Year: 2021
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: In northernmost Sweden, immense urban transformations are taking place in the mining towns of Malmberget and Kiruna, radically changing the urban landscape.The towns were built during the late nineteenth century adjacent to rich iron ore deposits in order to enable mining in the scarcely populated region.As it turned out, the iron ore deposits stretch beneath the built-up areas.The underground mining causes subsidence and, as mining continues, it aff ects the towns.As early as the 1950s, a huge open pit opened up in the centre of Malmberget, dividing it in two and initiating the transformation of the town.During the last decade, these transformations have continued and the town is changing rapidly.A few buildings have been relocated and vast areas have been demolished.In 2004, it was announced that the town of Kiruna was to be moved.Since then, a new town centre has been under construction, a few buildings have been moved and the fi rst neighbourhoods have been demolished.This causes a dilemma.The towns were established to support the mining industry, but to continue mining, the settlements that they had become during the twentieth century need to be destroyed.Indeed, the history of the towns is interlinked with the world market price of iron ore.When prices were high, the towns fl ourished, but when prices declined, the towns went into recession.The local authorities strive for a more diversifi ed job This chapter is from Transcending the Nostalgic edited by George S.
Source: Berghahn Books
Author: Jennie Sjöholm
Language: English
Subfield: Cultural Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4386339256