Knaben

Knaben is a former mining community in the northern part of Kvinesdal municipality, Norway, and currently a popular ski resort. The settlement lies about 630 metres above sea level. The molybdenum mines were operated from 1885 to 1973. Buildings and constructions are still partly intact. The workers' living houses are now used as tourist lodgings.

Nature

The Knaben uplands ("Knabeheiene") are mainly between 750 and 850 meters. The area has a rich birdlife and animal life, with elk, reindeer, black grouse, lagopus, falcon and eagle.

Mining activity

Occurence of molybdenite was the basis for the mining activities at Knaben. In 1897 it was determined that tempering of steel with molybdenum resulted in an alloy with qualities favourable for weapon production. In 1902, the mining rights of the area were bought for 6,000 kroner, and subsequently sold to an English company in 1904 for 250,000 kroner. Due to low molybdenum prices the mining operations ceased in 1909. World War I led to an uprise at Knaben. At its height ten different mining companies had operations in the area, but all operations ceased when the war was over. The Swedish company Avesta Järnverks AB took over from A/S Knaben Molybdængruber, and the production increased through the 1930s, with about 400 mine workers and a total population at Knaben of about 700.

Second World War

At the time Norway was invaded in 1940, during World War II, the Knaben mines were the only molybdenum mines in Europe still in operation. The occupying German forces stationed about 1,000 men in the area, and established gun sites for anti-aircraft guns. The mine operations were the target for allied bombing twice in 1943. The first attack took place March 3, with 10 British de Havilland Mosquito strike fighters participating. The second attack was November 16, when 130 American B-17 bombers from the Eighth Air Force (in its mission number 131) attacked the Knaben molybdenum mines in a raid against Norway.cite web | url =http://www.jcs-group.com/military/war1941aaf/norway.html | title = Bombing Nazi Targets In Norway – ETO Strategic Operations| accessdate = 2008-08-06] cite web | url = http://www.stelzriede.com/ms/html/mshwm11.htm | title = U.S. Bombers Hit Norway Second Time | accessdate = 2008-08-06]

Post-war

The first school at Knaben was built in 1954. In 1973 the mining company announced it would cease operations. The mines were finally closed April 30, 1973, and the settlement was more or less abandoned. A museum, Knaben Gruvemuseum has been established in the old administration building, and is run by "Knabens Venner" and Kvinesdal municipality. Norsk Bergverksmuseum is running a pilot project at the Knaben mining community.cite web | url =http://www.kvinesdal.kommune.no/Modules/article.aspx?ObjectType=Article&Article.ID=1333&Category.ID=5117 | title = Knaben - pilotprosjekt for registreringsarbeider i gruvesamfunn] – "Kvinesdal kommune" | accessdate = 2008-08-06]

A large sand deposit in the valley is a visible result from 88 years of mining activity. The percentage of molybdenum was low, on average below 0.2%. The sand deposits cause some leaching of metals (cadmium, copper and molybdenum), and flotation chemicals into the river Kvina.

Today tourism is the main activity at Knaben. There is an alpine ski resort in operation, and several mountain cabin resorts. [cite web |url = http://www.knaben.no/index.asp |title = Knaben | publisher = Knaben.no | language = Norwegian | accessdate = 2008-09-08] The ski resort operates three different pistes of around 1,000m (3,280ft) each, with an elevation of 182m (597ft). [cite web |url = http://www.knaben.no/alpin/nedfarter.htm | title = Beskrivelser av nedfarter til alpinanlegget | publisher = Knaben.no | language = Norwegian | accessdate=2008-09-08]

References