Stora Blåsjön

View of Stora Blåsjön

Stora Blåsjön (English: Big Blue Lake) is a town in Frostviken, Strömsund Municipality, Jämtland, Sweden. The town is known for its wilderness and skiing opportunities. The Vildmarksvägen, a 360 kilometres (220 mi) wilderness road, bypasses the town.[1] In 1971 the town received national publicity when about 20 copper mine workers went on a hunger strike. Stora Blåsjön also has a moose farm and a school museum.[2][3]

Location

Stora Blåsjön is located about 280 kilometres (170 mi) north of Östersund and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Sweden's border with Norway.[2] The Vildmarksvägen passes from the north of Stora Blåsjön and motorists driving to the village using the wilderness road first encounter the lake, which mirrors the nearby Mesklumpen mountain that is situated in close proximity to the town.[2][4]

History

The town was founded in 1799 by a farmer from Norway and another from the town of Jormvattnet. During the 1950s, the town had about 200 people, the highest number of permanent residents in Stora Blåsjön's entire history. As of July 2010, the town had 78 residents.[5]

Stora Blåsjön became nationally known in 1971 when about 20 workers from the copper mine in Stekenjokk went on a hunger strike in the town after not being paid for their work at the mine.[6]

Description

The town has a local shop, gas station, restaurant, cafe, hairdresser, and moose farm.[2] Chalet rental is available and there is a ski lift.[7][8]

The lake beside the town is known for its trout fishing.[9] The lake is divided into two segments, Stora Blåsjön and Lilla Blåsjön (English: Little Blue Lake). The rivers Ankarälven and Lejarälven are tributaries to the lake. The level of the lake is artificially adjusted by allowing water to flow out. The water outflow passes through Blåsjöälven and is further directed through an underground waterway to the generating station at Blåsjöfallet, finally draining into Lake Stor-Jorm. Local fish species include trout and charr.[2]

Attractions

Around Stora Blåsjön there is a lot of wilderness where guests can go on walks, hunt, or fish.[8][10] The waterfall of Brakkåfallet is located on the route of the Vildmarksvägen between Stora Blåsjön and Jorm.[11] Sweden's longest cave, the Korallgrottan (English: Coral cave) is found between Stora Blåsjön and Ankarvattnet along Vildmarksvägen.[12]

In spring, summer and on holidays, the town's residency increases with guests arriving to occupy the chalets.[13] Skiing at Stora Blåsjön is done at the Mesklumpen mountain site, which features a drop of 525 metres (1,722 ft) and is in fourth place amongst the top skiing sites of Sweden,[8] after Åre, Hemavan and Björkliden.[8]

A moose farm, called "Mountain Moose", is located in the center of town.[7] The farm features guided tours during which a family of moose led by two moose called Hilda and Herbert is introduced to visitors.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Vildmarksvägen: the Wilderness Way | Swedish Lapland Guide". Rough Guides. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Stora Blåsjöns Hemsida Blåsjön I". Blasjon.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2013-11-28. Stora Blåsjön is situated approx. 280km north of Östersund and 6 km from the Norwegian border.[...] There is a moose-farm with a café and a small school museum.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Moose Farm". Blasjon.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2013-11-28. The Moose Farm is situated in Stora Blåsjön. A pair of moose named Hilda and Herbert and their calves reside here in an enclosed stretch of woodland.
  4. ↑ "Stora Blåsjön". Blasjon.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  5. ↑ "Stora Blåsjön – den vackra byn vid Vildmarksvägen - Familjenytt" (in Swedish). op.se. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 2013-11-28. På 1950-talet var byn som störst med 200 invånare.[...] Nu bor här 78 personer. (Now living here 78 persons)
  6. ↑ "Strejken i Blåsjön - vem tappade bort brevet?". SVT.se. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Mountain Moose official website". Mountainmoose.se. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Stora Blåsjön - WELCOME TO OUR PARADISE FOR ALL SEASONS". Storablasjon.se. Retrieved 2013-11-28. With an impressive 525 metres of vertical drop, Mesklumpen ranks fourth after classic Swedish ski resorts like Åre, Hemavan and Björkliden.
  9. ↑ "Jakten på Stora Blåsjöns beryktade storöringar". Östersund. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  10. ↑ Lundin, Anders. "Jakten på Stora Blåsjöns beryktade storöringar - Strömsund" (in Swedish). op.se. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  11. ↑ "Hällingsåfallet". Vildmarksvägen.
  12. ↑ "Korallgrottan". Vildmarksvägen.
  13. ↑ "Salong Fjällslingan Ann-Louise Persson, Stora blåsjön, Frisörer, hårvård" (in Swedish). Clearsearch.se. Retrieved 2013-11-28.

Coordinates: 64°50′13″N 14°04′59″E / 64.837°N 14.083°E