| Falun | ||
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 Falun
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| Coordinates: 60°36′N 15°38′E / 60.600°N 15.633°ECoordinates: 60°36′N 15°38′E / 60.600°N 15.633°E | ||
| Country | Sweden | |
| Province | Dalarna | |
| County | Dalarna County | |
| Municipality | Falun Municipality | |
| Charter | 1641 | |
| Area[1] | ||
| • Total | 27.17 km2 (10.49 sq mi) | |
| Population (31 December 2010)[1] | ||
| • Total | 37,291 | |
| • Density | 1,372/km2 (3,550/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Falun (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈfɑːˈlɵnː]) is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 37,291 inhabitants in 2010.[1] It is also the capital of Dalarna County. Falun forms, together with Borlänge, a metropolitan area with close to 100,000 inhabitants.
Falun was originally famous for its copper mine, and is today an important service and industrial city even though the mine is closed (since 1992).
Faluån is a river, floating through the city, separating it into two sides. Falu copper mine is located on one of the sides which during many centuries was one of Sweden's main business. This side of the river was usually called "the mining side", where not many plants grew due to the toxic smoke which contaminated the soil. On the other side of the river, where the smoke did not reach, sets a large number of beautiful, large villas, which made this side to be called "the delightful side". The center of Falun consist of classical pedestrian streets with small shops. in 1998, the city reclaimed the award of "the city center of the year" in Sweden.
The year 2001, the city, the copper mine and mining areas of Falun were added to the list of world heritage sites by the United Nations, which means that the city is worth preserving, as it is considered to be of interest for all of humanity. Dalarna University, with its 18 000 students, has a campus located in Falun - close to the national ski stadium where the ski world championship has taken place a number of times. In 2015, Falun will host the world championship again.
Known trademarks from Falun are Falu rödfärg, Falu rågrut, Falu ättika and Falukorv.
Contents |
History [edit]
The town of Falun is known to have existed in the 14th century as a market place for the surrounding lands. Mining for copper had been a local business since the mid-13th century, or possibly as early as 1000,[2] and the organisation for the extracting of copper and gold from the Great Copper Mountain is believed to be the oldest still-existing enterprise in the world, proved active since 1347, when its charter was granted by King Magnus IV of Sweden. The first share in the company is dated as early as 1288.
However, an enterprise at that time was nothing more than a cooperation among the owners, each contributing with a share of money for constructions, tools, etc., necessary to run the organisation. Depending on their contribution they could use the facilities and share the profit according to the relative share they contributed.
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Falun Center
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House in Falun
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View from ski-jump on Falun
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The "Great Copper Mountain Church" (Stora Kopparbergs kyrka)
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Church in Falun
The city of Falun received its privileges in 1641. By then Falun was already one of the largest cities in Sweden, with about 6000 inhabitants. Soon, however, the importance of the copper mine began to decrease. In 1687, parts of the mine collapsed in a landslide, creating an 100 m deep pit.[3] Even though the mine remained in use for the next 300 years, the production gradually diminished, until it closed down in 1992.
The mining area of the Great Copper Mountain has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also was the name of the mining company of Falun, is today a part of Stora Enso.
Climate [edit]
Falun is considered to have a continental subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).
On average, the coldest month is January with an average low temperature of −11 °C (12.2 °F). Winter is the longest season lasting approximately from mid-November til the end of April.[4] With an average high temperature of 22 °C (71.6 °F), July is the warmest month. The most precipitation occurs during the summer months of July and August. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Falun is −40 °C (−40.0 °F).[5]
| Climate data for Falun | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −3 (27) |
−2 (28) |
3 (37) |
9 (48) |
16 (61) |
20 (68) |
22 (72) |
20 (68) |
15 (59) |
9 (48) |
3 (37) |
0 (32) |
9 (48) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7 (19) |
−6 (21) |
−3 (27) |
4 (39) |
10 (50) |
14 (57) |
17 (63) |
15 (59) |
11 (52) |
6 (43) |
1 (34) |
−3 (27) |
4.8 (40.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −11 (12) |
−10 (14) |
−8 (18) |
−2 (28) |
4 (39) |
8 (46) |
11 (52) |
10 (50) |
6 (43) |
2 (36) |
−2 (28) |
−6 (21) |
0.2 (32.3) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.42) |
24 (0.94) |
20 (0.79) |
31 (1.22) |
40 (1.57) |
59 (2.32) |
73 (2.87) |
83 (3.27) |
59 (2.32) |
45 (1.77) |
50 (1.97) |
41 (1.61) |
561 (22.09) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1mm) | 14 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 157 |
| % humidity | 82 | 75 | 63 | 55 | 49 | 54 | 57 | 62 | 67 | 73 | 82 | 80 | 66 |
| Source: Climate & Temperature[6] | |||||||||||||
Architectural History [edit]
Stora Gruvstugan was designed by Eric Geisler and built between 1771-1785 in a Rococo Style, also referred to as Late Baroque. The building is situated by Falun Copper Mine and used to be the main office to the copper mine. in 1882 the building was rebuilt into Berslagets museum. In the beginning of 1920, the mining came close to the structure which made it fragile and extensive repairs was made to the building.
Västra Skolan was built in 1915, based on a design by the city architect in Falun, Klas Boman. The building functioned as a school up until 2010. The tower was a replica of Kristine Kyrka from which one could view the entire low built city.
Egnellska Huset was built in 1903 and was designed by Falun's first city architect, Klas Boman. The building functioned as a modern residential building. The building was initially a light yellow color and then later recolored in a more bright yellow color. After two separate fires in 2007 and 2008, the building was restored to its original appearance.
Falugatan is a street in Falun and has since the 15th century functioned as a connection between eastern and western Falun. Thanks to its location by the river, this site became an important commerce site for city. When Falun, officially became a city, in 1641, it was this street that named the city to Falun. The street kept it appearance up until the 1960s when Falun was modernized architectural. During the 1960', four of the five 18th century buildings were demolished and today, the Körsnerska Huset is the only one remaining in its original appearance.
Centralpalatset is a building located on Stora Torget in Falun and is a monumental building, decorated in Art Nouveau. It was built between 1895-1896 and was designed by the local architect Ferdinand Boberg. The author Selma Lagerlöf lived in the building, and it was here she wrote The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. In 1947, the initial balconies were removed and in 1955 the whole building was facing a renovation where the facade was redesigned and the whole house scaled down, making it shorter and flatter
Wiklunds Glas was a building on Åsgatan in Falun and was designed in a combination between Art Nouveau and Renaissance in the Low Countries. The building was designed by the Architect J.Wernfeldt and functioned as a location for a glass company. The building was demolished in 1971 when Falun was modernized.
Geislerska Huset was built sometime between 1765 and 1768 by Eric Geisler. The building was built by a technique which later became referred to as Eric Geisler Technique. It was the oldest building in the world built with copper slag stone. The building was demolished in 1977 and on the site today is an office building.
Rådhuset (Town Hall) is located on Stora Torget in Falun. Was built between 1649 and 1653, initially as a one floor building, but in the 1960s a second floor was added onto the building. In 1761, the building was destroyed in a fire, but was quickly rebuilt and is still, today, standing on the same site.
Varmbadhuset a community swimming pool facility in Falun. It was designed in a National Romantic Style by the city architect Klas Boman and built in 1911. In the 1960s a sport center was planned out for Falun and Varmbadhuset lost its importance and faced demolition in 1974, despite strong protests from the residents in Falun. On the site today is the police station.
In 1961, an architectural competition was organized in Falun. The neighborhood (Falan) between the western side of Stora Torget and Faluån was to be modernized. The competition was won by Uhlin och Malms Arkitektkontor in Stockholm. The final design was built in 1968 with two buildings along the western side of the Plaza. Since 1968, the buildings have been rebuilt many times.[7][8]
Today [edit]
For education, the city holds part of the University College of Dalarna (Högskolan Dalarna).
In sports, Falun hosts the annual Swedish Ski Games at its skiing arena Lugnet, Falun. The city's most successful sport team is the bandy team Falu BS which has played in the Swedish top division for many years. Also, IBF Falun, the floorball male and female teams have been very successful. Falu FK play in Division 2 Norra Svealand.
Lugnet, Falun Stadium has also hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships three times: 1954, 1974, and most recently in 1993.
The city lost out to Calgary, Canada, in 1981 for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Again, Falun applied for the 1992 Winter Olympics but lost out to Albertville, France, in 1986. The city lost despite the best efforts of one of ABBA's singers who recorded a single in support of the bid.
Falun is the hometown of The Battle, one of the world's most famous snowboard competitions.
Lake Runn is visited both during the winter, for ice skating, and summer for it's wide variety of watersports. It's popularity is well deserved for the lake itself is over 60 sq kilometres of water and has over 50 islands. The sailing and fishing opportunities in particular are tremendous. Framby Udde Resort offers many of these in partnership with other small businesses. See for example www.runnsailing.com for sailing dinghy hire.
Iron and Copper byproducts from the mine are still used as a paint ingredient, in the production of the nationally well known and culturally important Falu Red paint, particularly used on wooden houses.
Notable residents and former residents of Falun [edit]
- Ferdinand Boberg, architect
- Björn Dixgård, musician
- Mattias Ekström, racing driver
- Mattias Flink, mass murderer
- Maria Hjorth, golfer
- Fet-Mats Israelsson, "petrified" miner lost in the Falun mine for 42 years, subject of much literature. See below.
- Patrick Johansson, drummer
- Tomas Jonsson, ice hockey player
- Anders Kallur, ice hockey player
- Jenny Kallur, athlete, World Championships finalist 2005 in 100 m hurdles
- Susanna Kallur, athlete, World Record Holder 60 meter hurdles
- Lina Leandersson, actress
- Marcus Ljungqvist, road bicycle racer
- Thomas Quick, serial murderer
- Guledimus Prime, architect, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, and writer
- Ernst Rolf, actor and singer
- Sabaton, power metal band
- Georg Skarstedt, actor
- Walter Steiner, ski jumper
- Ulf Stenlund, tennis player
- Georg Stiernhielm, civil servant, linguist and poet
- Gunnar Säve-Söderbergh, palaeontologist
- Tallest Man on Earth, musician
- Lars Tures, former Director of political communication in Volvo, political analyst & consultant
- Putte Wickman, jazz clarinetist
- In Mourning, progressive death metal band
In popular culture [edit]
The short story "Die Bergwerke zu Falun" ("The Mines of Falun") was published by E. T. A. Hoffmann in 1819, based on what happened to Fet-Mats Israelsson.
See also [edit]
- Biathlon World Championships
- Falukorv
- Great Copper Mountain
- Gruvrisskolan - elementary school
- Mattias Flink
- Thomas Quick
Sports [edit]
The following sports clubs are located in Falun:
Annual music concert [edit]
Starting in 2008 Falun has been the home of a Rock and metal concert called Rockstad Falun
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "History of Falun Mine". Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ http://www.falun.se/www/english.nsf/doc/D3DC73723BA8B6E7C1256DFD0055910E
- ^ http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/vintern-2010-2011-vinterns-lagsta-temperaturer-1.15196
- ^ "Falun Climate Information". Climate & Temperature Information. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
- ^ Falun Staden Som Försvann. 2011.
- ^ http://www.falun.se/www/falun/org/gamlafalun.nsf/doc/46829F0F9EF941A6C125793400467272
External links [edit]
Media related to Falun at Wikimedia Commons
- Falun – Official site : falun.se
- Falun – Democracy City : falun.se/democracy
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