Kiruna

Kiruna, city in northern Sweden, in Norrbotten County. With an area of 19,447 sq km (about 7508 sq mi), Kiruna is Sweden's largest city. Kiruna straddles the world's largest known concentration of high-grade iron ore, which is transported by rail for export and domestic production into quality steel products. Established during the late 1890s when systematic mining operations began, Kiruna was incorporated in 1949. It encompasses a mountainous region in the west populated by Saami and an urban district on the shores of Lake Luossajärvi dominated by the mining industry. Population (2001 estimate) 23,844.