Göra Sommar

Stor-Stina’s Settlement

There is hardly any resident of Malå who has become as famous as the Sámi woman Christina Catharina Larsdotter (1819–1854), better known as Långa Lappflickan (“the Tall Sámi Girl”) or Stor-Stina.

In Brännäs, you can see a Sámi hut (kåta) and wooden sculptures of Stor-Stina and her family. At the settlement, there is a barbecue area and seating.

There is hardly any resident of Malå who became as famous as the Sámi woman Christina Catharina Larsdotter (1819–1854), better known as Långa Lappflickan (“the Tall Sámi Girl”) or Stor-Stina. Although she belonged to the “small-statured Sámi family,” she grew to about 2.10 meters (6 ft 11 in), which made her very well known. She traveled around Europe, appearing at many public exhibitions and spectacles.

Stor-Stina was born in the village of Brännäs on January 19, 1819. From a young age, she was significantly taller than other children. Legend has it that the reason was this: when her mother Carin was pregnant, she was frightened by her own shadow, which she believed was a large, terrifying creature. The people then believed this was why the child she gave birth to grew so large.