Nestled in the wintry heart of northern Sweden, 17 kilometers from Kiruna, lies the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. Unlike any other lodging, it is not made of brick and mortar, but of snow and ice. It is the world’s first ice hotel, rebuilt every year from December to April. Snuggled in the picturesque village of Jukkasjarvi, it is a magical destination that attracts visitors from far and wide.
Japanese ice artists began numerous art exhibitions in Jukkasjarvi in 1989. The following year, some visitors opted to sleep in the exhibition hall at the end of the winter art season, and became the first guests of the "hotel". Since then, the hotel has become a landmark, hosting over a million guests.
Each winter, the hotel is rebuilt, using snow and ice blocks from the nearby Torne River. The entire structure, including the chairs and beds, is made of ice. The construction requires about 900 tons of ice harvested each spring, stored in a production hall capable of holding 27,000 tons of snow and ice. The leftover ice is reused for the construction of the next Ice Hotel.
Spanning over 6,000 square meters, the hotel boasts unique suites, a testament to the artistry that goes into its creation. Artists from around the world submit their designs, and a jury selects about 50 to create the hotel's church, Icebar, reception, main hall, and suites. As spring arrives, the entire structure melts back into the Torne River.
The Ice Hotel was named one of the Seven Wonders of Sweden. The northern hemisphere's aurora borealis can be seen during the winter months in the location.
The hotel also hosts the Ice Church, consecrated during the Christmas Day service each year. Approximately 140 couples get married and about 20 children are baptized in the Ice Church during the winter period. Jan-Erik Kuoksu, who initiated the Ice Church, united 1,500 couples over 17 years with his wife, Lisbeth, volunteering as a church usher.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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