Hemavan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hemavan
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The Hemavan Valley, viewed from the ski resort, just after noon a few days before the winter solstice in December 2007
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 Hemavan
Location in Västerbotten
Hemavan
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Lapland |
| County | Västerbotten County |
| Municipality | Storuman Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.91 km2 (0.35 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 222 |
| • Density | 245/km2 (630/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Hemavan (South Sami: Bïerke) is a small town in Sweden. It is known for its beautiful nature and fun winter activities. Hemavan is located in a part of Sweden called Lapland, within Västerbotten County. In 2010, about 222 people lived there.
Hemavan is easy to reach because it is right on European route E12. Many tourists visit Hemavan in winter to enjoy the ski slopes. These visitors often come from Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Hemavan even has its own airport, Hemavan Airport, with daily flights to Stockholm. This town is also famous as the starting point of the Kungsleden trail, a very long and popular hiking path.
Hemavan's History
The area we now call Hemavan was first named Björkfors in 1834. A Sámi person named Enar Andersson gave it this name. He later sold the village to another family who had moved from the Stensele area.
In 1918, the village got postal and telegraph services. Its name was changed to Hemavan because another place called Björkfors already existed near the Torne River. The new name, Hemavan, came from the 17 "avor's" (which means "cut-off bays") in the Ume River nearby. One of these bays was very close to the village.
How the Village Grew
In the beginning, the people of Hemavan made a living by hunting, fishing, and farming. Travel was hard back then. The main route along the Ume River was used by people, including traders known as "Norgefararna" who went to Mo i Rana for business. They could only travel using skis, sleds, or horse-drawn carts.
In the 1930s, this important road was improved. After the road got better, the first tourists started to arrive in the village. They would stay with local families. Hemavan officially became a ski resort in 1953 when the Högfjällshotellet (a mountain hotel) was built. The Hemavan inn (Wärdshus) was finished in 1954, and the very first ski lift opened that same year.
In 1993, Hemavan Airport was completed for regular flights. Before this, there was a small airfield for gliders in the 1960s.
Weather in Hemavan
Hemavan has a subarctic climate. This means it has cold winters and mild summers. During the winter months, many low-pressure systems from the North Atlantic ocean bring a lot of snow to Hemavan. The snow usually stays on the ground until May.
