Storuman

Storuman (Southern Sami: Luspie, Ume Sami: Lusspie) is a locality and the seat of Storuman Municipality in Västerbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 2,207 inhabitants in 2010. It is known for containing a portion of the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve, one of the largest nature reserves in Sweden.

History

It's believed that the first people who came to the area, were from Vilhelmina to the south and settled here around 1741. The place became known as 'Luspen', derived from a local river of the same name. Until 1912, the population of the village was about 40 inhabitants living in 8 farms, but that changed when a railway station was built (Inland Line) around 1924. The village quickly grew and became known as an important centre for hydroelectric power and the timber industry. It later became a popular tourist spot as well.

The heraldic shield (the weapon of the town) is a Wild man, based on the name of the village and the symbols of the strength and determination of the people of Lapland. A legend says that the first person who came here was a wild man or his name was Storuman.