Newsletter A Historic Moving Process
The historical move and lift of the old Kiruna church in the Swedish Arctic. (Photo: Arne O. Holm)
Dear reader. We are present in the northern Swedish mining town Kiruna to observe a brave, outlandish and historic moving process of an entire city in order to make room for mining. A 115-year-old church, weighing over 600 tonnes, was the icing on the cake. Together with shipping, security policy, climate change and energy, these are the latest news from the Arctic.
But let's start at the seaside.
A Chinese shipping company is set to launch the first liner-type container shipping route via the Arctic.
On Sunday, the Norwegian research vessel R/V Kronprins Haakon set sail for the Arctic Ocean to gather geological samples from the past to better understand what the future in the Arctic may look like.
Things did not go as planned with the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, which faces criticism after canceling a voyage through the Northwest Passage.
Relocating a city
In an unprecedented move, an entire city in Northern Sweden was relocated in order to make room for its iron ore mine. On Tuesday morning, it was the 115-year-old church's turn. Our Editor, Arne O. Holm, has documented the over 600-ton move in Kiruna.
We can also present a photo series from the remnants of the city.
The Alaska Summit
“The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska took place in the American Arctic for purely practical, not political reasons”, writes commentator Arne O. Holm.
As the Trump-Putin summit took place in Alaska, Russian gas carriers in the Barents Sea simultaneously lifted their anchors after months of inactivity. A coincidence? Our investigative reporter, Malte Humpert, digs into the story.
Defense news
Heavy investments are made into the defense of the North. Canadian forces will be deployed in more Arctic operations, and the temporary premises of NATO's third Combined Air Operations Center will be ready in Bodø, Northern Norway, already in October.
Norway, Sweden, and Finland recently welcomed heads of logistics in the US Armed Forces, focusing on the Cap of the North. (Norwegian only)
High tension and aviation
During her stay in Anchorage, journalist Hilde Bye met with the founder and CEO of the Arctic Encounter Summit, who shares reflections on organizing the major Arctic conference during a year that included a postponement and changing geopolitical dynamics.
Read about this and more at High North News. Feel free to share the newsletter with other interested parties.
Arctic greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen