Town's church on the move due to landslide danger
Historic Church Move in Kiruna, Sweden's Northernmost City
The small town of Kiruna, Sweden, is currently experiencing a historical event as the iconic Kiruna kyrka (church) is being carefully moved a few kilometers east to make way for expanding underground iron ore mining activities.
The Kiruna kyrka, built in 1912, is a symbol of the city and was voted the most beautiful building in Sweden in 2001. The red-painted wooden church, built in the national romantic style and combining influences from Norwegian stave churches and the indigenous Sami Koters, weighs 672 tonnes and is the largest building being moved in Kiruna.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has commented on the church's relocation, stating it symbolizes respect for cultural heritage and the importance of Sweden's mining industry. King Carl XVI. Gustaf is also expected to witness the spectacle in Kiruna on Wednesday.
The move is being broadcast live by Swedish television (SVT), and the relocation of Kiruna's centre eastwards is a significant undertaking, involving the movement of numerous buildings and facilities, including homes, shops, public facilities like schools and the hospital.
Project leader Kjell Olovsson is satisfied with the progress of the "Great Church Move." The operation is a highly complex engineering feat costing over $52 million, reflecting the importance placed on preserving Kiruna’s heritage as the entire city—including homes and other buildings—is gradually shifted to a safer location to accommodate mining operations.
The Kiruna kyrka is located in the traditional settlement area of the Sami people, and the move is not the first in Kiruna, as the city has already begun relocating its centre eastwards due to the world's largest underground iron ore mine. Approximately 6,000 residents of Kiruna will be relocated, which is about a third of the city's population.
Along with the relocation of the church, a Sami choir and the fun band KAJ, who represented Sweden at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, will perform in Kiruna during the church move. The move is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday.
The relocation of Kiruna is part of a large, decades-long urban transformation plan to safeguard residents and infrastructure from mining-related ground deformation. The plan aims to relocate the city by 2035.
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