Porjus
Porjus is a locality situated in Jokkmokk Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 328 inhabitants in 2010. Geographically it is situated by the shores of Lule River at 499 meter height.
Porjus is known for having one of the oldest hydropower plants in Sweden, built 1910–1915. The power plant was built to deliver electricity to the building of the railroad between Luleå and Narvik, where the mining industry shipped iron ore.
Today, Porjus is a living village and the old power plant is a popular tourist attraction among many others. Swedish power company Vattenfall is the biggest employer, but there are also a number of smaller companies such as the small aviation company , which offered the first regular passenger flights in Sweden back in the days. There is also a unique golf course, a small downhill skiing course, snowmobile routes, small shops, a 50 kilometer long walking trail from Gällivare, used by the workers to carry building material 90 years ago, and a unique which has aurora borealis as its specialty.
Porjus was the home of the online artists Lagoona between the years 1996–2004. Singer Birgitta Svendén and the former MD of major Swedish technology company Ericsson, Carl-Henric Svanberg, now chairman of BP, are two other well-known persons who were born in Porjus.
Porjus is also the last stop before you enter Laponia area, a UNESCO world heritage area which includes four national parks.
In October 1944, an Avro Lancaster bomber crash landed in nearby marshes after bombing the during Operation Obviate. After crash landing, the crew sold the fuel and set fire to Lancaster NF920. They were unable to destroy the entire airplane so much of it still lies in the marshes of Sweden.
