Sulitjelma (mountain)

Sulitjelma
Sulitelma, Sulidälbmá/Sulidælbmá
Sulitjelma seen from Padjelanta National Park in August 2012
Highest point
Elevation1,908 m (6,260 ft)
Coordinates67°08′49″N 16°22′39″E / 67.14694°N 16.37750°E / 67.14694; 16.37750
Geography
Map
Interactive map of the mountain
LocationFauske, Nordland, Norway
Arjeplog, Norrbotten, Sweden

Sulitjelma (Swedish: Sulitelma, Pite Sami: Sulidälbmá or Sulidælbmá) is a mountain massif on the Norway-Sweden border in Fauske Municipality in Nordland county, Norway and Arjeplog Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden.[1] The massif lies east of the village of Sulitjelma, which takes its name from the mountain. The massif is bordered by Låmivatnet (Lake Låmi) and Muorkkejávrre (Lake Muorkke) to the south, and by Bajep Sårjåsjávrre (Upper Lake Sårjås) and Vuolep Sårjåsjávrre (Lower Lake Sårjås) to the north. About two-thirds of the mountain is in Norway. The Langvann Valley extends toward the massif along a northwest–southeast axis,[2] through which the Sjønstå River (Norwegian: Sjønståelva, known as the Langvasselva in its upper course) flows, forming the Sulitjelma watercourse.[3] The valley starts at the village of Sjønstå on Øvervatnet (Upper Lake), which lies about 17 kilometers (11 mi) east of the village of Sulitjelma itself.[4]

The name Sulitjelma is derived from the original Sami name for the mountainous area. Sami place names describe the terrain, but the meaning of Sulitjelma is unknown. Over time, various suggestions have been proposed for its meaning, such as 'eye of the Sun', 'twilight threshold', 'divine gate', 'the eye's threshold', and 'festival mountain'.[5]: 135 

  1. ^ Store norske leksikon: Sulitjelmafjellene.
  2. ^ Sulitjelma: Modern Prospecting Methods Find New Orebodies for Old Mine. 1980. The Mining Magazine 143(5) (November): 416ff, p. 416.
  3. ^ Store norske leksikon: Sulitjelmavassdraget.
  4. ^ Statens kartverk
  5. ^ Hultmann, Cato A. 2009. Saltfjellet og Sulitjelma: villmark ved polarsirkelen. Oslo: Larsforlaget.