We set out the next day to find the place on Earth where the largest number of new elements (11) were discovered, from a mine in Ytterby, Sweden. On the way to the dock to take a boat to a different island, we wandered around downtown Stockholm. This sculpture was made by students, who wrote the words of the Lord’s Prayer on the bricks then put them into a spiral to show one Earth, one people.

Other interesting sculptures.

We visited the Nobel Museum which contained modern displays honoring all Nobel Prize recipients.

Some young entrepreneurs (I love the tie!). The price is equivalent to about $1.15.

When we arrived in Vaxholm on the the island of Vaxön, we took a bus to the town of Ytterby on Resarö island. Then we asked a person at the local store how to get to the old mine. She kind of frowned, as if she were afraid it would be too difficult to find, but told us to walk about 10 minutes down this road, then go up the stairs to the left. If we got to (something – we thought she meant harbor) we have gone too far. Sounds simple!

But no. After 10 minutes, we could see the water, so we turned left (even though no stairs were visible) and kept walking. The next person we asked for directions got a similar look on her face, but told us to go down this street and walk about 10 minutes and turn left. Almost the same directions, yet we had been walking for a long time. The third person we asked for directions got a similar look, told us to take a pathway (she pointed it out), cross a street, another passage way, another street, turn right, another path then up and up until you can see a long way. You will be getting to the mine from the back side. We had sort of figured that out.

Suddenly, we started noticing street names:

(You can see this is an expensive residential neighborhood now.)

The element names (or some of them). We knew we were getting close, but we also understood why people seemed concerned about us finding the mine. We took photos of the street signs in case we did not find the mine, which had a commemorative plaque.

We got to some high spots on the island, but trees blocked any view. So, we walked downhill and found what we thought was the street we originally started out on. We went along for another while and found stairs!

And interesting rocks!

And the plaque!

The plaque list the 4 elements were named after Ytterby. Another sign lists 8 elements that were isolated from the mineral gadolinite or other material from the mine. Searches of the internet reveal that perhaps 11 elements were discovered in the material from this one locality. In order of discovery, the list is Yttrium (1794), Tantalum (1802), Erbium (1842), Terbium (1843), Holmium (1878), Ytterbium (1878), Scandium (1879), Thulium (1879), Gadolinium (1880), Dysprosium (1886), and Lutetium (1907).

We timed our walk back to the bus stop. It was closer to 20 minutes from where we first asked directions to the stairway. Oh well. If we had found the mine easily, we would not have seen the fun street signs!

Back to the bus, then to the ferry. Unfortunately, we missed the ferry by about 7 minutes, and the next one was not for two hours. So, we had a leisurely dinner and watched the boats come and go.

An excellent end to our fantastic trip.