Mora is a
locality and the seat of
Mora Municipality in
Dalarna County
Dalarna County () is a county or '' län'' in central Sweden (Svealand). It borders on the counties of Uppsala, Jämtland, Gävleborg, Västmanland, Örebro and Värmland. It also borders on the Norwegian counties of Hedmark and Trøndelag to ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
, with 10,896 inhabitants in 2010.
History
There are signs of human activity in the surroundings of Mora dating from 4000 BC. The earliest found buildings in Mora are from the 7th century. Some of the buildings can today be found in Mora's
open-air museum
An open-air museum is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts outdoors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum.
Definition
Open air is "the unconfined atmosphere ... outside buildings" ...
''Zorns gammelgård'' ("Zorn's old homestead").
Mora parish was established in the 13th century.
In late 1520,
Gustav Vasa
Gustav Eriksson Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September 1560), also known as Gustav I, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560. He was previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm (''Reichsverweser#Sweden, Riksföreståndare'') fr ...
stopped in Mora, in order to organize a rebellion against the Danish troops which occupied Sweden. The citizens of Mora first declined to help Gustav Vasa, but later changed their minds and sought Gustav Vasa when he was about to cross the
Norwegian border. According to the legend two men from Mora (Lars Jakobsson and Engelbrekt Jonsson) caught up with Gustav Vasa in
Sälen and told him his people would now fight with him. The rebellion managed to
overthrow the Danish government in Sweden and Gustav Vasa was installed as king of Sweden.
In the 17th century, it was the location of the famous
Mora witch trial.
During the 18th century the area around Mora was struck by famine, and many citizens abandoned their homes. Most went to
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
and southern Sweden where they learnt new craftsman skills. Returning to Mora they used their new knowledge to build up new industries. During the end of the 18th century and the 19th,
cottage industries
The putting-out system is a means of subcontracting work, like a tailor. Historically, it was also known as the workshop system and the domestic system. In putting-out, work is contracted by a central agent to subcontractors who complete the p ...
of
clocks,
sewing machine
Diagram of a modern sewing machine
Animation of a modern sewing machine as it stitches
A sewing machine is a machine used to sew fabric and materials together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolutio ...
s,
knives
A knife (: knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidenced ...
and
water taps were important to the economy. Water taps and knives are still thriving industries.
Geography
Mora is located between the northern shore of lake
Siljan and the southern shore of lake
Orsasjön where the
Österdal River enters Siljan. Mora lies on the west side of Europe's largest meteor
impact crater
An impact crater is a depression (geology), depression in the surface of a solid astronomical body formed by the hypervelocity impact event, impact of a smaller object. In contrast to volcanic craters, which result from explosion or internal c ...
(
Siljansringen).
The northern part of the municipality marks the beginning of the
Scandinavian mountain range.
Climate
Mora has a cool and maritime version of the
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...
, where it is at the periphery of the northern zone. Non-subarctic climates in inland areas at north of the
61st parallel are very rare and can be attributed to the warming influence of the
North Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for ...
air masses. Being located at some distance from the four largest lakes, the Atlantic and the Baltic seas, Mora has a more continental climate than the major cities of Sweden, with relatively warm summers but with high variability between cold and milder winters. As of 2021, the mildest January was in 2020 and the coldest during the record-breaking deep freeze of 1987.
Culture
Midsummer
As the rest of the municipalities around Lake Siljan, also in Mora, the
summer solstice
The summer solstice or estival solstice occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere ( Northern and Southern). The summer solstice is the day with the longest peri ...
celebration of
Midsummer
Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer, taking place on or near the date of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere; the longest Daytime, day of the year. The name "midsummer" mainly refers to summer solstice festivals of Eu ...
plays an important role in the cultural life. People dress up in traditional
folk costume
Folk costume, traditional dress, traditional attire or folk attire, is clothing of an ethnic group, nation or region, and expresses cultural, religious or national identity. An ethnic group's clothing may also be called ethnic clothing or ethnic ...
s, raise
maypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European List of folk festivals, folk festivals, around which a maypole dance often takes place.
The festivals may occur on May Day, 1 May or Pentecost (Whitsun), although in some co ...
s, play traditional music and dance around the maypole.
Anders Zorn
The house where Swedish painter
Anders Zorn
Anders Leonard Zorn (18 February 1860 – 22 August 1920) was a Swedish artist who attained international success as a painter, sculptor, and etching artist. His portrait subjects include King Oscar II of Sweden and three President of the Un ...
lived in, together with his wife Emma, is located next to the
Mora Church
Mora Church () is a church (building), church building in Mora, Sweden, Mora in Sweden. It belongs to Mora Parish of the Church of Sweden. It famous for being seen near the Vasaloppet finish line. The size and opulence of the church building, as ...
and is open to the public. A
museum
A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...
containing many of his works of art has been built next door.
Right outside of Mora, in the Utmeland village, is the house Zorn was born in.
Statues
A statue of King
Gustav Vasa
Gustav Eriksson Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September 1560), also known as Gustav I, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560. He was previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm (''Reichsverweser#Sweden, Riksföreståndare'') fr ...
, made by Zorn, is placed on a small hill at the finishing line of
Vasaloppet
(Swedish language, Swedish for 'the Vasa race') is an annual long distance cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March. The course starts in the village of :sv:Berga, Malung-Sälens kommun, Berga, jus ...
in Mora. Another statue depicting Zorn is located in the park behind the district court house of Mora. A third statue of a
cross country skier is placed in front of the municipal house next to the town's characteristic red wooden bell tower (Swedish: Klocka).
Local Music
Mora is home to many members of Swedish
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk horror
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Fo ...
band
Francis
Francis may refer to:
People and characters
*Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025)
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Francis (surname)
* Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...
. Mora is also where singer-songwriter
Winona Oak grew up.
Mora clock
Gustavian
Mora clock are a type of longcase clock which were made in the town of Mora. Production began in the late 18th century and continued through most of the 19th finally succumbing to the increased competition from newer styles and cheaper mass production methods. Mora Fontaineece's namesake comes from the beautifully manufactured Mora clocks.
Sports
Ice hockey
Mora IK
Mora IK (or Mora Ishockeyklubb) is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Mora in northern Dalarna. After failing the 2019 SHL qualifiers, Mora has been relegated for play in the second-tier league, HockeyAllsvenskan. Mora has previously p ...
plays in
HockeyAllsvenskan
HockeyAllsvenskan (previously Allsvenskan and SuperAllsvenskan) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league, and the second-highest league in the Swedish ice hockey system, after the Swedish Hockey League, SHL. Since the 2009–10 season, t ...
, the second-highest Swedish
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
league.
Skiing
Mora is also known as the finish of the annual
Vasaloppet
(Swedish language, Swedish for 'the Vasa race') is an annual long distance cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March. The course starts in the village of :sv:Berga, Malung-Sälens kommun, Berga, jus ...
, a 90 kilometre
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...
event held in the honour of Gustav Vasa. The competition is visited by more than 48,000 annual participants in all the skiing events throughout the Vasaloppet week in the beginning of March.
Golf
Mora has an 18-hole golf course located at
sandängarna in Mora and an 18 hole, Jeremy Turner designed tournament length course on Sollerön. http://www.solgolf.se/
Cycling
The "Cykelvasan" is a summer version of the Vasaloppet with its start and finish in Mora. During June we also have the famous "Siljanrunt" road races, attracting top European cyclists over three stages 70, 120 and 160 km with all races commencing and finishing on Sollerön.
Football
IFK Mora FK are based in Mora.
Tournaments
Mora played host to
2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (''2007 WJHC'') was the 2007 edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship and was held in Mora and Leksand, Sweden between December 26, 2006 and January 5, 2007. The venues were FM Mattsson ...
, held in
FM Mattsson Arena. Another sporting event is
1984 World's Strongest Man.
Economy
The town of Mora is well known for its craft products. A famous Swedish souvenir, ''
dalahäst'', a wooden horse, is produced in the village
Nusnäs just outside Mora.
The high quality yet inexpensive
Mora knives are made in Mora.
Steel production company
Ovako has a production site in Mora.
Mora is the terminus of the Mora-Uppsala Railway, also known as
Dala Line
The Dala Line () is a single-track railway line in Sweden, linking the city of Uppsala to the town of Mora, via Sala, Avesta-Krylbo, Hedemora, Säter, Borlänge and Leksand. In Uppsala, the line joins the East Coast Line, which goes south t ...
.
Notable people
*
Joacim Cans
Joacim Cans (born 19 February 1970) is a Swedish singer, best known as the lead vocalist of power metal band HammerFall. He is the only member aside from founder and guitarist Oscar Dronjak to appear on all of the band's albums.
Cans attended ...
(born 1970), lead singer of Power Metal band
HammerFall
HammerFall is a Swedish power metal band from Gothenburg. The band was formed in 1993 by ex- Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak. They have released thirteen studio albums.
History
Early days (1993–1996)
HammerFall was formed when g ...
*
Christina Garsten (born 1962), social anthropologist
*
Jon Olsson (born 1982), professional freeskier and alpine ski racer
*
Sven Ivar Seldinger
Sven Ivar Seldinger (19 April 1921 – 21 February 1998), was a radiology, radiologist from Mora Municipality, Sweden. In 1953, he introduced the Seldinger technique to obtain safe access to blood vessels and other hollow organ (anatomy), organs.
...
(1921-1998) Sweden Radiologist from Mora who investigates the "Seldinger technique" for angio catheterizations.
Notes
Mora as a
''municipality'' never received the title of a
city
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
(''stad'') before the local government reform of 1971, but as the population exceeds 10,000 the
''locality'' is today counted as a city by
Statistics Sweden
Statistics Sweden ( ; SCB, ) is the Swedish government agency operating under the Ministry of Finance and responsible for producing official statistics for decision-making, debate and research. The agency's responsibilities include:
* developin ...
.
In the comic series ''
Stand Still, Stay Silent'' by
Minna Sundberg, Mora is featured as the capital of post-apocalyptic
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
.
References
{{authority control
Municipal seats of Dalarna County
Swedish municipal seats
Populated lakeshore places in Sweden
Populated places in Mora Municipality, Sweden
Market towns in Sweden