Mora, Sweden

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 Zorns gammelgård ("Zorn's old homestead").

Mora parish was established in the 13th century.

In late 1520, Gustav Vasa 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 place for 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 and southern Sweden where they learnt new craftman 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 of clocks, sewing machines, knives 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 (Siljansringen).

The northern part of the municipality marks the beginning of the Scandinavian mountain range.

Climate

Mora has a cold version of the humid continental climate, 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 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 2015, the mildest January was 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in 1989 and the coldest −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) during the record-breaking deep freeze of 1987, just two years earlier.

Midsummer

As the rest of the municipalities around Lake Siljan, also in Mora, the summer solstice celebration of Midsummer plays an important role in the cultural life. People dress up in traditional folk costumes, raise maypoles, play traditional music and dance around the maypole.

Anders Zorn

The house where Swedish painter Anders Zorn was born in 1860 is located next to the Mora Church and is open to the public. A museum containing many of his works of art has been built next door.

Statues

A statue of King Gustav Vasa, made by Zorn, is placed on a small hill at the finishing line of Vasaloppet 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 clock tower.

Local Music

Mora is home to many members of Swedish folk band Francis.

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.

Ice hockey

Mora IK played a couple of seasons in Elitserien (presently Swedish Hockey League), the highest Swedish ice hockey league. Currently the team plays in the second league Hockeyallsvenskan.

Skiing

Mora is also known as the finish of the annual Vasaloppet, a 90 kilometer cross country skiing 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 Vasaloppetweek in the beginning of March.

Golf

Mora has an 18-hole golf course located at sandängarna in Mora.

Cycling

The "Cykelvasan" is a summer version of the Vasaloppet with its start and finish in Mora.

Football

IFK Mora FK are based in Mora.

Tournaments

Mora played host to 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, 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.