Jokkmokk


Jokkmokk is a locality and the seat of Jokkmokk Municipality in Norrbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden, with 2,786 inhabitants in 2010. The Lule Sami name of the place means "River's Curve," due to the meandering river that runs through it. It is just north of the Arctic Circle. Talvatissjön is located at the southern part of Jokkmokk.
Jokkmokk is an important locality for Sámi people and the location of several institutions related to them, including an education centre, the Ájtte museum, and an office of the Sámi Parliament of Sweden.
Jokkmokk was a transit center for Sami refugees from Norway during World War II, in addition to the centre in Kjesäter.
Jokkmokk Market has been taking place since 1605. On the first Thursday in February every year, thousands of people gather in the town for concerts, exhibitions and trade in one of the most important social events for the Sámi people in Sápmi. Temperatures during the festival can drop as low as −40°.

Climate

Influenced by its inland and northerly position, Jokkmokk's variety of a subarctic climate is very cold by Swedish standards. Summers are normally relatively mild in spite of the day-round light and the dark winters are long and cold.