Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 17. Chapters: People from Dalarna, Sport in Dalarna, Dalarna County, Vasaloppet, Elfdalian language, Dalecarlian horse, IK Brage, Avesta AIK, Andreas Karlsson, Leksands IF, Dalalven, Falu red, Mora IK, Vasterdal River, Osterdal River, Mora clock, Emil Janel, Wibjorn Karlen, Falukorv, Soltorgsgymnasiet, Viking Bjork, Falu BS, Kurbits, Husby Court District, Notgarden. Excerpt: Vasaloppet is an annual long distance (90 km) cross-country ski race (ski marathon) held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Salen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world. In the 80th race, held on 7 March 2004, some 15,500 skiers competed in the main event. More than 40,000 participated in one of the seven different races held during the first week of March. The race was first run in 1922, inspired by a run by King Gustav Vasa in 1520. The winner of the first race was Ernst Alm from Norsjo, 22 years old, who is also the youngest ever winner of the race. Women's Vasa (Tjejvasan), start 2006 King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa)In 1520, the young nobleman Gustav Ericsson Vasa was escaping from the troops of Christian II, king of Denmark, Sweden and Norway (the Kalmar Union). Much of the Swedish nobility was in opposition to the king, and had nicknamed him Christian the Tyrant. In a move to silence the opposition, Christian invited the Swedish aristocracy to a reconciliation party in Stockholm, only to have them, including Gustav's parents, massacred in what came to be known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. Danish and Swedish kings have on a few occasions ordered murders of their opponents, but that has never been tolerated. (Christian II and Erik XIV did that, but they soon had to leave their position as king). Gustav was escaping th...