Kiruna Municipality facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiruna Municipality
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| Country | Sweden | |
| County | Norrbotten County | |
| Seat | Kiruna | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20,714.66 km2 (7,997.97 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 19,371.12 km2 (7,479.23 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 1,343.54 km2 (518.74 sq mi) | |
| Area as of January 1, 2010. | ||
| Population
(June 30, 2012)
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| • Total | 22,974 | |
| • Density | 1.109070/km2 (2.87248/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| ISO 3166 code | SE | |
| Province | Lapland | |
| Municipal code | 2584 | |
| Website | www.kiruna.se | |
Kiruna Municipality is a large area in northern Sweden. It is located in Norrbotten County. The main town and administrative center is Kiruna. This municipality is the northernmost in Sweden. It is also the largest in terms of land area. Kiruna Municipality covers about 4.6% of Sweden's total land.
Many languages are spoken here. Finnish, Meänkieli, and Sami are official minority languages. This means they are protected and supported in the municipality.
Contents
History of Kiruna Municipality
In the 1900s, a mining town called Kiruna was built. It was part of a rural area named Jukkasjärvi. In 1908, Kiruna got special rules to help it grow like a city. It even had a tram system!
On January 1, 1948, the whole Jukkasjärvi area became the "City of Kiruna". Because it included a huge wilderness, Kiruna was then known as the world's largest city municipality. In 1971, Kiruna merged with Karesuando. It became a single municipality like all others in Sweden.
Geography of Kiruna Municipality
Kiruna Municipality is home to Kebnekaise. This is Sweden's highest mountain. It stands 2,104 meters tall. The area has more than 6,000 lakes. Lake Torneträsk is the biggest of these lakes.
Seven rivers flow through the municipality. These include the Kalix River, Torne River, and Lainio River. The Könkämä River and Muonio River form the border with Finland. The beautiful natural areas led to the creation of Abisko National Park. This park was established in 1909 near the Norwegian border.
Main Towns and Villages
Kiruna Municipality has seven main towns and villages. These are called localities or urban areas. The largest one is Kiruna itself.
| # | Locality | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiruna | 18,154 |
| 2 | Vittangi | 789 |
| 3 | Jukkasjärvi | 519 |
| 4 | Svappavaara | 394 |
| 5 | Kuttainen | 364 |
| 6 | Karesuando | 313 |
| 7 | Övre Soppero | 220 |
The main town, Kiruna, is shown in bold.
People and Population
Kiruna Municipality has a total population of about 22,500 people. Many people work in the large mining industry. This helps the area have good incomes.
Former Sister City
Kiruna Municipality used to have a sister city. This means they had a special friendship with another city.
Arkhangelsk, Russia (1999–2022)
Notable People
- Börje Salming, a famous Swedish ice hockey player, was born here.
Images for kids
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A view of Kiruna town.
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The coat of arms for Kiruna.
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A map showing Kiruna Municipality in Norrbotten County.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Kiruna para niños
