If, for instance, you lived in Kiruna in the north of Sweden, not only would you have to live in, well, northern Sweden*, but your town might be sinking into the earth:
“The town of Kiruna in remote northern Sweden is seeking a new home before the earth swallows it up.
Its centre is in danger of sliding down a hole left by the iron ore mines which put this Arctic outpost on the map a century ago. (…)
But Karl Wikstrom, a spokesman for the state-owned LKAB iron ore company, said the town’s inhabitants faced no immediate threat from the hole carved out by mines more than a kilometre under their feet.
The relocation of the city’s centre would happen gradually over the next decade, he said.
Most houses in the affected area will be loaded onto large trailers and driven to a new location nearby.
Moving the city hall, however, may require more effort.
“We have to cut it into six pieces. And then we find somewhere to put it for another 100 years,” Mr Wikstrom said.
A similar solution may have to be devised for the town’s wooden church that dates back to 1913.”
The residents of Kiruna seem to be taking it well, though:
“”Yes, they have to move the town a little bit,” Lena Johansson from the local tourist office said.
But, she said, the town owes its existence to the mines, so its residents are happy to move house to keep the industry alive.”
* For the record, I am reliably informed that Northern Sweden is a lovely place, full of rugged mountains and reindeer and charming Lapps. I just don’t think that even that would make up for the temperature and the fact that it’s dark all winter.
I blame the Dero.
Yeah, but they have a kick-a** ice hotel.
Maybe they’d like to resettle in Playas, New Mexico.
“So the residents of Playas, all 50 or so of those remaining from the peak of 1,000, say they are more than ready for their town to become a target for pickups laden with explosives and simulations of suicide bombs, water-supply poisoning and anthrax attacks.”
For the record, I am reliably informed that Northern Sweden is a lovely place, full of rugged mountains and reindeer and charming Lapps.
Nitpick – the preferred term for Lapps is the Sami. Kind of an Eskimo vs. Inuit thing.
Thanks — I had no idea. (I’m half Swedish, but I was last there about 20 years ago, so I’m out of touch.)
The movement of the town does not sound like much. Wait until they have to move the Empire State building in about 135 years. lgl
Curious that the very thing that put them on the map is now going to take them right back off it.
Sounds kind of like a Swedish Centralia.
We had a (smaller) incident like this in Austria a few years ago in Lassing. See here.
In other swedish news, have a look at this link.