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Kiruna And Malmberget, The Moving Cities

The Kiruna Church, a Swedish Lutheran church built in 1912, is one of Sweden's most famous buildings. It stands 40 meters (131 feet) tall and weighs 672 tons. The church is set to be relocated five kilometers (three miles) by truck to the new town of Kiruna on Tuesday and Wednesday. This relocation is necessary because the center of Kiruna is being moved due to the large mine that dominates the region. Underground mining is cost-effective and enables a high level of mechanization and automation. However, it causes deformations in the surface ground that, beyond a certain threshold, can render it impossible to maintain any infrastructure or residential areas in those locations. (Photo by Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#12657666
Date Taken	3 August 2025
Location	N/A
Photographer	Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto

Kiruna Church Swedish Lutheran church 1912 Sweden famous buildings relocation five kilometers three miles truck new town Kiruna mining underground mining cost-effective mechanization automation deformations surface ground infrastructure residential areas mine region Mauro Ujetto NurPhoto 40 meters 131 feet 672 tons Tuesday Wednesday center of Kiruna moved necessary threshold impossible maintain.