Where the river meets the sea - Kalix

Where the river meets the sea

Where the river meets the sea
is where you’ll always find us. In Kalix, our home town.
It has been here for 600 years or more.
Proud of its jealously-guarded setting in a river valley by a northern sea,
it relishes the best of both its worlds. And so our narrative begins.
Lean back, and let us tell you our story.

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ur tale begins at the foot of Kebnekaise, Sweden’s
highest mountain. There, in Northern Europe’s last
undisturbed natural wilderness in the Swedish mountains,
is the source of the mighty Kalix River. Ever since the
inland ice retreated 10,000 years ago gouging deep furrows through the wilderness
as it went, the river has run freely from the mountainous North, southeast to the
Kalix River is born at the foot of Kebnekaise,
Sweden’s highest mountain (2,104 m AMSL).
sea. 430 kilometers of pure elemental power, wild and untamed. One of Sweden’s
four protected National Rivers.
On its way through Swedish Lapland the river joins the Tärendö, which links
to the Torne River. These impressive waterways embrace a number of tributaries,
among others the Kaitum, Ängesån and Narkån.
The rich, pure waters of the river bring to mind life’s eternal cycle.
It is a natural resource we look after with great care.

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t h e r i v e r is the lifeblood of Kalix, brimming with vigour and vitality. For thousands
of years it has given generously of its riches and it has become a natural part of our
everyday lives. For centuries the river was the
chief means of travel, winter and summer alike.
Pioneers trudged across the thick ice in their
search for freedom and their own wee bit of
land. Timber was floated from vast forests all
Kalix River is also famous for its f i s h i n g . There is an abundance
of grayling, charr and trout. And naturally plenty of perch and
more than just a few pike. But the greatest challenge has always
been the salmon. Every June, around midsummer, they run up
the river from the sea on their way to the spawning grounds.
In former times every village along the river had its own salmon
fishing rights – of great importance for the villagers’ sustenance.
Grayling tastes best when you
catch it yourself.
At Vassholmen, where timber was sorted back in the days
of rafting, peace now reigns.
the way downstream to the log sorting station
by the sea.
Today, sport fishing dominates and attracts enthusiasts from every corner of the globe
on their quests for exhilarating fishing duels in the river’s foaming rapids.
The forest and its timber have always been important for Kalix. A natural resource
that we treat with great respect and understanding.
f o r e s t r y and wood processing, sawmills
and joinery shops play a decisive part
in the welfare of the community still today.
Rafting workers at the Korpikå dam in the 1930s.
We ought to mention l o g g i n g and rafting. A racy,
colourful epoch that lived on right up until 1977. The log
sorting station on Vassholmen island, just before the river
meets the sea, was the destination for all the timber rafted
on the Kalix River. During the 80 years the business operated
High technology and impressive craftsmanship
turn our northern timber into first-class building
materials and modern, Scandinavian furnishings.
Trees grow slowly here, to become raw materials
of the highest quality.
on Vassholmen, thousands of people from the entire river valley worked together sorting
hundreds of millions of logs. Why not take the ferry Lill-Emma to the historically and
culturally interesting Vassholmen and learn more about the logging epoch.

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Summer in Kalix is one long, bright day thanks
to the midnight sun. Some days the river is
serene and tranquil. On others, playful and lively.
The river always presents a changing face.
It has a magic you must see to believe.
Every August we celebrate National River Day. At dusk people gather along the shores of the river and light fires in the mild, late summer evening
and pay homage to the clear, free waters. Take the ferry Lill-Emma to Vassholmen to experience this historically and culturally interesting island.

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We put k a l i x right in the spot where the river
meets the sea. It is a place of natural beauty in a
fertile, rolling and sometimes dramatic landscape,
rich in waters and life.
The mediaeval Kalix Church was consecrated in 1472.
The Kalix mentality is open and harmonious.
We sing in praise of our unhurried lives. We take time for ourselves, and we take
time for you. Perhaps this is a result of living so closely to, and with, nature; the
river takes its time, as do the forests and the sea. In short, there’s plenty of time and
space to breathe in. Far away from stress and strain.
For the Kalix fishing fleet at Storön with its centuries-old
traditions, the year starts in September when the whitefish
vendace spawn. This glittering, silver fish thrives in the brackish
waters of the Gulf of Bothnia, where unique conditions
exist to turn the fish’s roe into the region’s exlusive caviar –
k a l i x l ö j r o m . A premium, origin-protected product with
Kalixlöjrom. Always on
the menu at the splendid
Grand Hôtel in Stockholm.
the same star status as Champagne, Parma ham and Dijon mustard, in demand
at the finest restaurants and in exclusive gourmet circles worldwide.
Fishing is an old tradition in Kalix.
Storön is the base for part of the
fishing fleet still today.
The Skagsudden lighthouse, Storön.

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Filipsborg’s Mansion was home to sawmill
owner Per-Adolf Svanberg, the founder of
Båtskärsnäs sawmill in 1868. During the
1980s the mansion stood unoccupied and
fell into disrepair. It has been renovated
and is now a listed building.
Today Filipsborg Mansion houses a
restaurant and conference facilities.
Fishing tackle and hoop nets waiting for summer. Where the heavens meet the sea lies rugged, charming Malören, home to the lighthouse since 1851.
Midnight sun brings life to the skerries. Summer on Kalix Likskär.

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Are you amazed by all the great estates around Kalix? Nowhere else in Swedish Lapland
is there such a concentration of country mansions as here. They let us understand that
Kalix was a rich district. The riches were gathered from Swedish Laplands natural resources;
the forests, the rivers and the sea. These days
There are a few more places you should not
miss when you visit Kalix.
With all its picturesque skerries and shallowwater
beaches, t h e a r c h i p e l a g o is a must.
some of the old mansions have been converted into family
Not just in the summer but in wintertime
Shallow-water beaches for young and old.
From Filipsborg jetty you can take a trip out on
the river on the old logging boat Filippa.
hotels and restaurants. Discover the surroundings by car
and be seduced by history. Enjoy the gingerbread carpentry
with influences from both central Sweden and Russia.
too, when it is best discovered on skis or a snowmobile. Or just take the car along
well-ploughed winter roads. Our Visitor information center will help you with maps
and directions.
f i l i p s b o r g m a n s i o n , dating back to the 19th century sawmill epoch, is located
picturesquely where the river meats the sea.
Kalix has the broadest-based economy in the region, across
branches such as process industries, electronics development,
Malören’s chapel with its unique Cathedral spire.
The island of Malören, which is on the seamost outskirts
of the archipelago, has an exciting history. The old fishing
hamlet dating back to the early Middle Ages had great
importance for both Finnish and Swedish fishermen.
eHealth and IT, all with many s u c c e s s f u l c o m pa n i e s.
As a rule the companies are small to medium, with strong national
and international networks. Our economy’s prime motivation is the
creation of growth and the right conditions and opportunities to
develop Kalix further. We keep our eyes fixed firmly on the future.
Strong competitive advantage
and a more distinct market position
thanks to Electropolis, a common
platform for companies within the
IT and electronics sectors.
The island has a lighthouse and a c h a p e l . The chapel is known as the Cathedral
of the Skerries, as it is the only archipelago church with a cathedral spire on the roof.
Our story ends here. We hope that it has given you new knowledge and insights.
And who knows, it might even set your life on a completely new course.
See you in Kalix!

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Good prospects for your very own place in the sun on any of the hundreds of islands. Frevisören’s camping grounds with their inviting, golden, sandy beach.
According to many, sea-bathing here is the best in the county. Long and lazy days await you, with room for all and longed-for time to spend together.
Winter at last! A thronging idyllic village wrapped up in soft, white snow. Feel the wing beats of history and the natural thrill of single-horsepower speed.
Irresistible springtime ice fishing and snowmobiling.

www.swedishlapland.com
a b o u t k a l i x
Arctic Circle
Kebnekaise
Kiruna
Latitude: N 65 51.
Longitude: E 23 08.
Kalix river
Stockholm
Luleå
Kalix
Kemi
Population: 17 373 (June 30, 2007).
Kalix is first mentioned as a parish in 1482. The beautiful medieval church,
consecrated in 1472, was already here. There are 792 skerries in the archipelago.
Kalix Municipality has 391 kilometers of coastline. Kalix River is a national river
and has its own celebration day every August.
The waters around Kalix produce 60 tons of genuine Kalix whitefish caviar every
autumn. At the pike fishing festivals in June, 1,800 kilos of pike are caught in six hours.
On Kalix Day, we serve the world’s longest klådda, a traditional regional bread.
t h e s u n i n k a l i x
sunrise
sunset
Mid summer ......................... 01:00 .........................23:57
Mid vinter............................... 09:49 .........................13:02
London
Paris
Kalix Visitor information center, Phone +46 923 129 79, www.kalix.se, turistinfo@kalix.se

We hope that our Kalix narrative will be the beginning of a longing.
A longing for new discoveries in a place that has everything so few other
places have. We look forward to welcoming you here in Kalix
– where the river meets the sea.
www.kalix.se
vinter/vinterwebb.se Photo: Andreas Norin /pantheon.se Sara Danielsson. Helt enkelt/Johner. Kalixbilder.se