Life in Gränslandet
Gränslandet has always been sparsely populated. But there have been times when a lot more people lived and worked here, despite no roads and a harsh climate. Their traces still remain. Be observant and you’ll see them!
The first humans
The first humans may have arrived to Gränslandet as early as 8 000 years ago. They pitched their camps in the same places that today’s visitors do.
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Reindeer herding Sami
The Sami have herded reindeer for a long time and their traditions and work are linked to the area. Read more »
Farmers and herdswomen
It’s hard to imagine how people even thought of farming and keeping cattle in Gränslandet. But there are two important reasons – population increase and Røros Copper Works. Read more »
Lumberjacks and raftsmen
Today, we perceive Gränslandet as an area without roads, but in the past water and snow were used for transport. Timber was floated and people travelled by boat, on skis and horse-drawn sleighs. Read more »
Røros Copper Works
The past operations of Røros Copper Works have left their marks on large parts of the landscape in Gränslandet. But how did it start? Read more »
Trading farmers
Farmers in Gränslandet used to travel in a long convoy of sleighs in the winter to get to Røros market. Read more »
Carl Linnaeus and the falcon catchers
When Carl Linnaeus walked to Grövelsjön in 1734, he passed two falcon catchers’ camps. Traces from these camps are found just below Store Svuku. Read more »
Stor-Hans and Jo-Larsa – recluses in Femundsmarka
No one really knows why Stor-Hans wandered into Femundsmarka. He had walked out on his wife and children, leaving them behind in Sweden. The first years he shared the forests with Jo-Larsa. Read more »
Olava – a strong radiant woman
Olava Femundshytta was named after the farm where she lived all her life, by Lake Femunden. Up until the 1970s she looked after herself and her cattle with irrepressible good humour.
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Signe Danielsen – the strength and patience of a mountain
She was only 140 centimetres tall, but stood firmly on the alpine heaths in Femundsmarka. Signe Danielsen herded deer on her own for months, cut timber, snared ptarmigan, fished and picked berries. Read more »
Legendary fly-fishers
Fell walkers and anglers have been attracted to Gränslandet since the 19th century. One of those who made the area famous far outside Scandinavia was Nils Färnström. Read more »
Reading tip
Borgos, R. & Spangen, A. 2002: På Sta’a og uti markom. Amund Spangen, eget förlag.
Ljung, T. 2004: Ödebygdsminnen. Berättelser om människorna nord i marken. Länsstyrelsen i Dalarnas län.