© Ájtte, Swedish Mountain- and Sámi museum Jokkmokk, Sweden
Axel Hamberg (1863-1933) was a natural scientist (mineralogical, crystallographical, oceanographical, geological and glaciological research) that explored the northern regions of Sweden, the mountain area of Sarek between 1895 til 1931. The area was more or less unknown, and he was the first one that thoroughly investigated it as a scientist via field research. He also established field stations in Sarek, the biggest one were called "The Observatory". His research put the area on the map, and Sarek became a national park in 1910.
When he was not there – normally he went there in the summers – a hired Sámi named Lars Nilsson Tuorda (b. 1847) lived in and worked for him in Sarek as a field research assistant. Tuorda also supervised reindeer transportations used for transporting research instruments for instance, and took care of the maintenance of the field stations, such as the later on built huts, beside his work as a field research assistant. Tuorda wrote letters that also contained research results and mailed them to Hamberg that lived in Uppsala, Sweden, were he worked at the university as a professor. The letter correspondence stretches from 1899 to 1923.
The following photographs from Axel Hamberg’s photo archive are all taken in Sarek.
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