A Swedish city, Kiruna, has been slowly relocating its structures for over 20 years to avoid the dangers of ground subsidence and collapses caused by the world’s largest underground iron mine. Located 145 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Kiruna is moving building by building, street by street. In August 2025, its historic red wooden church was relocated over a 5-kilometer route using a convoy of 224 wheels. The relocation project, which began in 2004, is expected to continue until 2035, forcing the community to rethink its identity and its relationship with the land. Kiruna was established over a century ago due to the Kiirunavaara iron deposit, which supplies 80% of Europe’s iron production. The mine, operated by the company LKAB, has now reached depths of 1,365 meters, with some areas going as deep as 1,775 meters. Swedish law prohibits mining under inhabited areas, so the city’s relocation became necessary. In 2004, LKAB announced the relocation to continue extracting iron from beneath the city. An international architecture competition was held to design the new city center, which officially opened in September 2022. The relocation of Kiruna Church, built between 1909 and 1912, was a major event. Weighing 672 tons, the church was moved at a speed of 0.5 kilometers per hour along a 5-kilometer route to the new city center. The operation, carried out by the Dutch company Mammoet, cost 500 million Swedish kronor (around 44.8 million euros) and was funded by LKAB. The event was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf and broadcast live on Swedish television. Before the move, the church was blessed by Bishop Åsa Nyström and priest Lena Tjärnberg. The church is one of a dozen historical buildings moved, with a total of 23 historical buildings already relocated before it. Some have been moved intact, while others have been demolished and rebuilt stone by stone. Around forty buildings designated as “national cultural heritage” are affected by the relocation plan. The schedule has extended beyond initial expectations, with the project expected to continue until 2035. Not everyone supports the relocation efforts. While LKAB has offered financial compensation to affected residents, many remain dissatisfied. A local podcast hosted by two residents has been critical of the mining company, calling for the community to renegotiate its relationship with the land. The church is expected to reopen at its new location in 2026, while the old Kiruna, now largely empty, is set to be completely swallowed by the mine’s underground tunnels.