# Knaben

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knaben
> Source revision: 1355964088
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{{Short description|Village in Kvinesdal Municipality, Norway}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Knaben
|other_name             = 
|native_name            = 
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        = Village
|image_skyline          = Knaben gruvor.jpg
|image_caption          = View of the village mill, wash mill and hoist
|mapframe               = yes
|mapframe-zoom          = 11
|mapframe-marker        = village
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [Norway](/source/Norway)
|subdivision_type1      = [Region](/source/List_of_regions_of_Norway) 
|subdivision_name1      = [Southern Norway](/source/Southern_Norway)
|subdivision_type2      = [County](/source/Counties_of_Norway) 
|subdivision_name2      = [Agder](/source/Agder)
|subdivision_type3      = [District](/source/Districts_of_Norway)
|subdivision_name3      = [Lister](/source/Lister_Region)
|subdivision_type4      = [Municipality](/source/List_of_municipalities_of_Norway)
|subdivision_name4      = [Kvinesdal Municipality](/source/Kvinesdal_Municipality)
|timezone1              = [CET](/source/Central_European_Time) 
|utc_offset1            = +01:00
|timezone1_DST          = [CEST](/source/Central_European_Summer_Time) 
|utc_offset1_DST        = +02:00
|postal_code_type       = Post Code
|postal_code            = 4473 Kvinlog
|coordinates            = {{coord|58.66549|7.0665|region:NO_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m            = 610
|elevation_footnotes    = <ref>{{cite web |title=Knaben, Kvinesdal |url=https://www.yr.no/nb/v%C3%A6rvarsel/daglig-tabell/1-10448/Norge/Agder/Kvinesdal/Knaben |accessdate=2026-05-24 |publisher=[yr.no](/source/yr.no)}}</ref>}}

'''Knaben'''<ref name="name">{{Cite web |title=Informasjon om stadnamn |url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/547285 |access-date=2026-05-24 |website=Norgeskart |publisher=[Kartverket](/source/Norwegian_Mapping_Authority) |language=no}}</ref> is an old [mining](/source/mining) village in the northern part of [Kvinesdal Municipality](/source/Kvinesdal_Municipality) in [Agder](/source/Agder) county, [Norway](/source/Norway). Currently, the mine is no longer in use, but the area has become a popular [ski resort](/source/ski_resort). The village lies at an elevation of {{convert|630|m}} above sea level, about {{convert|50|km}} north of [Liknes](/source/Liknes) and about {{convert|20|km}} east of [Tonstad](/source/Tonstad) in [Sirdal Municipality](/source/Sirdal_Municipality). The [molybdenum](/source/molybdenum) mines were operated here from 1885 to 1973. Constructions and buildings are still mostly standing. The homes where the workers once lived are now hotels.

== Nature ==
The Knaben uplands (''Knabeheiene'') are mainly located at an elevation of between {{convert|750|and|850|m}} above sea level. The area has a rich bird-life and animal life, with [moose](/source/moose), [reindeer](/source/reindeer), [black grouse](/source/Black_Grouse), [lagopus](/source/lagopus), [falcon](/source/falcon), and [eagle](/source/eagle).

==History==
===Mining activity===
Occurrence of [molybdenite](/source/molybdenite) was the basis for the mining activities at Knaben. In 1897, it was determined that [tempering](/source/tempering_(metallurgy)) of [steel](/source/steel) with molybdenum resulted in an [alloy](/source/alloy) with qualities favourable for weapon production. In 1902, the mining rights of the area were bought for {{NOK|6,000}}, and subsequently sold to an English company in 1904 for {{NOK|250,000}}. Due to low molybdenum prices the mining operations ceased in 1909. [World War I](/source/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](/source/Avesta_J%C3%A4rnverks_AB) took over from [A/S Knaben Molybdængruber](/source/A%2FS_Knaben_Molybd%C3%A6ngruber), and the production increased through the 1930s, with about 400 mine workers and a total population at Knaben of about 700.

=== Second World War ===
thumb|left|Mosquito fighter bombers attacking the washing plant at Knaben.
At the time [Norway was invaded](/source/Operation_Weser%C3%BCbung) in 1940, during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the Knaben mines were one of the few molybdenum mines in Europe still in operation. The [occupying German forces](/source/Occupation_of_Norway_by_Nazi_Germany) 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 on 3 March, with 10 British [de Havilland Mosquito](/source/de_Havilland_Mosquito) [strike fighter](/source/strike_fighter)s of [No. 139 Squadron RAF](/source/No._139_Squadron_RAF) participating. The second attack was on 16 November, when 130 American [B-17](/source/B-17_Flying_Fortress) bombers from the [Eighth Air Force](/source/Eighth_Air_Force) (in its mission number 131) attacked the Knaben molybdenum mines in a raid against Norway.<ref name="jcs">{{cite web |title=Bombing Nazi Targets In Norway &ndash; ETO Strategic Operations |url=http://www.jcs-group.com/military/war1941aaf/norway.html |accessdate=2008-08-06}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="us-b17-bomb-raid">{{cite web |title=U.S. Bombers Hit Norway Second Time |url=http://www.stelzriede.com/ms/html/mshwm11.htm |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>

=== Post-war ===
The school at Knaben was built in 1954. In 1973, the mining company announced it would cease operations. The mines were finally closed on 30 April 1973, and the village was more or less abandoned. A museum, [Knaben Gruvemuseum](/source/Knaben_Gruvemuseum) has been established in the old administration building, and is run by ''Knabens Venner'' and Kvinesdal municipality. [Norsk Bergverksmuseum](/source/Norsk_Bergverksmuseum) is running a pilot project at the Knaben mining community.<ref name="bergverksmuseum">{{cite web |title=Knaben - pilotprosjekt for registreringsarbeider i gruvesamfunn &ndash; ''Kvinesdal kommune'' |url=http://www.kvinesdal.kommune.no/Modules/article.aspx?ObjectType=Article&Article.ID=1333&Category.ID=5117 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928162107/http://www.kvinesdal.kommune.no/Modules/article.aspx?ObjectType=Article&Article.ID=1333&Category.ID=5117 |archivedate=2007-09-28 |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>

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

Today, tourism is the main activity at Knaben. There is an alpine ski resort in operation, and several mountain [cabin](/source/Cottage) resorts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Knaben |url=http://www.knaben.no/index.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620125409/http://www.knaben.no/index.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate=2008-06-20 |accessdate=2008-09-08 |publisher=Knaben.no |language=no}}</ref> The ski resort operates three different [piste](/source/piste)s of around 1,000m (3,280&nbsp;ft) each, with an elevation of 182&nbsp;m (597&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{cite web |title=Beskrivelser av nedfarter til alpinanlegget |url=http://www.knaben.no/alpin/nedfarter.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527151118/http://www.knaben.no/alpin/nedfarter.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate=2008-05-27 |accessdate=2008-09-08 |publisher=Knaben.no |language=no}}</ref>

==Media gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
Molybdänit aus Knabengruver, Norwegen.jpg|Molybdenite from the mine
Ned mot Knaben sentrum-skole.jpg|Sand deposits at Knaben
169703 Knaben gruver (9217140602).jpg|View of the mine buildings
Utsikt fra Husmorløypa.jpeg|View of the village and sand deposits
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{authority control}}

Category:Mining communities in Norway
Category:Mining in Norway
Category:Villages in Agder
Category:Kvinesdal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Knaben](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knaben) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knaben?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.