Gallivare Tourist Attractions
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Situation and characteristicsThe town of Gällivare in northern Sweden owes its existence to the local deposits of iron ore. It lies on the Vásarajärvi ("Hammer Lake"), 70km/44miles north of the Arctic Circle. The midnight sun shines here from June 2 to July 12. Gällivare has a wooden church of 1881, known as the "one öre church" because every taxpayer was obliged to make an offering of one öre towards its cost.There is a boarding school for Sami children which in summer is used as a youth hostel.Gällivare has been selected as the host town for the 2008 VIVA World Cup, an international football tournament.
Iron Mines
The deposits of iron ore around Gällivare have been known since the 18th century. A British company began to work them in 1869 and built a railroad line to Luleå (1884), but six years later sold out to the Swedish government, which in 1957 took over another private company, Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB). The reserves of ore, with an iron content of 62-70%, are estimated at 400 million tons. The ore is mostly exported during the summer from Luleå; only a small proportion is processed in Luleå by the state-owned Svenska Stål company or in other Swedish steelworks.
Gällivare Winter Fair
Gällivare Winter Fair is in March.
Surroundings
Dundret
5km/3mi southwest of Gällivare is the hill of Dundret, with the Dundret leisure center. From the summit of the hill (893m/2,930ft; mountain hut), which can be climbed in 1.5-1.75 hours (or with less effort by cableway), there are superb views. This is a popular skiing area.
Ore Mountain
6km/4mi north of Gällivare is an ore mountain, the Malmberg, with three peaks: Välkomman (617m/2,024ft), Kungsryggen (580m/1,903ft) and Kaptenshöjden (518m/1,700ft). At the foot of the hill is the mining settlement of Malmberget (fine view of Dundret). All Saints Church, built in 1944, had to be moved to a new site some years ago because it was in danger of sinking into the underground workings; the altar is a block of Malmberg ore. In the LKAB offices is an informative Mining Museum. Conducted tours of the workings (some 250km/155mi of underground galleries and passages).
Malmberget Mining Museum
The mining museum in Malmberget has exhibitions showing the 250-year old history of the mining culture of Gällivare and Malmberget. Mining techniques from the 17th century are shown in detail using old pictures and maps.Located nearby is the Kåkstan (Shanty Town), a reconstruction of the old mining community, complete with shops, cafés, and guided tours.
Malmberget - Koskullskulle
4km/2.5mi northeast of Malmberget are the iron mines of Koskullskulle
