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Porjus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Porjus is a small town in Jokkmokk Municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden, with a population of 380 inhabitants. Geographically it is situated by the shores of Lule River at 499 meter height; coordinates .
Porjus is known for having one of the oldest hydropower plants in Sweden, built 1910-1915. The power plant was built to deliver electricity to the building of the railroad between Luleå and Narvik, where the mining industry shipped iron ore.
Today, Porjus is a living town and the old power plant is a popular tourist attraction among many others. Swedish power company Vattenfall is the biggest employer, but there are also a number of smaller companies such as the small aviation company Fiskflyg, which offered the first regular passenger flights in Sweden back in the days (the route: Porjus - Suorva). There is also a unique golf course (you play across the Lule river, next to a big dam), a small downhill skiing course, snowmobile routes, small shops, a 50 kilometers long walking trail from Gällivare, used by the workers to carry building material 90 years ago, and a unique photo gallery which has aurora borealis as its specialty.
Porjus was the home of the online artists Lagoona between the years 1996-2004. Singer Birgitta Svendén and the current MD of major Swedish technology company Ericsson, Carl-Henric Svanberg, are two other well-known persons who was born in Porjus.
Porjus is also the last stop before you enter Laponia area, a UNESCO world heritage area which includes four national parks.