The Extraordinary Reality Facing Sweden's Northernmost City, Kiruna...

When I arrived in Kiruna, I sensed something wasn't quite right. But the enormity of what's happening here is difficult to comprehend...
Filmed on Sunday 14th January 2024
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
Thumbnail designed using Canva
This video is not sponsored and all opinions are my own
I don’t pretend to be a travel expert, but I love what I do and would be honoured if you came along with me. My channel focusses on the wide-eyed wonder and excitement of finding somewhere new, and my genuine reaction to it. You may not get a history lesson in my videos, but who knows, you might pick up some useful travel tips along the way, add a few destinations to your bucket list and hopefully be entertained by what you see. Thanks for watching, it means a lot to me :)
I do ALL of this myself. Planning, filming, editing, promoting, all with a weekly upload schedule, so please understand not every video will be an epic adventure. But my pledge is to always do my best in any situation and KEEP THE CAMERA ROLLING :)
Donate here to future videos: (thank you!)
www.paypal.com/paypalme/steve...
Or why not become a SteveMarsh Supporter?
/ stevemarsh
FAQs:
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I was born in Glasgow but have lived in Carnoustie, Dalgety Bay, Stonehaven, Edinburgh, Montrose, and further afield (Salamanca, Spain & Devonport, New Zealand)
WHEN DO YOU UPLOAD?
Saturdays at 10am Scottish time. Occasionally a bonus midweek video will pop up (in which case, likely to be Tuesday at 5pm)
WHY IS THERE A DELAY BETWEEN TRIP AND VIDEO APPEARING?
This is a result of doing all this myself I’m afraid. Editing takes time and I also like to schedule videos a bit in advance in case of any problems/illness/cancellations etc. Keeping my uploads appearing every Saturday morning is important to me, so I don’t want anything to get in the way of it. Also, I occasionally need some time off to recover from trips!
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I film with a GoPro11 and my iPhone12. I edit on iMovie and use epidemicsound.com for music. I also use canva.com for thumbnails etc. I also have a DJI Pocket 3 (bigger sensor) for nighttime, although I’m still getting to grips with it.
WHY DON'T YOU SPEND LONGER AT DESTINATIONS?
The usual suspects I'm afraid - time and money! Hotels especially these days make my eyes water like a true Scotsman. Also my weekly upload schedule means I need to keep on the move.
WHERE'S ALICJA?
Alicja will feature whenever possible, but she has her own life and a proper job so it can take a while for our schedules to match up. Trust me though, I prefer it when She is there too!
DO YOU PAY FOR YOUR OWN TRAVEL?
Yes I do. I've only ever accepted a complementary ticket as compensation for a previous problem. All my opinions are frank and honest reflections of travel as I experience it.
WHY THE ADS?
It's my income, I can't do this for free. Notice I don’t have mid-roll ads though!
CAN I CONTACT YOU?
I used to list my email address but felt bad not having the capacity to respond to everything so took it down (and I got a LOT of spam so missed many genuine messages along the way).
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?
Watching my videos is of course support enough, but if you'd like to support further, I'll pop links in here for Paypal and Patreon. All kind donations are super-appreciated and will go 100% towards future filming trips.
DO YOU ACCEPT SPONSORSHIPS?
I don't like to upset the flow of my videos, so I don't even include mid-roll ads anymore (at significant loss of income to myself), so I prefer not to include sponsorships either. I'm open to a small slide at the start/end of each video, but I don't want to get into talking about products, it's something I don't like as a viewer myself (especially as a viewer who pays for KZbin Premium). So it's probably a polite no, although all of this goes out the window if you offer me something which can give me the chance to make a video for my audience that would otherwise be impossible.
#SteveMarsh #Sweden #Kiruna

[@wilhelmh9495]

From the North of Sweden, that squeeky sound when you walk is the soundtrack to my life.

[@Paveway-chan]

From central Sweden, to me it's like the sound of nails on a chalkboard, I hate it xD

[@__Aurora__]

Swede here, nice video of our cosy town Kiruna and the northern part of Sweden. Thank you. Regarding your remark about older people not having money to move their own houses, thus being forced to live in the soulless flats as you put it - no worries about that. The Swedish government and the LKAB are moving their houses as well, covering all the costs. Those that move into the flats are just the ones that actually prefer to live that way. Regards from Stockholm!

[@dvdosterloh]

Curious American here, In the new town center are the businesses all interconnected ? Would make sense since they seem to be almost one big building what with the cold in winter and all not having to go outside to get from one to the other?

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much for this! It was a fascinating place to explore!

[@amurtigress_mobile365]

@@steve-marsh There is something else you might want to know. Only last year, a huge amount of rare earth metals has been found near Kiruna. It is so much that Kiruna could cover about 90% of the european demand of Rare Earth Metals for decades to come, if I remember correctly. And here goes a monumental clash with the economical interests of China!

[@__Aurora__]

@@dvdosterloh Yes, you are absolutely right. As far as I am aware, the businesses are interconnected in the new area. City planners, landscape architects, entrepreneurs as well as the municipality of Kiruna and the Swedish government have been planning this move as a joint venture for many years. It’s pretty unique actually.

[@__Aurora__]

@@steve-marsh Thank you for visiting our country! And for your videos! If you have the time, I could recommend you to visit the city of Happaranda, a city on the Finnish-Swedish border where the first police station shared by two countries (Sweden and Finland) directly on the border is planned to be built. And just one more thing, if you have the time while you’re in Kiruna, I recommend to visit the first ice hotel ever built in the world. It’s located in Jukkasjärvi. Cheers. ❤️

[@knaperstekt7953]

Most people in Sweden haven't seen Kiruna, so you're giving us Swedes a domestic lesson even here in the country you visited.

[@matsv201]

And even the one that have.. maybe have not seen it the last 10-20 years

[@The_Wei_Wu_Way]

Used to be a tourist hotspot apparently but then the Kiruna virus hit 😏

[@johng9399]

@@The_Wei_Wu_Way Groan!🤣

[@perolden]

@@matsv201 Yes , it was quite some time ago since I was there last, but I am not Swedish...

[@beagle7622]

I live in Australia. Like the US, Canada & similar countries, you would be lucky if 1 in 100 people have been to every state capital city , even today it’s like that. It’s Tourists that see them .

[@matsv201]

There is a bit more of a backstory. LKAB is neither the good or the bad guys, they are the only guys. It dates back to the 90s. The premise was basically the mine will undermine the city. So either the mine close down, everyone gets unemployed and everyone moves. Or the city don´t close down, and everyone moves. That was the only two optons. The municipality voted that everyone moved. In accordance with Swedish law, LKAB have to pay for everything that have to do with the move. The end result was pretty much that 1/3 of the town would not be moved (basically the east end becomes the west end). 1/3 would be torned down and built up, and 1/3 of the building would be moved as is. The Town is largely move away from the fault zone, so its intended that they would not need to move it again. People that own there own house got it moved full sale, free of charge with a week on a hotel (there is quite a few international documentaries about it) The people that own there flats, got a new flat with the same square meter free of charge. The real issue is people who rent. Because they rent for market value, and then when the city is built new, the market value change. Some of those got a pretty heafty rise. The cars typically last longer in this climate. There are some winterisation made to them. Typically its a fuel heater and some replacement oils The single family homes have already been moved beoyned the new city center. The area between will be filled in with old buildings that is jet to be moved. The new city center was opened quite recently while the single family homes was moved like a decade back. She larger historical buildings will be moved over the comming 3 years. The full move will not be finished until 2035, but the area around the city center will be fixed up by 2026

[@matsv201]

One documentary: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rXop2elsupZrssi=PHJ6KEXqnyLVvK_f&t=490 (its a dual feature with some random lighthouse as well) A other documentary: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6KnfqGtmJlmaqcsi=A7AEphJr5b38T6AI

[@steve-marsh]

Hey thanks so much for this!

[@matsv201]

@@steve-marsh cheers.

[@matsv201]

@@steve-marsh The second documentary is also LKAB, but its actually a other town, pretty close by Kiruna, with the exact same problem

[@andylane247]

As expected. The Swedes do most things better than us brits !! Kiruna looked a bit different when I passed through in June 1983 !!!

[@JimmyBoqvist]

"Kiruna Church is perhaps the town’s most characteristic building; it was completed in 1912 as a gift from LKAB to the parish. Regarding the church the question was never if it should be moved but rather how it should be moved. It will be relocated to a place next to the cemetary in connection with the new city center. The move is estimated to take place in June 2025 and the church will be moved as one piece. The church park is a part of the enviroment around the church where the first manager of LKAB and the founder of Kiruna, Hjalmar Lundbohm, is buried." 🙏❤💪

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much for this!

[@MattsPlanet]

Fascinating! The sound of those footsteps is really hypnotic!

[@kronlidmusic]

at the beginning of the video youtubes captions thinks its applause lol

[@barbcarlson4219]

I love your videos, Steve. I most likely will never go to Kiruna but I feel like I had a quick visit. Thank you for making this informative and entertaining videos!

[@steve-marsh]

I didn't expect to be going here either :D But it turned out to be a fascinating town! Thanks for joining me :)

[@cindyd8646]

What a great capture of the reindeer! He doesn't need 4-wheel drive! I remember when we lived in Denver and it was below zero how awesome that squeaky-crunch of really cold snow was! I also like the phrase "up sticks"! I am adopting it from now on. This Northern Adventure you have presented is just wonderful! Well done!

[@steve-marsh]

I remember scrambling for my camera :D

[@perolden]

This with the reindeers, this reindeer was ownewd by someone, I live on the same latitude as Gothenburg, but in Norway, if I drive one hour I could look at all the reindeers I want, and they are wild! They are owned by nobody, you can hunt them. They live in the mountain plateus here in southern Norway, whilst in Sweden the are exclusive to the northern parts as far south as Jemtland, and they are basically all someones property there. In the north of Norway they are also all owned , you have to Sami to own them...around 10% of Sami families own reindeer.

[@michaelorr9107]

As you were crunching thru the snow the noise reminded me of an ancient TV commercial for Cadburys Hot chocolate..... hot chocolate ! drinking chocolate ! Great video definitely a return visit required in the Summer.... Well done Steven. 😊😊

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I'm Canadian and I know that it's not uncommon for cars parked in very cold climates have block heaters to pre-heat the engine oil before start-up. Pre-heating an engine makes engines easier to start, gets the cabin heater to produce heat sooner for comfort and clearing the windshield, and reduces engine wear. You should notice that a lot of the cars are plugged into an electrical outlet for the purpose.

[@steve-marsh]

Ahh cheers for the info!

[@charlesjames799]

Yes I have experienced that in Canada my first visit was in 1976 and I was back on 6 other occasions and worked in Montreal 88/89. Lovely in summer but freezing in the winter.

[@Maaniic]

All cars in the north pretty much have block heaters and electric cabin heaters, and most modern diesel cars they are too efficient that during the deepest parts of the winter they cant keep the heat even while running so they have to use a small diesel fuel heater to heat the coolant esp while idling.

[@perolden]

@@charlesjames799 I used to live in a place where minus 30 degrees was normal in winter, I always had block heaters on my car then, but the cars changed, you really don't need them anymore, modern cars do fine without them. I asked some people who live there where the winter temps are harsh, nobody have heaters anymore, not even the self install tube heater which costs next to nothing.

[@Vikinggirl1679]

Yes here in Minnesota in U.S.A. we have block heaters too. We call it plugging our cars in lol

[@petergoddard1960]

What a place! Full marks to the lunch location and the food looked err... cardiac. Wonderful bonus, Steve.

[@steve-marsh]

Haha yes! :D

[@robertrouzaud9814]

Steve, this locale and hence, this video, have an otherworldly feel. Between the challenging harsh environment of cold and limited sun and the unusual situation of ground instability, it seems like you found yourself in Earth’s version of Neptune or Pluto. Yet, 20,000 people call Kiruna home. Many thanks for presenting this.

[@steve-marsh]

Haha I know what you mean! :)

[@jensjosephsen8474]

LKAB also has a iron ore mine in a municipality named Malmberget, approximately 120 km south of Kiruna. The same thing has happend there. The village has been emptied due to cracks from the mine and almost all residents has been relocated to the nearby city of Gällivare. Many old wooden houses have also been moved more close to Gällivare. This relocation is almost completed now.

[@gosha8987]

Your pronunciation of Kiruna is actually very very good

[@aidanmcferran]

The natural light and the snow at this time of the year makes Kiruna look like a fascinating place to visit. Between the brutal winters and having the whole city relocated, these residents must be very resilient folk! Thanks for the flying tour of Old and New Kiruna, this series is definitely inspiring me to explore Scandinavia for myself one day!

[@ianhutchinson1783]

As a geologist, I can see why the town has to be moved. The iron ore body is a thick sheet averaging 90m in thickness and dips east under the existing town at 60 degrees. Mining started as an open pit operation but then moved underground with sublevel caving method employed. One is effectively removing a huge volume of rock from underground (the iron ore) and allowing the hangingwall above it to collapse in a controlled manner. The mine workings are only 1000m down at present so it is inevitable that these subsurface collapses will work their way to surface. To be honest, I don't know why they didn't build the mining town on the west side of the initial open pit when my Victorian peers should have seen which way the orebody was dipping. Maybe they never expected to continue underground. Thanks again Steve for an interesting vlog.

[@boek2777]

I won't bet on this: My understanding is that the mine got less and less profitable (it's against the law to mine some of the resources found there). They examined the area and with new techniques found iron ore worth mining. The thing is that it takes time to examine and then move the town without having to do it again and again and... The prospektering started around 1642 so it wasn't easy to prepare for current demands. Moving the town isn't cheap so it wasn't done until they knew that it had to be done.

[@banjolasse6169]

Someone obviously thought of this, but is there no means of filling in/reinforcing from below?

[@boek2777]

@@banjolasse6169 there is. The problem is that the excavation have to continue (it's a multi billion industry). Every day of delay cost about $100 000 000 ($100 million) so this was the fastest and cheapest option.

[@banjolasse6169]

@@boek2777I understand. Thanks a lot for the info!

[@ianhutchinson1783]

@@banjolasse6169 Not really in my experience considering the large volume of ore material being removed and exported off-site. A huge unstable void is being continuously created underground. The controlled collapse of ground is a planned part of the mining safety scheme ironically.

[@SimonLarkin-CSRecording]

I'm a fellow Scot living in the south of Sweden. I really am impressed that you walk about in that cold as much as you do..... much respect!!!

[@k.r.baylor8825]

It just looks so COLD. But that tent was the picture of coziness! I will experience this dystopian city vicariously via Steve's marvelous adventure, watching from a warm office in the mid-Atlantic US states. Another fine vid, mate.

[@marcusgustafsson9558]

It is often quite dry, and if there is no wind, it doesn't feel like it is very cold. Worst in Europe is probably west coast weather, with saturated moisture and a bit of wind. It's like someone is pouring icewater on you. You get it from Glasgow to Gothenburg and up the west side of Norway.

[@TheLastCrusader22]

@@marcusgustafsson9558As someone from northern Sweden now living in Gothenburg, take it from me: Gothenburg is colder, or at the VERY least as cold. The moisture and wind is no joke. The general dryness (at least more so than the West Coast) of northern Sweden makes temperatures WAY below zero (as in -20 or -30) a lot more tolerable

[@robertblechle6365]

Burger looked amazing. The people seem really friendly. Thanks for the video have a great day

[@steve-marsh]

Oh it was sooooo good!

[@etherealenigma2008]

I just love seeing what your eating when you're traveling. Keep sharing the food stuff, please.

[@kimberlytt9454]

I always learn something new in every video, but this one may be my favorite. It’s so fascinating to learn about moving an entire city.

[@MrAg272]

G'day Steve from a very warm Penrith in Australia. Even in out coldest Winters, it never snows here. I love these Vlogs of you walking in the snow. To me a nice sound. I did live in England back in 1979/80. Lived through one Winter. Walking in the snow of the streets of Leeds. Amazing experience.

[@DaveGeog]

Great stuff Steve - thanks so much for taking me to another fascinating place that I'll never get see for myself 🙂

[@steve-marsh]

A pleasure mate!

[@judybee]

I don't often comment but always watch your videos. And so interesting to read the comments here as well about Kiruna from people who actually live there. Deserted streets giving a ghostly feel to the place apart from the random reindeer doing his little dance along the highway!! Love all your travels😄

[@mortenlindh241]

I grew up in Kiruna late 50-ies to mid 60-ies. Btw. Cars usually live longer as they don’t use salt on the roads so whatever the cold does is offset by a dry, salt free environment in combination with electric engine heaters that you can hook up to at work or where you live. I loved the place. The polar night in the winter when the sun does not come above the horizon and the days in Feb to April when the sun and the snow makes a magical bluish light. I was back there last autumn just to see my first home still in existence, my second home totally empty waiting for demolition and absolutely no trace of my third home apart from a largely overgrown asphalt road in front of where the houses used to be. It was with a great deal of sadness I watched the empty houses where I used to play once. Btw, I stayed at the Bishops Arms a couple of nights and one night at the new Scandic. I did prefer the BA. Also, what did you make of the funny trick the town plays on you? They located the new train station a few miles north of the old town center and the new center a few miles south of the town. Thanks for your video. I just love the creaking sound when you walk in the cold snow. Ps the church is the most beautiful church I have ever seen. McOrd

[@PeterMuchowski]

Thanks Steve for a fantastic video. You are so amazing to follow on Your journeys. It provides perfect inspiration for future trips.

[@rswaf86]

During 1947, my grandfather worked construction there at the start of Kiruna’s post-war boom. He may have worked on the high rise which was being torn down. Wonderful video as always! Good thing your Fjällräven jacket kept you cozy warm!

[@Nook747]

Another brilliant video Steve..thank you !

[@annikaranestal7084]

A film worth saving. Thank you for your kind words about the old center. It was bitter sweet to follow you on your walk.💕

[@robbiephillipstravelsofple4790]

Fantastic video Steve really interesting to find out what’s happening there. The food looked fantastic and I did feel the old town had such much more charm. Hope you are both well

[@presspound7358]

As disappointing as it must be for some .. for many who inhabited the old city …. It must be said that Sweden and its mining behemoth have taken extraordinary steps to save these jobs… to save the very “raison d’être” of this community. They are pouring a lot of 💰 and it shows. You really can’t compare this enormous socio economic undertaking with similar events in North America and elsewhere. In the US, Canada, Central and South America as well as in many European countries , the townsfolk would have been ignored until the ground would have given way and even then … any remedy would have to have been won in court. Sweden appears to have tackled this situation head on with thoughtfulness , foresight and resolve. Well done.👍 Canada’s Eastern Seaboard 🇨🇦👋

[@TheLastCrusader22]

Well, in places like the U.S. and also Canada, there are at least numerous towns/villages/cities/locations that are involved with mining or especially the oil industry. In Sweden, this is pretty much the only spot, there's only one mine still left in all of Sweden outside the north, so that makes it a lot easier to prioritise and when the company is state-owned, producing 80 % of Europe's iron and one of the reasons behind your entire country's transition to an industrial society it does tend to mean politicians value it more as well. The point I'm making is, unlike some countries Swedes are generally pretty aware (not least because of the state ownership) of the extreme importance of this single location to the economy of the entire country, not just Kiruna

[@geeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz]

The tent was a mind blower. Brilliant.

[@jamesburt6520]

Hi Steve, thank you for another great videos. Amazing to see that the whole place is moving. Your burger looked awesome. Looking forward to your next videos. Take care.

[@peterprice6871]

Fantastic video Steve. Very interesting and loving your Swedish trip. Hopefully more to come

[@pippen1001]

Thanks for walking around, i´ve been living in kiruna since 2010.

[@diannehardwick950]

What an interesting place. Thanks for taking us there. Lots of people may know that it was Swedish iron ore that helped fuel the British industrial revolution in the late 18th and 19th century. In Yorkshire it came down the River Humber, along the canal, through my hometown of Doncaster and on to Steel City - Sheffield. How enterprising of the cafe to put up a wigwam to give some comfort to their customers. I love it. Still haven’t got over that scrunchie snow yet.

[@E-jit]

That tent is called a kåta in Swedish. The Sami people used to live in them before modern housing was a thing.

[@Johannicus]

That snow sound is like heaven for my ears. LOVE it!

[@petergibson2318]

Kiruna is famous for another reason. It supplied the German Nazis with the iron and steel to make most of their Panzers and guns and War-Planes etc.. No scruples at all.

[@iantovey7132]

Fascinating video. Thank you, Steve.

[@H.Saurer]

Thanks Steve, a great video from this fascinating place! And good choice not adding any music, i like the original ambient sound.

[@nikkitutt5436]

och aye Steve, your lunch looked fantastic. The people up there seem very friendly, great video, look forward to the next adventure where ever that is. Thanks a lot.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers! A brief pause from Sweden on Saturday, then back next week :)

[@vampitwine]

i live way down in the south of sweden and we rarely get any good snow so listening to you walking in the snow was amazing and so relaxing to hear... i love snow :)

[@eileenmclean1274]

What a cool place to have a meal. Another great video Steve. Thank you ❤❤

[@merryannmac8096]

Oh, that was fun. I could "almost" taste that burger. I loved the "library" pictures. I was a biblioticadama for over 30 years. (Library Lady). Very interesting video, Steve.

[@Alan.92n]

Got plenty of walking in, Steve, going between the old and new parts of Kiruna. Liked the crunching snow under your boots! Shame what the impact of mining is having in Kiruna. That lunch looked amazing, especially in the tent! Thanks for sharing. Nice one! 😊 👍

[@TracinyaLachance]

From what I gather, everyone's largely ok with this move because they know what the impact of the mining is on Kiruna - it's the entire reason the town even exists.

[@TheLastCrusader22]

@@TracinyaLachanceYeah you can feel like it's a hassle but at the end of the day, if the mine closed there would be no Kiruna, quite literally. It's not a matter of "oh it's an inconvenience, I'll have to commute somewhere else", it's too far from anywhere else to commute. Without the mine Kiruna is no more, and locals know it of course

[@TXMEDRGR]

It would be so interesting to visit Kiruna in a few years and see how the move went and what the new city is like. That teepee restaurant is very cool and the food looked delicious, a very unique experience. Thanks for sharing.

[@petereriksson7166]

What you call Teepee is called Kåta and it has been used by the Sami for a very very long time

[@stuartjgarland]

Another brilliant video Steve, thanks for bringing us along

[@dcallan812]

Loving these videos, the sound of the crunch underfoot and the scenery. Great video 2x👍

[@rabh6746]

I think our Burger vans need to take note of the sit in area Steve😉How cool was that?😁The costs of moving the city must be astronomic😱Cool video mate, makes me feel like winter has a long way to go😂

[@ParalelCosmos]

Fantastic walk through. I'd love to take that trip end of next year, so I am curious how this will all look then. Really like your approach to travel videos, well done man!

[@steve-marsh]

Hey thanks so much!

[@rossfleming9552]

Hi Steve, I stumbled upon your videos just recently (I'm a Scot living in Germany). Bingeing, as they say! In this brash world of TikTok atrocities, it's so nice to follow you around on various trains, boats and planes. Gentle, respectful and informative. The videos with Alicja are superb, too; a wonderful couple you are. Long may it continue! As a footie fan, you definitely have to a Montrose FC segment :)) All the best from Bavaria and stay warm! Cheers.

[@maryjenkins8948]

wow really great video! Your making me feel cold but what a interesting place and the snow makes it look so pretty. That burger looked good too .Enjoy and keep these adventures of yours coming Thanks

[@paulfisher2038]

Great viewing.. thank you..😊

[@kieran.stafford]

This series is incredible. There's something about that amazing low sun light with its deep warm hue against the frozen earth.

[@vivellasmum]

Fascinating! Reading everyones comments too, really interesting. Thanks for taking us here Steve, more places I won't get to see. x

[@janseger1693]

Thanx a again for a very informative and friendly KZbin video from the far north of Sweden.I took Great pleasure in watching your video. Hope you will visit more of Sweden in the future..

[@clareclark6535]

Watching straight away for a change, happy Tuesday 😊 Yeah I get what you mean BTW !

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Clare!

[@davidwelch6796]

Cold frozen hands can be helped by wearing silk under-gloves, available from good outdoor/expedition emporiums. You would be able to change your cam. battery without taking these off as they are very thin.

[@steve-marsh]

Great tip for next time I'm up there!

[@daggy1778]

dear Steve..thank you for showing us Kiruna...........Blessings and Greetings from Daggy,Kiel,Germany☘☘☘

[@wendyshort5972]

Another entertaining video. Interesting seeing the new town, all very quiet & a bit eerie. The snow drifts were deep. Loved the reindeer.

[@BristolLeathered2010]

That Church omg AMAZING , STUNNING

[@bettycollins3960]

Fascinating blog. Thank you. The tent was like a Tardis! Looked really small on the outside and when you went in, I thought you had gone through to an adjacent dining hall. Brilliant. Even your footsteps sounded cold. The saying is "mad dogs and English men go out in the noon day sun" ,well obviously it's a mad Scotsman who goes out in the frozen sun. The streets were so empty probably because everybody else was inside in the warm. Cheers from a softy southern English woman. 😊

[@boek2777]

I guess that people visiting London, Tokyo, Paris.. stay in town while people going to Juneau or Anchorage want the wilderness. Tourists in Kiruna isn't there to party but to experience the nature (outside town). I do agree that most people stay indoors. I'm from southernmost Sweden and I would never go outside if we had that climate!

[@TheLastCrusader22]

@@boek2777Although the irony is in the 3 most popular "winter resort" cities in Sweden (Sälen, Åre, Hemavan/Tärnaby) most people (most Stockholmers, anyway) are very much there to get shitfaced and sit inside 95 % of the time. Granted Kiruna is not a ski resort, but it doesn't always follow naturally that people who are tourists at a winter resort are there for the outdoors

[@freespirit6209]

Absolutely fascinating. Thanks, Steve!

[@55rimshot]

I had to find a warm jumper to wear while watching another one of your great videos!

[@remember-when-in-doubt...]

What a lovely video! 🌟 You're making me discover my own country. For anyone interested. There are flights from Stockholm to Kiruna. The flighttime is 1 hour and 40 minutes from Stockholm. Both SAS and Norwegian fly between Stockholm and Kiruna. SAS seems to have daily flights, and Norwegian a couple of times a week. I looked it up out of interest of maybe visiting myself.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers! I'll feature a flight Kiruna to Stockholm in a couple of weeks :)

[@DarylShires]

Thank you for this insight into a place I know I’ll never visit, but find fascinating. You really do help me get such a sense of almost being in the places you visit, thank you for that. BTW: here where I live, in Western Australia, last week all days over 40°C, and 2 days with max 46°C! So your “mild” day of -15°C is simply absurd to me! Cheers 🙏🏼⭐️🇦🇺🦘

[@steve-marsh]

A pleasure to send you some air conditioning :)

[@matsv201]

Well it was 40 Celsius in Kiruna as well only 2 weeks prior to Steve's visit. Well 40 below.. of cause. I think it dipped down to 52 at some places.

[@DarylShires]

@@matsv201 After reading your reply, the REALITY of imagining the “lived experience“ of such utterly cold weather leaves me wide-eyed and slack-jawed. And I don’t mean maybe. (At least I could go outside at midnight (30°C, give or take) to just… get outside!)

[@matsv201]

@hires Wait until you hear about the daycare here. 4 weeks a go daycare was complaining my doughtier (3 year old) didn´t want to be outside. I suggested that it was because it was -25 and windy. But it was clearly not the reason. the reason was apparently because the winter overall was to thin. (i don´t live that far north, it never get -40 where i live, but it can be -25 pretty often. -25 and windy, that is still rare.), Even worse, for crazy parents they have 24/7 outdoor daycare, for parents that really want to punch there kids.

[@TheLastCrusader22]

You should visit though, especially in the summer Kiruna and the Lapland region is absolutely lovely! Daylight around the clock. It can't be beaten. I sleep with no curtains or anything, taking in every bit of the light even at night because I know I have to live off it for the rest of the year

[@peterg.crosby6320]

Great video thanks for sharing it.

[@telecasterbear]

Thanks for the quality content, dear host. Your lunch stop was the best.

[@grahamleiper1538]

Think if their choice was moving the city or shutting down the mine that employs everyone they probably made the right choice.

[@junehall2177]

Another fascinating video, I learn so much, thank you.

[@jennywalsh479]

Very interesting video and love watching out of the ordinary places. What a amazing place and no doubt it would be beautiful in the summer.

[@alastairross9628]

Another great video and fascinating story about the mine. Thanks Steve.

[@louiseogilvie6239]

Amazing journey, thank you for the incredible story .

[@evintexas]

What a super video …..so informative and absolutely fascinating. Thank you.

[@roysmemorylane]

Another awesome video, Steve. TY!

[@nomdeplume2724]

Good work Steve 👍 Great video. Thank you.🤓❤

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Hi Steve. Thank you for showing us around such a fascinating city, and telling us about how it’s being moved. It’s another world. 👍😀

[@user-mx9qx5qz6s]

Thanks again Steve for another great video!👍

[@kieronheath4813]

Brilliant video, Steve! So "atmospheric".... as always, many thanks for another epic! Cheers!

[@steve-marsh]

An absolute pleasure mate!

[@simonwhitlock9189]

Yet another great piece of filming from you sir, For myself I like the modern architecture so while i do like the look of the old houses I would settle for a nice new modern flat thanks. Thanks again and stay safe and well, cheers.

[@richardkaberry8790]

Fascinating video thanks Steve. Feel like I’ve been there myself!

[@richardharrison6993]

Thanks so much for all the info. Great series of videos.

[@christopherfox735]

Great video Steve. That burger looked great. Look forward to Saturdays video.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Christopher!

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

I once watched a documentary on this town, so as soon as you mentioned it, the name started ringing a bell. Another fabulous video.

[@jeanettebonilla-olivares3250]

very interesting, I enjoyed every single crunchy step !

[@hunterfulghum7170]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Beyond that, great video. Thanks for sharing Kiruna with us.

[@jenniferlevine5406]

What an interesting place. I haven't heard of it before so great to hear about something new! Totally agree about character of the old town. Thank you again for another great video and wonderful adventure into the Arctic circle!

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Great coverage of such an off the beaten track location Steve Cheers bro stay warm

[@hungtruong87]

Love this video Steve! I'm going to Kiruna in November. Thank you for making this video 👍

[@donstravelsandrants.]

That was so interesting. Thanks Steve. 👍😊

[@susangauci3278]

That was an interesting walk .that sun coming up was magical.amazing place to eat your burger which looked mouthwatering by the way.Thanks Steve you make a walk seem so interesting .Regards from Malta

[@user-me9um1lc3j]

Loved the vlog Steve😊

[@murringo9]

Love your videos of places I'd likely never otherwise see. It's how you truly get to know a country.

[@jeanrobinson705]

Your videos are brilliant, Steve! I love it that the subtitle machine thinks that the crunching of feet on snow is applause!

[@DaveyPalmer1]

That was fascinating Steve. The irony being that by the time they get the new town finished, the parts you saw will be old!

[@steve-marsh]

Haha so true :D

[@minionbob2918]

Absolutely loved the extra sound effects of snow underfoot..... squeak crunch squeak! Love it

[@kenwallace3005]

You're doing the things I love to ,and never can .I live down under ,walking on Snow crunching under Foot,THATS MUSIC to my Ears .

[@jean-paulmasse1091]

Kiruna : amazing place. I'm not surprised they have bee obliged to move the whole town a bit further afield. Very interesting winter report. Thk U.

[@robertofraser101]

Fantastic video Steve they just getting better what a lovley place can't say same for new town

[@lauraautry6992]

It is beautiful there, the church and the reindeer 😊. That is sad about the city moving and the old one left behind. The hotel looked a a boot 😊. Thank you so much for sharing 🤗❤️

[@user-fh4yn5bv4f]

I love these videos of far out of the way places. Also love seeing beautiful and interesting places in Scotland. All your vlogs are the best!keep up the grand work. You and Scott are the only honest vlogers!

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much!

[@johnallan4826]

Very interesting vlog Steve, yes certainly old town, looking forward to warmer videos

[@steve-marsh]

The next one will be warmer, but only slightly :D

[@vanessaschofield7927]

thankyou steve looks an interesting place thsnkyou so much for sharing

[@NilsEldor]

Steve, I super enjoy your videos, actually some of the best on the net. :D Thank you.