Sweden is Moving Its Northernmost Town 2 Miles East. Here's Why

It's a great migration of buildings.
Derya Ozdemir

In Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost town, building after building is being forced to move. The entire city is being evacuated approximately two miles to the east due to the geological instability danger that expanding mining operations pose to the community. The Swedish town is about 125 years old, and has sprouted around the iron mine of the same name.

An official relocation process in 2018 started after decades of discussion with the state-owned mining company LKAB. It was agreed that some of the structures would be raised and relocated, while others would need to be demolished and reconstructed. There are also more than 20 historically significant buildings that'll be located in their entirety to a new downtown district planned to open in 2035, according to Forbes. Approximately 6,000 individuals will have been relocated to new dwellings by that time.