The abandoned mine buildings at Litlabø on Stord are the remains of Stordø Kisgruber, a pyrite mine that operated from 1907 to 1968. At its peak, this was one of Norway's most important mines, extracting pyrite ore used in sulphuric acid production.
The numbers tell the story: 8 million tons of ore over six decades, shafts reaching 750 metres deep, and over 80 kilometres of underground tunnels. At peak production during World War II, the mine shipped 9,000 tons of ore per month to Germany.
That German connection made it a target. In January 1943, British commandos carried out Operation Cartoon, a raid on the mine's ore processing facilities. The sabotage temporarily disrupted production, though the mine continued operating throughout the war.
After closure in 1968, the site was partially converted into a mining museum. Some of the old buildings are still visible from the road. The village of Litlabø itself is small and quiet now, the kind of place where you can see that something industrial once happened but has long since moved on.
The numbers tell the story: 8 million tons of ore over six decades, shafts reaching 750 metres deep, and over 80 kilometres of underground tunnels. At peak production during World War II, the mine shipped 9,000 tons of ore per month to Germany.
That German connection made it a target. In January 1943, British commandos carried out Operation Cartoon, a raid on the mine's ore processing facilities. The sabotage temporarily disrupted production, though the mine continued operating throughout the war.
After closure in 1968, the site was partially converted into a mining museum. Some of the old buildings are still visible from the road. The village of Litlabø itself is small and quiet now, the kind of place where you can see that something industrial once happened but has long since moved on.