Longyear city svalbard

Rich tundras, majestic landscapes, midnight sun, northern lights — Svalbard is indeed a special place where the extraordinary is ordinary.

It stretches along the foot of the left bank of the Longyear Valley and on the shore of Adventfjorden , the short estuary leading into Isfjorden on the west coast of Spitsbergen , the island's broadest inlet. As of Longyearbyen Community Council became an official Norwegian municipality. It is the seat of the Governor of Svalbard. The town's mayor is Arild Olsen. Known as Longyear City until , the town was established by and named after American John Munro Longyear , whose Arctic Coal Company started coal-mining there in

Longyear city svalbard

Soon after, they began looking for foreign buyers, and in they made an agreement with the American businessmen John Munro Longyear and Frederick Ayer. A lot of money was invested, and gradually an entire little mining community emerged. A couple hundred people were employed on an annual basis. Most of the labourers came from Norway and Sweden, whereas the administrators were usually British or American. However, these early years were characterised by discontent, strikes, and unrest. The labourers lived in primitive conditions, sleeping in bunks, four to a stall, in huge barracks holding 32 or 64 men each. Hygiene was poor owing to the scarcity of water; the menu was basic and monotonous, especially in spring before new provisions arrived. The labourers probably persevered only because the pay was better than what they could get for mining and construction jobs on the mainland. In the winter of —, the company employed over men; in addition 34 women and children spent the winter. By the number had increased to , including 37 women and children.

Both longyear city svalbard are administered by Norway, though they are separated by a distance of over kilometres nautical miles and have very different administrative structures. Hagen Pensjonat — Guesthouse.

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Located on top of the world, it contains endless areas of unspoilt, raw Arctic wilderness. The largest island is Spitsbergen, while the highest mountain is Newtontoppen 1, m above sea level. A visit to the High Arctic archipelago — roughly midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole — is full of contrasts and amazing nature-based experiences. The Arctic silence creates a unique atmosphere, and you will experience tranquillity that is virtually unrivalled anywhere else on earth. Majestic mountains, blue sea ice, almost never-ending glaciers and a rich animal life dominate the landscape, which changes appearance during our three main seasons ; from the colourful tundra of the Polar Summer , via the spectacular light show of the Northern Lights winter to the frozen fjords and endless snowy landscape of the Sunny Winter.

Up here in the High Arctic, the 2, residents of Longyearbyen share their home with polar bears and go without sunlight for five months of the year. I'm just back from five days in Longyearbyen, the biggest settlement on the Svalbard archipelago. Ever since I moved to Norway back in , Svalbard has been top of my bucket list. I've finally ticked it off! Having written about life in Norway for more than seven years, I've long wondered why people choose to live in such a remote, cold, and dangerous place. I had to find out for myself, so I spent five days getting to know the town and its people. Come with me as I take you on a tour of Longyearbyen and meet some of the people that make this place tick.

Longyear city svalbard

You can find the city map of Longyearbyen here. Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2, residents from almost 53 different countries. The small Arctic town is inhabited by nature enthusiasts who live in close unity under tough climatic conditions with the High Arctic wilderness right on their doorstep. Longyearbyen is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most adventures in Svalbard. This Arctic wilderness starts virtually in the town centre and never ends! Maybe it seems a bit over the top to call our little town a metropolis. Furthermore, the range of services on offer to residents and guests is surprisingly extensive with a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars, along with varied cultural offerings. In Longyearbyen, the North Pole is right around the corner from the pub. Most people enjoy themselves in Longyearbyen and quickly feel they belong here. Nevertheless, Longyearbyen is a place people come to work and not somewhere they can spend their entire lives.

Martin gameplays

Archived from the original on 19 October Southwards from there is the main shopping area as well as the town hall. This Arctic wilderness starts virtually in the town centre and never ends! This coincided with the transferring of responsibility for community services and governance duties from the mining company to the Longyearbyen Community Council. The event features concerts, lectures, art exhibitions, and an outdoor church service. In , about a quarter of the population had lived in the town since before , and can thus be regarded as its permanent population. The New York Times. Statistics Norway. Most of the residential, commercial and cultural institutions are on the east side of the river. Despite its remote location, Longyearbyen offers a diverse range of events year-round. Retrieved 13 June Depending on the trip, the return journey to Longyearbyen may include views of glaciers, coal mines, significant historical sites, and bird cliffs. Join Secret Atlas on an exciting Svalbard Photography Tour in May on a small ship to photograph the wildlife and landscapes of Svalbard. September Taste Svalbard 4. The huge seasonal contrasts leave their mark on Longyearbyen, where the activities and everyday life are controlled by the season.

We share our tried-and-tested route for exploring this remote outpost. There has never been an indigenous population in Svalbard.

Even in the middle of the settlement, you will get so close to the pristine nature that it will take your breath away. Norwegian residents retain pension and medical rights through their mainland municipalities. Karlsberger Pub. The northernmost seed vault. The same year, the mining yielded revenues of 2. Archived from the original on 19 November Archived from the original on 16 July John Munro Longyear. However, those looking from the outside often perceive our everyday life as somewhat extraordinary. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available to choose from. Smeerenburg was one of the first settlements, established by the Dutch in Fiber broadband is provided by the Svalbard Undersea Cable System. It is the northernmost primary and secondary school in the world.