Arctic Environment Ministers met in the mines of Kiruna, Sweden, February 2013
The Kiruna mine, where in February 2013 the Arctic Environmental Ministers met, is the largest and most modern underground iron ore mine in the world. The mine is located in Kiruna in Norrbotten County, Lapland. The mine which is owned by Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB, a large Swedish mining company, has an annual production capacity of over 26 million tonnes of iron ore. In 2008 the mine produced 27.5 million tonnes of iron ore. The Kiruna mine has an ore body which is 4 kilometres long, 80 metres to 120 metres thick and reaching a depth of up to 2 kilometres. Since mining began at the site in 1898, the mine has produced over 950 million tonnes of ore. Arctic environment ministers met in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, 5-6 February, for a meeting focused on actions to address the rapid environmental changes in the Arctic. Some of the main themes were climate change and ocean acidification, preventing contamination in the Arctic, biodiversity, and ecosystem based management. Arctic Council assessments and projects were used as starting points for many of the discussions.
Year: 2013
From album: Rovaniemi, Circumpolar Arctic Environmental Cooperation and Arctic Council
Photographer: Peter Prokosch