The total combined area of Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder counties is 16,493 square kilometres (6,368 sq mi).

[1][2] The region includes coastal areas along the Skagerrak and extends inland to the Setesdalsheiene mountains.

This region was historically called Agder and it was a petty kingdom centuries ago.

The name Agder was known in Old Norse as "Agðir", and is assumed to be connected to the word ǫgd (sharp).

[1] Krag proposed that Sørlandet should have been bigger than it is today, he suggested from Egersund to Grenland.

The present day use of Sørlandet usually refers to an area smaller than that, but there is no official border.

The name and modern concept of this part of the country being considered as a separate region was introduced as late as 1902 by the local author Vilhelm Krag.

Traditionally, the easternmost border of Agder was Rygjarbit, which was thought to be Gjernestangen in the present-day municipality of Risør, but it could also be the strait between Askerøya and Lyngør in Tvedestrand.

The Airport opened in 1918 and is located at Tveit, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from downtown Kristiansand, Kvadraturen.

All bus lines and buses in Southern Norway are owned by Agder Kollektivtrafikk (AKT).

Norwegian County Road 43 goes from Farsund and Lista to Lyngdal and Eiken in Hægebostad.

Tourism is very important in the summer due to the mild climate as well as the winter with its good skiing conditions.

There are popular ski resorts like Hovden in the Setesdal valley as well as Bortelid in Åseral municipality.

[2][6][7] About 80% of the population of the two counties live along the coast, which has the warmest climate in Norway as well as offering quick access to the rich fishing grounds and maritime routes of the Skagerrak.