Kiirunavaara, Iron ore mountain in Kiruna Municipality, Sweden.

Kiirunavaara is a mountain in northern Kiruna Municipality that rises about 749 meters and holds one of the world's largest iron ore deposits. Intensive mining operations take place beneath this fell and have shaped the region for over a century.

Iron in the mountain was known by the mid-17th century, but poor communications to this northern region prevented major exploitation. Commercial mining became realistic only after the Iron Ore Line railway was built at the end of the 19th century, linking the ports of Narvik and Luleå. LKAB has mined the mountain since the beginning of the 20th century.

The fell is deeply connected to mining work that shapes how local people live and organize their city today. The operations beneath the surface influence where residents build homes and how they experience daily life.

Visitors can join guided tours of the mining operations and walk hiking trails around the fell during the summer months. The best time to explore is when daylight is long and paths are most accessible.

Mining beneath Kiirunavaara has caused significant ground subsidence, making it necessary to gradually move the city of Kiruna away from the danger zone. This unprecedented urban relocation is among the largest in modern Scandinavia.