Åre (Map code: 192 D)
The high mountains along the border to Norway (‘fjällkedjan’) belong to an orogenese more than 400 million years ago. The mountain range formed was torn down by erosion. Today’s relief is due to a later uplift of the Scandinavian shield along the Norwegian coast, where the highest mountains are found. Water and ice have formed the terrain. The valleys in the southern part of the mountain range were colonised from Sweden and Norway since Viking age a thousand years ago. The mountains, farther north the whole area, were used by the Saami population as reindeer grazing land. The valley slopes are covered with coniferous forest, higher up by mountain birch forest, followed by heathland, above 1000-1100 m by bare rock and stones. The first railway line through the mountains was opened to Storlien and further to Trondheim in Norway in 1882. All places along the line got easily accessible from Stockholm. Pioneers of tourism opened the mountains for summer hiking and winter sport since late 19th century. The Swedish Touring Club (STF), formed 1885, developed the mountain area for visitors. Hiking trails were marked out, mountain stations and cabins were built. Along the railway new infrastructure for leisure time activities were developed with hotels as bases. Åre, an old village with a 13th century church close to 1429 m high mountain Åreskutan, was one of the first places and today the biggest centre for alpine winter sport in Sweden. It meets with international standards for alpine ski championships.

Swedish Gazetteer

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Map Source: Lantmäteriet (Swedish National Landsurvey)

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