Kiruna Town, Urban municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden
Description
Kiruna is a municipality located north of the Arctic Circle in Norrbotten, stretching across a vast territory between Lake Luossa and iron-ore mountains. The town covers sparsely populated landscape with forests, lakes, and mining zones.
History
The settlement began in 1899 during railway construction from Gällivare and became a municipality in 1908, gaining city status in 1948. Mining shaped its growth and made it a major economic center in the region.
Culture
The architecture blends Swedish and Sami influences, notably in the remarkable 1912 church that mirrors the shape of traditional Sami dwellings. This mix appears throughout many public buildings in town.
Practical
The best time to visit is summer, when nights stay bright and weather is milder, while winter brings extreme cold and darkness. Proper preparation for Arctic conditions is essential, especially when exploring the surrounding landscape.
Did you know?
The entire town center is gradually relocating eastward because underground mining destabilizes the ground and causes subsidence. This rare phenomenon makes it a remarkable example of urban adaptation to geological challenges.
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Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi
14.3 kmKiruna city transformation
1.9 km
Kiirunavaara
3.9 km
Kiruna City Hall
2 km
Jukkasjärvi Church
15.4 km
Luossavaara
3.2 km
Kiruna Former City Hall
1.4 km
Sjaunja Nature Reserve
57.5 km
Ormen Långe
40.5 km
Rautas fjällurskog
22.6 km
Ladtjojaure
58.7 km
Hyllestad quernstone quarries
44.9 km
Kauppinen
9.8 km
Ala Lompolo
1.7 km
Arena Arctica
4.3 km
Kaitum kapell
34.7 km
Jerusalem (byggnad)
1 km
Ädnamvare
11.3 km
Soutujärvi
59.5 km
Paukijärvi
53.7 km
Kaitum fjällurskog
25.4 km
Torneträsk-Soppero fjällurskog
39.6 km
Hjalmar Lundbohmsgården
1.3 km
Kin Museum of Contemporary Art
2 km
Márkanbáiki Samiskt Frilufts Museum
15.3 km
Kiruna gravkapell
1.1 km
Čievrrajohka
56.3 km
Kaitumkapellet
34.7 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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