Sweden’s iconic Kiruna Church, a 113-year-old architectural treasure, is being physically moved to escape the creeping ground subsidence caused by the world’s largest underground iron ore mine. The church is the centerpiece of Kiruna city, which is also being moved due to the mine expanding under the feet of the residents.
The 600-ton, red-painted wooden church, widely considered one of Sweden’s most beautiful buildings, embarked on a two-day, five-kilometer trek to a new town square on Tuesday, August 20th. Its relocation is part of a massive, decades-long project to shift an entire city, piece by piece, to accommodate the expanding mine beneath it.
For the town’s vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, the moment is bittersweet, reflecting the complex emotions of a community leaving its historic ground.
“The church is Kiruna’s soul in some way, and in some way it’s a safe place,” Tjarnberg said. “For me, it’s like a day of joy. But I think people also feel sad because we have to leave this place.”
The church’s move is a central part of a 30-year urban transformation plan. State-owned mining company LKAB estimates the ground instability will ultimately force the relocation of approximately 6,000 people and 3,000 homes. While some structures are being demolished, other key buildings are being painstakingly moved or rebuilt in the new city center a few miles away.
While the relocation is a logistical challenge for residents, it represents a far deeper threat to the indigenous Sami people, for whom the surrounding land is vital to their ancient culture and livelihood.
Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, chair of the local Gabna Sami community, emphasized the area’s significance beyond the city limits. “This area is traditional Sami land,” Kuhmunen said. “This area was grazing land and also a land where the calves of the reindeer were born.”
The mine itself is the reason for Kiruna’s existence. Since the 1890s, it has yielded around 2 billion tonnes of ore, and an estimated 6 billion tonnes remain. The Per Geijer site is particularly strategic; rich in both iron ore and rare earth elements, it is crucial for manufacturing modern technology, from smartphones to wind turbines.
Its importance was underscored in March when the European Union designated it a Strategic Project, fast-tracking its development to help reduce Europe’s reliance on China for critical minerals.
