Malmberget facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malmberget
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Malmberget. "The Pit" is visible in the centre-left of the image. In the background Gällivare and the Dundret mountain.
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 Malmberget
Location in Norrbotten
Malmberget
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Lapland |
| County | Norrbotten County |
| Municipality | Gällivare Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 km2 (0.63 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2020)
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| • Total | 927 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Malmberget is a small town in Sweden. Its name means "The Ore Mountain." It is located in Norrbotten County, within Gällivare Municipality. Malmberget is famous for its important mines where iron ore is dug up.
The town has changed a lot recently. In 2020 and 2021, the entire town of Malmberget had to be moved. This was because of the ongoing mining activities in the area.
Mining History
Mining for iron ore in Malmberget started a very long time ago, in 1741. The mountain was first called Illuvaara. Later, it became known as Gällivare Malmberg, and then simply Malmberget.
A big change happened in 1888. That year, the first train loaded with iron ore left Malmberget. This marked the start of a huge "iron ore rush" in northern Lapland. Many people came to Malmberget looking for work. However, there were not enough homes for everyone. In the early days, workers sometimes lived in simple shacks. These shacks were even built from old crates that once held dynamite!
The Big Pit
In the middle of Malmberget, there is a very large hole. It is called Kaptensgropen, which means "The Captain's Pit." This huge pit appeared because the deep mines underneath the town reached the surface.
As mining continues, Kaptensgropen has grown bigger. It has expanded southwards, dividing the town. This growth has made the old town centre unsafe to live in. Many important buildings had to move. For example, two cinemas and a church moved to the western part of Malmberget. Even more commonly, places moved to the nearby town of Gällivare.
Today, Kaptensgropen is being filled up. Workers are using waste rock from the underground mines to do this. Even though the pit will eventually be filled, the unsafe area around it keeps growing. This is because the underground mining weakens the ground. Small earthquakes, called seismic events, also happen regularly due to the mining. These events shake the remaining parts of Malmberget.
The future of Malmberget was uncertain for a long time. The mining company, LKAB, found that even more of the town might need to be moved. Moving large apartment buildings and private homes has been a big local issue.
The iron ore dug up from Malmberget is very important. It is transported by train southeast to the port city of Luleå. From there, it can be shipped to other places.
Sports and Community
Malmberget has a strong tradition in sports. The town's biggest sports club is called Malmbergets allmänna idrottsförening (MAIF). This club has been active for over a hundred years. MAIF's team colors are green and white.
The local football club in Malmberget is named Gällivare Malmbergets FF.
