Arendal is a city and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. It is the administrative center of Aust-Agder county, and belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet. The municipality is bordered in the southwest by Grimstad, in the northwest by Froland, and in the northeast by Tvedestrand municipalities.
With approximately 41 000 inhabitants, Arendal is the tenth largest town in Norway, and the capital of the East Agder county, in southern Norway. Daily weather reports for the region can be found at yr.no, and a webcam overlooking the downtown area, updated frequently can be found at Agderposten.
Founded on the industries of shipping, forestry and mining, the town now has a largely tourism-based economy, due to it's excellent location, climate and resources for recreational boaters and holiday makers. Approximately 150,000 people visit the town during the peak summer season of May through September. This is when the town truly comes alive, and the downtown area, known as "the Pollen" is vibrant with market stalls, fishing boats and cultural events.
Since the early 1990's, the town has also become a hub of trade and industry, with a noticeable growth in the information technology field.