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Yttra Asen, Slaggen, and Holmen; on the W. hank Presltägten,
Gamla Herrgarden, and Elsborg. The principal buildings are the
Kristina-Kyrka in the Stor-Torg, the Kopparbergs-Kyrka, with its
green copper roof, the Rådhus, the Gymnasium, and the
Magasinhus, which contains a collection of minerals. The Villa at
Lillarf-vet and Manhem to the E. of the town are popular resorts.
Towards the S.W. the whole face of the country presents the
appearance of having been burned up by the Roslrök, or smoke
from the Rosthögar (‘roasting hills’) which surround the mines.
This smoke blackens all the wood exposed to its influence, and
gives metals a spotted appearance, but it is believed to be an
excellent disinfectant, and to have warded off cholera and other
epidemics on several occasions. The fumes of the copper vitriol
in the mine itself have still more marked preservative properties.
In 1719 the body of a young man named Mats Isruelsson, with the
sobriquet Fet-Mats, who had perished in the mines 49 years
previously, was recovered, and w as so well preserved that it was
immediately identified by an old woman to whom he had been
betrothed. For 21 years more it was preserved in a glass-ease, but
at length fell to pieces and was buried.
The Falu Grvfra or Stora Kopparberget (corrupted to Kärberget) has
been known to history since 13A7. but was probably worked at a still
earlier period. The yield was formerly much larger than at the present
day (20,000 skeppund, or about 3322 tons annually in the 17th cent., but
tyiw 1-5000 skeppund, or 664-830 tons only). At one time the mines of
Åtvidaberg in Öster-Oötland (p. 309) even took precedence of those of Falun,
but they now yield about 430 tons only per annum. As in the middle
ages, therefore, the mines of Falun still claim the distinction of being the
‘Treasury of Sweden’ (Sveriges Skattkammare). In recent years the yield
of auriferous and argentiferous quartz has considerably increased; in 1885
1580 oz. of gold and 16,765 oz. of silver were produced. The proprietors
are called Fjerdepartsegetre, of whom in the year 1616 there were as many
as 1200. Each Fjerdepart is worth about 1Ö0Q crowns. The company is
called the Stora Kopparbergs Bergslag.
Visitors (adm. from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are provided with
miners’ attire (öfverkläder) at the mining-office (grufsluga) and
with a miner (stigare) as a guide (fee 1-2 kr. ; additional fee for
gunshots fired to awaken the echoes). The descent and ascent
are accomplished by means of a lift. The ground is very wet at
places, and the usual lighting very inadequate. Even to these who
have conscientiously resolved to see all the lions of Sweden the
expedition can hardly be called a very attractive one. — The
Grufsluga contains an interesting collection of portraits, old
charters, antiquities, minerals, etc. A visit should also be paid
to the Kopparhytta, where the ore is smelted.
Excursion to Lake Siljan.
The most convenient starting-point for this excursion is
Borlänge, which we reach by the railway mentioned at p. 366. Thence
we proceed by the ‘Siljan Railway’ to (37 Kil.) Insjön (in 1(2 hr.;
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