The Sven Hedin Project – under reconstruction

After several years in low gear, The Sven Hedin Project is now accelerating again.

The project was launched back in September 2009, with the ambition to unite research, fieldwork, and digital storytelling in the spirit of Sven Hedin — bringing new life to the story of one of Sweden’s most renowned explorers.

The website has been offline for several years after the previous version became technically outdated. At that point, I decided to put it on hold while waiting for a new platform. During the past four years, my main focus has been on another exciting project, scheduled for launch in 2026, but now I am once again at the helm of the Hedin Project.

A complete redesign of the website is currently underway, along with the development of a new map-based web application that visualizes Hedin’s expeditions, maps, and photographs. This work also forms a central part of my Master’s thesis in computer science, exploring how historical geographies can be brought to life through interactive visualization.

The site is still far from complete — much content remains to be added — but I’ve decided to open it anyway.
Better a living process than a dark screen.

Welcome back to The Sven Hedin Project,
and feel free to follow along as the project takes shape in its new form.

Lars Larsson
National Geographic Explorer
Founder, The Sven Hedin Project

Åre, October 2025

Photo: Olivia Kiwanuka.