The good life in Övertorneå
Övertorneå is situated by the Torne River in a beautiful and fertile valley. The northern parts of the valley consist of mountains and forests. The valley’s central and southern parts ate dominated by a open countryside. Today’s Övertorneå is the result of respectful planning with the Valley’s unique cultural inheritage in mind.
Sweden and Finland are connected by two bridges across the Torne River, in Övertorneå and Pello. The closest airports in Sweden are located in Luleå (150 km) and Pajala (110 km away), but the airport of Kemi is a bit less than 100 km away.
Övertorneå - in short
Residents and visitors are very pleased with the various kinds of sports-activities in Övertorneå. The slopes and cross-country skiing facilities of Svanstein Ski are especially well known. In 1997 the World Championships in Speed-skiing were arranged in the Svanstein-resort.
Övertorneå is the municipality’s main village, with 2.100 inhabitants. About 5.000 people live on the municipality’s whole area of 2.374 km2.
The 22:nd of December 1993, Övertorneå was appointed “The Land of the Artic Circle”, with a president and government of its own. Among many other things, residents and visitors in the Land of the Artic Circle celebrate the 13th month of the year – the magic spring and summer months when the sun never sets and when we gather strength for the coming Winter-period.
Övertorneå – an international and multi cultural place
Throughout the years people along the Riverside have experienced rapid changes. The raging spring-floods in the Torne River are famous and spectacular. In the 17th century Övertorneå held a position as the biggest parish in the Kingdom of Sweden. The people along both sides of the River were united until 1809, when a sudden decision was made: The River was to form a border between Sweden and Russia.
During the years of the Second World War the people along the Riverside clearly showed that the traditional co-existence in the area was very firm. The recent and on-going decades have been more peaceful, but rapid changes can occur in currency-changes and custom-restrictions. These, often unexpected, incidents have caused completely new conditions for enterprise and common life along both sides of the Torne River in Övertorneå of today you meet the cultures of the Valley, of Sweden, Finland, Lapland and Norway(!) The Norwegian influence is explained by Nord, an institution of education for adults with pupils from Sweden, Finland and Norway. The school was established in 1970 by Ragnar Lassinantti, a famous Governor of the Region of Norrbotten.
Övertorneå – high quality of living
Already in 1983 Övertorneå was appointed the first Ecological municipality in Sweden. One of the aims with the project was to take advantage and develop the magnificent possibilities of the high quality way of living in the Valey.
Swedish official statistics shows that Övertorneå is the healtiest place in the country. We are of course very roud of this fact, but not very surprised considering how other things have prospered through the Eco-project. The Eco-project has received a lot of appreciation around the world for its pioneering spirit. In the eighties a very successful health SPA started up, clearly inspired by the Eco-project.
The local schools serve high quality daily lunches to their pupils. A brand new high-school (upper secondary school) was built in 1997 with ecological materials and construction-methods. In the municipality of Övertorneå it´s free to travel by bus. The ecological municipality of Övertorneå truly offers its residents and visitors a delicious taste of the best thng in life – high quality way of living.
Övertorneå – a place for education
Another well known local educational institution in Övertorneå is Tornedalens Folkhögskola. Gränsälvsgymnasiet, the upper secondary school, cooperates with Nord with the aim to offer their pupils high skilled courses in as many different programmes of educaton as possible. University level education in the area is performed (eg cooperate between Högskoleförbundet Östra Norrbotten and several universities)