Peer over the edge into the open-pit mine at Falu Gruva. Today, Stora Stöten, with a depth of almost 100 meters, is home to the provincial animal of Dalarna, the Eurasian eagle-owl.
The Great Collapse of 1687 is one of the most famous events in the history of the Falu Mine. The miners noticed that the mountain had started to make strange and worrying noises. True to their instincts, during the Midsummer weekend that year, the largest collapse ever occurred. Above ground, there were two large open-pit mines and their walls collapsed. Underground, debris was found as deep as 350 meters below the surface.
Stora Stöten, with a circumference of 1.6 kilometers and a depth of 95 meters, was what emerged afterwards. The event became famous throughout Sweden and even in Europe, because not a single miner lost their life—they had been given the day off to celebrate Midsummer!
Keep an eye out for the Eurasian Eagle-Owl!
Today, more than 300 years later, there is a vantage point at the edge of Stora Stöten. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, one of the world's largest owls, nesting in the pit.
In the lookout area, there are binoculars pointed towards the owls' nesting box on a cliff ledge in the pit.
Feel free to take a walk around the open-pit mine and enjoy the view over Falun. You will pass a number of historic buildings and can read about the mine's history along the way.
The Great Collapse of 1687 is one of the most famous events in the history of the Falu Mine. The miners noticed that the mountain had started to make strange and worrying noises. True to their instincts, during the Midsummer weekend that year, the largest collapse ever occurred. Above ground, there were two large open-pit mines and their walls collapsed. Underground, debris was found as deep as 350 meters below the surface.
Stora Stöten, with a circumference of 1.6 kilometers and a depth of 95 meters, was what emerged afterwards. The event became famous throughout Sweden and even in Europe, because not a single miner lost their life—they had been given the day off to celebrate Midsummer!
Keep an eye out for the Eurasian Eagle-Owl!
Today, more than 300 years later, there is a vantage point at the edge of Stora Stöten. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, one of the world's largest owls, nesting in the pit.
In the lookout area, there are binoculars pointed towards the owls' nesting box on a cliff ledge in the pit.
Feel free to take a walk around the open-pit mine and enjoy the view over Falun. You will pass a number of historic buildings and can read about the mine's history along the way.
