people in a blast in Norway government center in Oslo and 69 people in a shooting in a summer camp in Utoya.^[1]

References

Coordinates: 61°08′N 11°22′E / 61.133°N 11.367°E / 61.133; 11.367