Luleå

Luleå

Luleå, city and seaport, seat of Norrbotten län (county), northern Sweden. The city lies at the mouth of the Lule River, where it enters the Gulf of Bothnia. Gustavus II Adolphus founded the town in 1621, 7 miles (11 km) farther up the river; it was moved to its present site in 1649. In 1887 it was almost entirely destroyed by fire.

Luleå is the seat of a Lutheran bishopric. It is also an educational centre, with more than 10 schools offering various kinds of professional training. The Gammelstad Church (built c. 1400) is now the provincial museum. Industries include iron smelting, shipbuilding, engineering, and lumbering. The city’s port, Svartöstaden, handles iron-ore exports during the ice-free months and is one of Sweden’s largest export harbours. The city is home to Luleå University of Technology. Pop. (2005 est.) mun., 72,751.