Mora (locality)

Mora
Zorn Museum in Mora
Mora
Coordinates: 61°01′N 14°32′E / 61.017°N 14.533°E / 61.017; 14.533Coordinates: 61°01′N 14°32′E / 61.017°N 14.533°E / 61.017; 14.533
Country	Sweden
Province	Dalarna
County	Dalarna County
Municipality	Mora Municipality
Area[1]
- Total	12.35 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Population (2005-12-31)[1]
- Total	10,940
- Density	886/km2 (2,294.7/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	http://www.mora.se/

Mora is a locality and the seat of Mora Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 10,940 inhabitants in 2005.^[1]

History

There are signs of human activity in the surroundings of Mora dating from 4000 B.C. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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^{[citation needed]} meteor impact crater (Siljansringen).

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

Culture

Midsummer Dance by Anders Zorn, 1897

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 church of Mora 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 picturing Anders 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.

Sports

Ice hockey

Mora IK played a couple of seasons in Elitserien, 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.

Cycling

The VasaTrampet 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.

Craftmanship

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.

In Mora, the high quality and inexpensive morakniv are produced.

Notes

Mora as a municipality never received the title of a city (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.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 2000 och 2005" (in Swedish) (xls). Statistics Sweden. http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%c3%a4torternami0810tab1.xls. Retrieved 2009-04-18.