Page 16 - An-introduction-to-Svalbard

SETTLEMENTS

Longyearbyen, at Adventfjorden, is the Norwegian “capital” with some 2,000 inhabitants.
This is the obvious port of entry to Svalbard, where the airport is and where you will board your
expedition cruise ship. Longyearbyen derived its name from the American mining magnate John
Munroe Longyear (1850-1922), who is considered the founder of Longyearbyen in 1906.
Before the modern airport was opened in 1990, Longyearbyen was a rather sleepy mining
community. Today, the mining industry has declined, while tourism, research and education
have become important industries. Longyearbyen today is a modern village with children’s
playgrounds, schools, a university, a hospital and several hotels, restaurants and shops. A
global seed bank housed in the old Mine 3 and specially adapted to maintain constant
temperature and humidity was opened in 2008 close to Longyearbyen. The aim is to collect
and preserve seed samples from the world's most important crops, because of the threat of
continued loss of biodiversity.

Barentsburg is a Russian mining community, whose 400 residents are mostly from Russia
and the Ukraine. It produces both meat and milk and vegetables. It used to be a family com-
munity of nearly 2,000 inhabitants, but has declined due to changes since Perestroika. A fire
ravaged the mine in 2008, which caused operations to be interrupted for a year. However,
there are extensive renovation projects being carried out in Barentsburg.

Ny Ålesund is located at the mouth of Kongsfjorden. It also has a history as a mining community,
but is now one of the largest international research communities in the World. Around one
hundred scientists from all over the World are involved here during the summer months. About
30 volunteers remain the rest of the year to keep the station maintained.

Svea gruva was the site of Swedish mining and dates back to 1910. The area is considered to
have the largest coal deposits in Svalbard and the Swedes had a strong operation going. The mine
was sold in 1931 to Norway. Coal is still mined here, workers live in barracks during the work
period and are then flown to Longyearbyen and replaced by a new group of employees. Svea is the
only profitable mine in Svalbard, and it only became profitable after the year 2000.

Pyramiden was a mining community where Russia earlier had about 900 residents, but the
mine was closed because of the poor coal quality. Pyramiden today is a ghost town, only a
few persons are here maintaining the buildings. The site is named after the pyramid-shaped
mountain next to it.

Isbjørnhamna is located all the way south on the west coast of Spitsbergen in the mouth of
Hornsund. There is a Polish research station here, where some ten scientists live all year round.

Upper right: Colourful houses in Longyearbyen. Lower right: Old railway engine in Ny Ålesund.

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