A city in Lapland moves location

This is Kiruna, a city in Lapland, Sweden. The whole city and its people are moving down the road.

Kiruna city began over 100 years ago. It grew because of the metal, iron. Iron ore was in the ground, under the city. But today, the buildings are dangerous. The iron ore mines mean Kiruna isn't safe. In 2007, local people and experts decided to move it.

The new city will be better for the environment. But as before, the church will be at its centre. It's a beautiful, wooden building and it's 113 years old. People were interested in the move.

Stig Wiik: "We were walking ar, ar, beside the, the church, yes. And I think it's very special, special - spectular! It's very spectular to, to move a church with so much high - weight. 672 tonnes, I heard."

Kiruna's church only moved 5 kilometres. But it wasn't easy. The church weighed 672 tonnes. Engineers had to take down traffic lights, for example. They put the church on 224 wheels. The church went slowly. It moved at 500 metres an hour.

The project manager was very happy at the end.

Stefan Holmblad Johansson: "I'm, I'm so glad. It's feel fantastic that we had the church on its new spot. And it had gone so well - exactly how we have planned. So, I've been calm during those days, but now I feel so happy and relieved, anyway."

The builders will now prepare the ground. They'll use concrete to make it safe. Then, they'll put the church in its new home. View Less