On the slag heap

As you know, I was in Roros, Norway, last week.

Roros is an old copper mining town so it is dominated by slag heaps (a by-product of copper smelting).

The slag heaps are like small mountains – just going to show how much activity there was here during the 333 years the copper works were open.

If you climb up the slag heaps, you get a great view of the ancient timber town –

And of the other feature that dominates the landscape: the stone church.

Looking the other way, you can see the farms and the mountains –

And yes, there was snow on them even in June.

What moved me most was Sleggveien street: a street with tiny tiny houses,

They must have been about half the size of a normal house,

Where travellers and casual labourers lived and worked.

The old wooden houses must have been very cold in the winter.

They look so poor (and picturesque) as they stand there squeezed right up to the slag heaps.

(Not far to walk though for your ten-hour shift in the mine.)

And oh – those wonderful turf roofs! Some had wildflowers and even small trees growing on them.

I’m away filming in the south of Sweden, so please excuse me if I don’t get around to all your blogs. THANK YOU so much for your visit!

For more great places, please visit: Our World.