Between two lakes just north of Filipstad is one of Sweden's best preserved mining environments, with a rare mineral richness and more than 400 years of industrial history. The story is seated between mines and foundry, mining pits, monumental piles of waste rock and in John Ericssongården's lush garden at the shore of Hyttsjön. Welcome to the mining district Bergslagen in Värmland!
Below the ground where we stand there is a myriad of mines. Iron ore began to be mined here already in the 16th century, but at that time the mines were only a few meters deep. The ore was then broken by firing on the rock for hours and then pouring water over to make it burst.
In the 18th century, detonations with gunpowder were in use, and the mines became deeper. Later on nitroglycerin, also called explosive oil was used. It was a cheap and effective explosive, but also dangerous because it could blow up if you accidentally dropped a can.
As the mines became deeper, more groundwater needed to be pumped away. For a long time, the pumps were driven by muscle power, by humans and animals. At the end of the 18th century, Långban got a flat rod system - an ingenious construction that could drive the pumps by transferring the power from a water wheel, even if it was several kilometers away.
It was a long time ago that any pumps were in operation, and Långban's mines are water-filled. In recent years, divers have begun exploring the mines where no one has set foot since 1972. So far they have dived just over 100 meters, but the lowest point in the mine is 380 meters below ground