Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Älvdalen Vase is a 4-meter granite vase carved in Älvdalen, Sweden, in 1839. It was given by Charles XIV John of Sweden as a gift to Nicholas I of Russia and is installed in the Summer Garden in Saint Petersburg.
Älvdalen is home to Elfdalian, an indigenous language that preserves Old Norse traits no longer found in most other North Germanic languages. The main spoken language in modern times is a Dalecarlian dialect of Swedish, which is also used in local administration.
Älvdalen has a subarctic climate because it sits near the furthest interior position on the Scandinavian Peninsula, producing large seasonal swings. Its river valley setting also makes it prone to temperature inversion and harsh freezing.
Älvdalen is a locality and the seat of Älvdalen Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden. It had a population of 1,810 inhabitants in 2010.
The Hykjebergets Nature Reserve, located near Älvdalen, was inaugurated in 2016 by Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden.
Älvdalen means "the river valley" in Swedish. Its name in the local Elfdalian language, Övdaln, also refers to the river valley, while another local name, Tjyörtjbynn, means "the church village."