Longyearbyen

Largest settlement and administrative centre of Svalbard, Norway

Place in Svalbard, Norway

Longyearbyen

Town
(de facto capital)

View of Longyearbyen

Aurora above Longyearbyen

Global Seed Vault

Church in Longyearbyen

The Culture House

Coat of arms

Location of Longyearbyen (red) in Svalbard

Longyearbyen

Show map of Arctic

Longyearbyen

Show map of Earth

Coordinates: 78°13′N 15°38′E﻿ / ﻿78.217°N 15.633°E﻿ / 78.217; 15.633
Sovereign state|  Norway
Territory| Svalbard
Island| Spitsbergen
Founded| 1907
Incorporated| 1 January 2002
Government

• Body| Longyearbyen Community Council
• Mayor| Leif Terje Aunevik
Area

• Total

| 10 km2 (4 sq mi)
Population

(1 January 2023)

• Total

| 2,595[note 1]
Postal code|

9170 and 9171[2]

Website| www.lokalstyre.no

Longyearbyen (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɔ̀ŋjɛrˌbyːən],[3] locally [ˈlɔ̀ŋjɑrˌbyːən], "Longyear Town") is the world's northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000, and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard, Norway. 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 2002 Longyearbyen Community Council became an official Norwegian municipality. It is the seat of the Governor of Svalbard. As of 2024, the town's mayor is Leif Terje Aunevik.

Known as Longyear City until 1926, the town was established by and named after American John Munro Longyear, whose Arctic Coal Company started coal-mining there in 1906. Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK) took over the mining operations in 1916, and still conducts mining. The German Kriegsmarine almost completely destroyed the town on 8 September 1943, but rebuilding took place after the Second World War. Historically, Longyearbyen was a company town, but most mining operations moved to Sveagruva during the 1990s, and production ceased in 2017 due to immense financial losses suffered by SNSK since 2014 due to market conditions.[4] Meanwhile, the town has seen a large increase in tourism and research. This includes the arrival of institutions such as the University Centre in Svalbard, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and Svalbard Satellite Station. Svalbard Airport, Svalbard Church and the Svalbardbutikken department store serve the community.

## History

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: The Norwegian side of Svalbard announced in January 2021 that it was phasing out coal entirely. https://www.politico.eu/article/coal-phaseout-reaches-remote-arctic-archipelago-svalbard-norway/. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2023)

|

Longyear City in 1908 Summer 1925 at Longyearbyen

In 1896, Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab started tours to Hotellneset. To accommodate tourists, they built a prefabricated hotel, but it was not profitable and was closed after the 1897 season. However, two families overwintered in 1898–99,[5]: 55 and Norway Post operated a post office at Hotellneset from 1897 to 1899.[5]: 104 The first commercially viable coal on Svalbard was harvested by Søren Zakariassen in 1899.[5]: 45 In 1901, Bergen-Spitsbergen Kullgrube-kompani started mining coal in Adventtoppen.[5]: 46

The American industrialist John Munro Longyear visited Spitsbergen as a tourist in 1901, and met with an expedition prospecting for coal. In 1903, he returned to Spitsbergen, where he met Henrik B. Næss in Adventfjorden, who gave him samples and information on coal fields. Along with his associate Frederick Ayer, Longyear bought the Norwegian claims on the west side of Adventfjorden, and expanded the claims significantly the following year. In 1906, the Boston-based Arctic Coal Company, with Ayer and Longyear as the main shareholders, started mining in Mine 1a, after building docks and housing.[6] The company had American administration, but mostly Norwegian labourers, and named the town Longyear City.[5]: 46 Coal was transported the 1.2 kilometers (0.75 mi) from the mine to the port using an aerial tramway built by the aerial cableway company Adolf Bleichert & Co. of Leipzig, Germany.[5]: 148 In 1913, the company started preliminary work to open Mine 2a.[5]: 47

Mine 2b was mined from 1938 to 1969 and today, it is a heritage site

Following financial difficulties during the First World War,[5]: 46 the mining operations were bought by Store Norske, which was incorporated in Oslo on 30 November 1916.[5]: 119 That year, SNSK built five new barracks, including one that was made into a hospital.[5]: 83 SNSK introduced its own money with the approval of Norges Bank, consisting entirely of banknotes at par with Norwegian krone.[5]: 116 The American community buried their dead at Hotellneset. In 1918, eleven people were killed by the Spanish flu and a graveyard was established in Longyear City.[5]: 64 Two years later, 26 men were killed in a coal dust explosion in Mine 1. This resulted in the mine being closed[5]: 46 and the electrification of Mine 2.[5]: 47 The same year, the first truck was delivered for use in the mining operations.[5]: 69

The Church of Norway appointed Thorleif Østenstad as Svalbard's first vicar and teacher in 1920.[5]: 126 A school was established jointly by the church and SNSK and had an inaugural eight pupils.[5]: 114 The first church in Svalbard opened on 28 August 1921,[5]: 126 and the church's reading room was from then on used as a school.[5]: 114 Longyear City was renamed Longyearbyen in 1926.[5]: 85

The Norwegian Telecommunications Administration established a coast radio station, Svalbard Radio, at Finneset in 1911, which was moved to Longyearbyen in 1930.[5]: 149 The town's tourist industry started in 1935, when SS Lyngen started calling regularly during the summer season.[5]: 153 In 1937, SNSK established Sverdrupbyen to house workers for Mine 1b, and operation of the mine started in 1939.[5]: 143 In 1938, Longyearbyen's first road was completed, between the town centre and Sverdrupbyen.[5]: 166 Operations at Mine 2b, a different entrance to Mine 2a, started in 1939.[5]: 47

The old power station, one of a handful of buildings that survived the Second World War, and the cable centre

Svalbard remained unaffected by the German occupation of Norway in 1940. However, from 1941 the archipelago became of strategic importance in the supply chain between the Allied powers, as well as a source of badly needed coal. The Norwegian government-in-exile rejected a Soviet–British occupation;[7]: 74 instead the British Army started Operation Gauntlet to evacuate Spitsbergen. On 29 August 1941, the entire population of Ny-Ålesund was evacuated to Longyearbyen, and on 3 September 765 people were evacuated from Longyearbyen to Scotland. Later, the last 150 men were also evacuated.[5]: 73 With Longyearbyen depopulated, a small German garrison and air strip were established in Adventdalen, mostly to provide meteorological data. After the British Operation Fritham regained control of Barentsburg, the German forces left Longyearbyen without combat.[7]: 75

In September 1943, the Kriegsmarine dispatched two battleships, Tirpitz and Scharnhorst, and nine destroyers to bombard Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Grumant.[7]: 75 Only four buildings in Longyearbyen survived: the hospital, the power station, an office building, and a residential building. Longyearbyen remained unsettled until the end of the war, with the first ship from the mainland leaving on 27 June 1945.[5]: 74

### Post-Second World War

[edit]

Plans were laid during the war to ensure a quick reconstruction and restarting of mining. By 1948, coal production had reached the pre-war level of 480,000 tonnes (470,000 long tons; 530,000 short tons) per year.[7]: 79 Nybyen was established in 1946 and consisted of five barracks, each housing 72 people.[5]: 94 The first issue of Svalbardposten was published in November 1948. Until then, various wall newspapers had been published irregularly.[5]: 133 In 1949, Longyearbyen received a telephone connection with the mainland via a radio connection between Svalbard Radio and Harstad.[5]: 149 In 1949, a farm was built in Longyearbyen to hold cattle (for milk), pigs, and hens.[5]: 37 A local radio station started broadcasting in 1950.[5]: 150 The burial ground remained in use until 1950, with 44 people buried.[5]: 65 However, it was discovered that the bodies were failing to decompose because of the permafrost, and that they could be preserving various microorganisms. Bodies have since been sent to the mainland for burial.[8] The community centre Huset opened in 1951.[5]: 57

Longyearbyen in 1989, view from aerial tramway

Mining in Mine 1b was terminated in 1958,[5]: 47 but operation in Mine 5 started the following year. Preliminary work on Mine 4 started in 1954, and from 1960 it was used as a reserve mine.[5]: 48 The Norwegian Air Force started serving Longyearbyen with postal flights in the 1950s. In 1959, a man fell seriously ill, so a landing strip was prepared in Adventdalen. From the same year, Braathens SAFE started serving the tundra airport with irregular winter flights.[9]: 154–158 In 1957, a principal was hired at the primary school and a new church was opened on 24 August 1958.[5]: 126 From 1961, the primary school was supplemented by a private middle school.[5]: 114 A branch of Tromsø Sparebank opened in 1959.[5]: 16

In the 1960s, the town's farm was closed and replaced by industrial liquefaction of powdered milk.[5]: 86 The first serial-produced snowmobile was taken into use in 1961. By 1969, there were 140 registered snowmobiles and only 33 registered cars.[5]: 69 From 1962 to 1984, a recreational centre was run at Sverdrupbyen.[5]: 143 Ordinary operation in Mine 4 started in 1966 but was terminated by 1970,[5]: 48 two years after Mine 2b closed.[5]: 47 Operations in Mine 6 commenced in 1969.[5]: 48 Television broadcasting equipment was installed in 1969, with the schedule of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation being aired with a two-week delay.[5]: 150

In 1971, a new school building, with a combined primary and lower secondary school, was opened, along with a new gymnasium and a 12.5-meter (41 ft) swimming pool.[5]: 114 The Svalbard Council was established on 1 November 1971. It consisted of 17 non-partisan members who were elected or appointed in three different groups: SNSK employees, government employees and others, although the ratio changed several times.[5]: 134 Operations of Mine 3 started in March 1971[5]: 47 and operations in Mine 7 commenced the following year.[5]: 48 In 1973, the Ministry of Trade and Industry bought a third of SNSK. It continued buying additional shares until it reached a 99.94 per cent ownership in 1976.[10] The airport was opened in 1975 and initially provided four weekly services to mainland Norway and semi-weekly services to Russia.[5]: 129 In 1978, the community received satellite communications with the mainland.[5]: 150 The same year, an upper secondary program was introduced at the public school.[5]: 114 From 1984, television programmes were broadcast live via satellite.[5]: 150

University Centre in Svalbard

Store Norske underwent a gradual change during the 1980s. Since 1980, Spitsbergen money has been taken out of circulation and replaced with ordinary Norwegian currency.[5]: 116 Mine 6 closed the following year.[5]: 108 From 1982, SNSK permitted private individuals to own and operate cars. By 1990, there were 353 registered cars and 883 snowscooters.[5]: 70 On 1 July 1983, SNSK moved its head office from Bergen to Longyearbyen.[5]: 119 Svalbard Samfunnsdrift (SSD), a limited company that was responsible for public infrastructure and services, was established by SNSK on 1 January 1989. Responsibilities included healthcare, the fire brigade, the kindergarten, roads, rubbish disposal, power production, the water and sewer system, the cinema, cultural activities and the library. Ownership was taken over by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on 1 January 1993.[11]

During the 1990s, the authorities started a process to "normalise" Longyearbyen by abolishing the company town scheme and introducing a full range of services, a varied economy and local democracy.[7]: 86 Commercial enterprises included a shopping mall replacing SNSK's provision store in 1992.[5]: 125 Similarly, Esso opened a commercial fuel station in 1994.[5]: 70 The Svalbard Council changed its regulations from 1993 and allowed parties to run for election.[5]: 136 In a step to increase tourism, Svalbard Polar Hotel opened in 1995,[5]: 132 and a year later mining of Mine 3 terminated.[5]: 47 Longyearbyen Community Council was established in 2002, replacing the Svalbard Council and assimilating SSD, and took on many of the responsibilities and the structure of a municipality.[10]

This period also saw the rise of a number of scientific establishments. The Agricultural University of Norway had established a primitive seed bank in 1984.[5]: 44 The University Centre in Svalbard opened on 6 September 1993 and had 30 students in its inaugural semester.[5]: 164 Telenor Mobil established GSM coverage in 1995,[5]: 151 and in 2004 the Svalbard Undersea Cable System opened, providing fiber-optic cable connection to the mainland.[12] The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) opened a radar in 1996,[5]: 36 followed by Svalbard Satellite Station in 1999[5]: 141 and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in 2008.[13]

## Geography

[edit]

View of the central parts of Longyearbyen from Platåberget. The body of water is Adventfjorden while the valley up to the right is Adventdalen. Longyearbyen seen from the top of the hill

Longyearbyen is in the lower portion of the Longyear Valley, along the Longyear River. The lower parts of the town lie along the southwestern shore of the bay of Adventfjorden, a 7-by-4-kilometer (4+1⁄2 by 2+1⁄2 mi) branch of Isfjorden.[14] Longyearbyen is on the Nordenskiöld Land peninsula of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago.[6] Across the bay lie the ghost towns of Advent City[15] and Hiorthhamn.[14] It is the world's second northernmost town, with all settlements further north (excluding Ny-Ålesund) being research or meteorological outposts.[16] The northernmost permanent settlement in the world is Alert, Canada, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, while the true northernmost settlement in the world is Camp Barneo in April.[17]

Longyearbyen is divided into several neighbourhoods. On the west side of the river, along the bay, lies the port and affiliated utility and industrial services. The western part of this area is called Bykaia and the eastern part Sjøområdet. Above lies Skjæringa, the site of the Governor's offices. Slightly up the valley on the west side lies Gamle Longyearbyen ("Old Longyearbyen") and the church. Even further up lies the graveyard, then Huset and the cinema, and finally Sverdrupbyen. Most of the residential, commercial and cultural institutions are on the east side of the river. Along the bay the area is called Sjøskrenten. Further up lies the university centre and Gruvedalen, the largest residential area. Southwards from there is the main shopping area as well as the town hall. To the east is the residential area Lia and further up Haugen, which is also the location of the school. Furthest up in the valley is Mine 2b and Nybyen, which is mostly used as student housing. Westwards out of town towards Hotellneset is the airport and Mine 3. The remaining mines are in Adventdalen, to the east of town.[18]

Longyearbyen in July

### Climate

[edit]

Longyearbyen outskirts

Svalbard's climate is a polar tundra climate (Köppen: ET) tempered by the North Atlantic Current. The west coast of Svalbard is the warmest and wettest part of the archipelago (except for Bear Island). This is caused by the convergence of mild and humid air from the south and cold air from the north. Longyearbyen generally has lower humidity than other settlements within the Arctic Circle. Longyearbyen experiences midnight sun from between 18 April and 23 August (127 days), polar night from 27 October to 15 February (111 days), and civil polar night from 13 November to 29 January. However, due to shading from mountains, the sun is not visible in Longyearbyen until around 8 March.[19] Snow typically covers the town from November to March. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Longyearbyen was 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in July 2020 and the coldest was −46.3 °C (−51.3 °F) in March 1986. Svalbard and Longyearbyen are among the places in the world that have warmed fastest in the latest decades. The 1991–2020 averages show that mean annual temperature in Longyearbyen has increased by 3.6 °C (6.5 °F) since 1961–1990. With the sea surface temperatures warming, ice formation takes longer in the surrounding waters and thus especially early winter under the polar night warms the fastest due to the shorter ice season.

As of 2021[update], Longyearbyen is the fastest-warming town in the world. Since 1971, temperatures on Svalbard have risen five times faster than the global average, by roughly four degrees Celsius. Winters now are more than seven degrees C warmer than they were in the 1970s. In 2020, Svalbard recorded its hottest ever temperature, 21.7 °C (71.1 °F), following 111 months of above-average heat. According to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, annual precipitation on Svalbard has increased by 30 to 45 per cent over the past 50 years, mostly in the form of winter rain. Since 2009, deep permafrost temperatures have increased at rates between 0.06 and 0.15-degree C per year.[20]

Although Alert, Canada likely has a lower average UV index, Longyearbyen has the lowest recorded average UV index for any current or previously inhabited place on Earth. Between April and September, the UV index typically ranges from 1 to 2, with May, June, and July having the highest UV index of 2. All other months average at 0, giving Longyearbyen a mean UV index of 0.75 over 12 months.[21]

Climate data for Svalbard Airport Longyearbyen 1991–2020 (28 m, extremes 1975–2022)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 7.7
(45.9)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 6.3
(43.3)  | 7.5
(45.5)  | 12.9
(55.2)  | 15.7
(60.3)  | 21.7
(71.1)  | 20.3
(68.5)  | 15.2
(59.4)  | 10.1
(50.2)  | 9.2
(48.6)  | 8.7
(47.7)  | 21.7
(71.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −7.7
(18.1)  | −8.3
(17.1)  | −8.8
(16.2)  | −5.7
(21.7)  | −0.6
(30.9)  | 5.6
(42.1)  | 9.4
(48.9)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 4.0
(39.2)  | −1.5
(29.3)  | −3.8
(25.2)  | −6.1
(21.0)  | −1.3
(29.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −10.9
(12.4)  | −11.6
(11.1)  | −12.0
(10.4)  | −8.8
(16.2)  | −2.2
(28.0)  | 3.6
(38.5)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 2.0
(35.6)  | −3.8
(25.2)  | −6.4
(20.5)  | −9.2
(15.4)  | −3.9
(25.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −14.2
(6.4)  | −15.0
(5.0)  | −15.5
(4.1)  | −12.1
(10.2)  | −3.9
(25.0)  | 2.2
(36.0)  | 5.4
(41.7)  | 4.4
(39.9)  | 0.3
(32.5)  | −6.1
(21.0)  | −9.3
(15.3)  | −12.2
(10.0)  | −6.3
(20.6)
Record low °C (°F)  | −38.8
(−37.8)  | −43.7
(−46.7)  | −46.3
(−51.3)  | −39.1
(−38.4)  | −21.7
(−7.1)  | −8.4
(16.9)  | −0.7
(30.7)  | −3.9
(25.0)  | −12.6
(9.3)  | −20.8
(−5.4)  | −33.2
(−27.8)  | −35.6
(−32.1)  | −46.3
(−51.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 21
(0.8)  | 17
(0.7)  | 16
(0.6)  | 9
(0.4)  | 8
(0.3)  | 8
(0.3)  | 20
(0.8)  | 23
(0.9)  | 26
(1.0)  | 18
(0.7)  | 22
(0.9)  | 24
(0.9)  | 212
(8.3)
Source 1: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[22]
Source 2: Meteostat[23]

Climate data for Longyearbyen (1961–1990)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 9.7
(49.5)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 6.3
(43.3)  | 7.5
(45.5)  | 10.6
(51.1)  | 15.7
(60.3)  | 21.7
(71.1)  | 18.1
(64.6)  | 15.2
(59.4)  | 8.9
(48.0)  | 7.5
(45.5)  | 8.7
(47.7)  | 21.7
(71.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −13.0
(8.6)  | −13.0
(8.6)  | −13.0
(8.6)  | −9.0
(15.8)  | −3.0
(26.6)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 1.0
(33.8)  | −4.0
(24.8)  | −8.0
(17.6)  | −11.0
(12.2)  | −4.7
(23.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −16.5
(2.3)  | −17.0
(1.4)  | −16.5
(2.3)  | −12.5
(9.5)  | −5.0
(23.0)  | 1.0
(33.8)  | 5.0
(41.0)  | 4.0
(39.2)  | −1.0
(30.2)  | −6.5
(20.3)  | −11.0
(12.2)  | −14.5
(5.9)  | −7.5
(18.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −20.0
(−4.0)  | −21.0
(−5.8)  | −20.0
(−4.0)  | −16.0
(3.2)  | −7.0
(19.4)  | −1.0
(30.2)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | 2.0
(35.6)  | −3.0
(26.6)  | −9.0
(15.8)  | −14.0
(6.8)  | −18.0
(−0.4)  | −10.3
(13.4)
Record low °C (°F)  | −38.8
(−37.8)  | −43.7
(−46.7)  | −46.3
(−51.3)  | −39.1
(−38.4)  | −21.7
(−7.1)  | −8.4
(16.9)  | 0.2
(32.4)  | −3.9
(25.0)  | −12.6
(9.3)  | −20.8
(−5.4)  | −33.2
(−27.8)  | −35.6
(−32.1)  | −46.3
(−51.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 22.0
(0.87)  | 28.0
(1.10)  | 29.0
(1.14)  | 16.0
(0.63)  | 13.0
(0.51)  | 18.0
(0.71)  | 24.0
(0.94)  | 30.0
(1.18)  | 25.0
(0.98)  | 19.0
(0.75)  | 22.0
(0.87)  | 25.0
(0.98)  | 271
(10.66)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 2  | 2  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 13  | 17  | 18  | 14  | 5  | 3  | 3  | 86
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) | 21  | 17  | 19  | 17  | 16  | 7  | 1  | 2  | 11  | 21  | 22  | 22  | 176
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 0.0  | 0.0  | 77.5  | 228.0  | 254.2  | 165.0  | 155.0  | 133.3  | 75.0  | 12.4  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 1,102
Percentage possible sunshine | 0.0  | 0.0  | 22.1  | 36.4  | 34.2  | 22.9  | 20.8  | 18.7  | 17.4  | 6.2  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 25
Average ultraviolet index | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0.75
Source 1: nordicvisitor.com[24]
Source 2: UNIS (extremes only)[25][26] (sun only)[27] and Weather Atlas (UV index)[21][28]

## Demographics

[edit]

Tourists visit the main street, with a shopping mall closest and the town hall further down

As of 2020[update], Longyearbyen had a population of 1,753 people. The largest regional group of Norwegians are from Northern Norway, particularly Nordland and Troms, who make up more than 40% of the population (2012).[29] Roughly 300 people (16%) are non-Norwegian citizens, with the largest nationalities being from Thailand, Sweden, Russia and Ukraine (2009).[30] Because of the dominance of the mining industry, the gender distribution is skewed, with 60% of adults being males. Longyearbyen has an over-average share of its population between 25 and 44 years old, but nearly no residents over 66. The number of children in relation to the population is at the national average, but Longyearbyen has significantly fewer teenagers than the national average.[29]

As of 2014, Thai people, numbering 120, were the second largest group of residents after Norwegians;[31] there were 60 in 2006. Thais first came to Svalbard when men brought their wives from Thailand during the 1970s.[32] In 2006, most of the Thai residents worked as cleaners,[32] and as of 2011 most stay for terms of two to three years to save funds.[citation needed] In 2007, 10 students at the Longyearbyen School were Thai.[33] The Thai community is active in numerous cultural events annually and motivated the establishment of a Thai supermarket.[31]

Longyearbyen experiences a very high turnover; in 2008, 427 people (23%) moved away from the town.[30] The average person lived in Longyearbyen for 6.3 years, although it is 6.6 years for Norwegians and 4.3 years for foreigners. In 2009, about a quarter of the population had lived in the town since before 2000, and can thus be regarded as its permanent population. The longest-residing people tend to work in the mining industry, followed by local government employees. The shortest tenures are held by students and employees in higher education, tourism and the state.[29] The turnover has created what the Norwegian government calls a "revolving door society". Most young newcomers leave within seven years, a turnover rate far greater than in any municipality on the mainland.[20]

70% of households consist of a single person, compared to 41% on the mainland, giving an average 1.6 people per household. The difference is largely caused by persons working on Svalbard while their family remains on the mainland. Longyearbyen's population is more highly educated than the national average: 54% compared to 43% have upper secondary education and 30% compared to 26% have tertiary education. Among women, 40% have higher education.[29]

## Politics and government

[edit]

Leif Terje Aunevik, Mayor of Longyearbyen (2024)

Longyearbyen Community Council has many of the same responsibilities as a municipality.[10] It is organised with a 15-member council that since 2015 has been led by Mayor Arild Olsen of the Labour Party.[34] The council's main responsibilities are infrastructure and utilities, including power, land-use and community planning, education from kindergarten to upper secondary level and child welfare. It operates three kindergartens in addition to the 13-grade Longyearbyen School.[35]

Longyearbyen hospital

No care or nursing services and welfare payments are available. Norwegian residents retain pension and medical rights through their mainland municipalities.[36] The University Hospital of North Norway operates a clinic, Longyearbyen Hospital.[10] Other public offices with a presence on Longyearbyen are the Norwegian Directorate of Mining, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Tax Administration and the Church of Norway.[37] Longyearbyen is subordinate to Nord-Troms District Court and Hålogaland Court of Appeal, both in Tromsø.[38]

The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 established full Norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago. The treaty came into effect in 1925, following the Svalbard Act that established the institution of the Governor of Svalbard. The governor holds responsibility as both county governor and chief of police, as well as holding other authority granted from the executive branch. Duties include environmental policy, family law, law enforcement, search and rescue, tourism management, information services, contact with foreign settlements and judge in some areas of maritime inquiries and judicial examinations—albeit never in the same cases as acting as police.[37][39] Kjerstin Askholt has been governor since 2015;[40] she is assisted by a staff of 26 professionals. The institution is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and the Police, but reports to other ministries in matters within their portfolio.[41]

Upper part of the Longyear Valley, with the buildings of Sverdrupbyen to the left, Huset to the right and an aerial tramway in the background

Because of the special treaty status of Svalbard, Longyearbyen is subject to Norwegian legislation, but citizens of any signatory country may conduct commercial activities and live in town.[42] However, people without a source of income can be rejected by the governor.[43] The treaty limits Norway's right to collect taxes to that of financing services on Svalbard. Therefore, Longyearbyen has a lower income tax than mainland Norway, and there is no value added tax. The treaty has resulted in Longyearbyen being a demilitarized zone[42] and it is not part of the European Economic Area nor of the Schengen Area like the rest of Norway.[44]

Starting with the 2023 Norwegian local elections, voters for the Longyearbyen community council must have previously resided in mainland Norway for at least 3 years.[45][46] Previously, foreign citizens who had lived in Longyearbyen itself for 3 years had also been allowed to vote, with the rule change disenfranchising a significant percentage of the settlement's population.

### Unique laws

[edit]

Due to its remoteness, Longyearbyen has laws that are found in few, if any, other places in the world. Notable examples of such laws include a ban on cats, a restriction on the amount of alcohol an individual can purchase each month, and a requirement that any individuals venturing outside carry a rifle for protection against polar bears.[47][48] While it is popularly claimed that it is illegal to die in Longyearbyen, the wording of this claim is misleading. While it is not actually illegal to die in the town, there are no options for burial of bodies there (ashes can be buried with permission from the government) and residents considered terminally ill are typically required to move to the mainland. The decision to disallow burials came in 1950, when it was discovered that the bodies of residents who had died as a result of the 1918 flu pandemic had not begun to decompose. Today, scientists are concerned that these corpses, preserved by permafrost may still harbor live strains of the virus responsible for killing between 1% and 6% of the world's population during the early 20th century.[49]

## Culture

[edit]

The community council runs a number of cultural activities, such as a cinema, a youth club, a library and a gallery.[50] Svalbard Church of the Church of Norway has the entire archipelago as its parish. The congregational hall is 126 m2 (1,360 sq ft) while the sitting room is 112 m2 (1,210 sq ft). The church is built in half-timber.[5]: 126 There are two museums in town, Svalbard Museum[51] and the Spitsbergen Airship Museum.[52] Solfestuka ("Sun Festival Week") takes place each year during the week surrounding 8 March, the date sunlight is first visible in most of the town after the polar night that began the previous October (the first official sunrise is usually 16 February, but most of the town is still in shadow due to the surrounding mountains).[53] Dark Season Blues has been held annually in October since 2003.[54] Polarjazz has been held in late January/early February since 1998.[55] Twenty residents of the town are members of the Liverbirds Svalbard and regularly meet in the Svalbar Archived 28 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine on match days during the winter months. Arctic Film Festival is a film festival held annually in the city's screening venue, Kulturhuset.[56][57]

### Sports

[edit]

The town's sole known organised sports club is Svalbard Turn.[5]: 139 Svalbardhallen is an indoor sport centre that includes a multi-sport hall large enough for handball or three badminton courts, a shooting range, a climbing wall and a 25-meter (82 ft) swimming pool.[5]: 155

The town has no outdoor sports fields, and there are no known cases of a senior team in any indoor or outdoor sport participating in a national Norwegian competition (e.g. Norwegian Cup). An under-16 boys futsal team representing Svalbard Turn, played in the small 2-day Per Bredesen Cup in Horten in March 2020.[58]

Beyond the walls of Svalbardhallen, the websites of Svalbard Turn claim they host the Spitsbergen Marathon, the Svalbard Skimaraton (42.0km freestyle, though many participants use classic style),[59] and an annual orienteering race.

### Media

[edit]

Svalbardposten is a weekly newspaper published on Friday. Printing takes place in Tromsø and the majority of subscribers live on the mainland. Icepeople, an alternative newspaper in English, is also published weekly.[5]: 133

For television, an edited feed of NRK1 began airing in 1969 on a 2-week delay; the broadcasts did not accomplish live broadcasting until 22 December 1984,[60] which in turn resulted in Svalbard being added to the national newscasts' weather reports. Allente pay-TV satellite signals have effectively been receivable since the Canal Digital signals became publicly available in mainland Norway.[61]

For radio, NRK P1[62] (most likely the Troms and Finnmark opt-out), P4 (Norway), and Radio Norge[63] have been known to be available. As of July 2020, the Skjæringa mast was the only known remaining medium wave AM (or any AM range) broadcaster of an NRK station.[62][64] DAB radio broadcasting began in August or September 2016,[65] followed by FM radio shutting down in December 2017. Only the NRK DAB network with 13 stations was planned to be set up as of February 2016;[66] the status for the commercial stations' DAB network (incl. P4 and Radio Norge) is unclear.

Fiber broadband is provided by the Svalbard Undersea Cable System.

### Popular culture

[edit]

Arctic Outpost Radio AM1270 is an internet station since 2016 by the persona Cal Lockwood[67] playing 78 rpm records, who claims to broadcast to the town on the medium wave 1270 kHz,[68][a] whose website[69] and its old hosting website[70][71] are registered at Kansas City, Missouri. Only one individual claimed to have actually received the AM broadcast when he was in Longyearbyen in 2019.[72]

> The best way to listen to Arctic Outpost from long distance. Listen to us via the iOS & Android TuneIn apps, Desktop player, or Sonos speakers.

> — Arctic Outpost Radio website[69]

## Economy

[edit]

Old coal filling station. Drawing by Max Presnyakov, 2014.

Coal production peaked in 2007 at 4.1 million tonnes, and reduced to 1.1 million tonnes in 2015.[73] The only mining still taking place in Longyearbyen is at Mine 7, 15 kilometers (9 mi) up Adventdalen. In 2012 it produced 70,000 tonnes (69,000 long tons; 77,000 short tons) of coal annually, of which 25,000 tonnes (25,000 long tons; 28,000 short tons) is used to fuel Longyear Power Station, Norway's only coal-fueled power station.[74][73][75] The power station was scheduled for a NOK 60 million maintenance work, and the local authorities decided a NOK 40 million upgrade of the diesel power plant instead.[76]

Most of Store Norske's production was done at Sveagruva, on Van Mijenfjorden, 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of Longyearbyen. No roads connect the communities;[77] instead, workers lived in dormitories in Svea until it closed in 2017.[78] Seventy per cent commute home to the mainland while thirty per cent commute to Longyearbyen. Mining has not been profitable and Store Norske relies on state subsidies to retain production.[79]

Svalbard fisheries have witnessed an unforeseen consequence of global warming: Atlantic cod, mackerel, and snow crabs, fleeing warmer waters to the south, are heading north to Svalbard, swelling the local catch. In the decade of the 2020s, Norway values its Svalbard fishing trade at about US$94 million annually.[20]

The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) has 350 students and a permanent faculty of 40 professors and assistants and 120 guest lecturers. UNIS does not offer degrees, but instead offers semester courses in biology, physics and geology. Student housing is at Nybyen. The college is part of the 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft) Svalbard Science Centre, which also features the Norwegian Polar Institute, EISCAT and Svalbard Science Forum.[80] In 2006, about 9,000 research days were spent in Longyearbyen, most of which were by Norwegians. This made Longyearbyen the second-largest research outpost on Svalbard, marginally below Ny-Ålesund. In contrast, Longyearbyen has almost only Norwegian research, while Ny-Ålesund is roughly evenly split between Norwegian and foreign.[81]

The EISCAT radar

Svalbard Satellite Station was built because of Longyearbyen's excellent location to download data from satellites in polar orbit. At Platåberget above Hotellneset, it was built as a cooperation between NASA and the Norwegian Space Centre, but has since 2001 been operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services.[82] EISCAT operates an incoherent scatter radar to study the northern lights.[5]: 36 The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, administered by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, is a secure underground facility capable of storing millions of crop seeds. The facility has been designed to protect against natural and human disasters, including global warming, floods and fires and nuclear holocaust. The site was chosen for a number of factors including its remoteness, sound geology and the ambient temperature of the permafrost.[83]

Longyearbyen is the centre of tourism on the archipelago, although most tourism is generated based on natural experiences rather than visiting the town itself. However, Longyearbyen does provide supplies (including Svalbardbutikken, the area's only grocery store), accommodation and several museums. In 2008, Longyearbyen experienced 89,000 guest-nights, up from 30,000 in 1995. The average guest stayed 2.2 nights and 60 per cent of the capacity was used by tourists. About 40,000 tourists flew into Longyearbyen. Two-thirds of the tourists come from Norway. In 2007, the tourism industry had a revenue of NOK 291 million and produced 200-man-years.[84] The Svalbard society received NOK 380 million in public funding in 2008, which increased to 650 million in 2015.[73]

## Education

[edit]

Longyearbyen School Until 1987, a series of aerial tramways were used to haul coal from the mines to the port University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)

Longyearbyen School serves ages 6–18. It is the northernmost primary and secondary school in the world.[85] Once pupils reach ages 16 or 17 many families move to mainland Norway. There is a non-degree-offering tertiary educational institution in Longyearbyen,[33] University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), co-located with the Norwegian Polar Institute, Svalbard Museum, Svalbard Science Forum.[86]

The Czech Arctic Research Station is also based in Longyearbyen and provides facilities for researchers and students not only from the Czech Republic but from all over the world.[87]

## Transport

[edit]

Longyearbyen has a road network stretching 50 kilometers (30 mi),[88] but the network does not extend to any other communities.[89]: 63–67 In 2008 there were 1,481 registered road vehicles and 49 percent of all households had a car.[88] Cars are registered with ZN registration plates.[5]: 70 There is a single dealer who sells Toyotas, Svalbard Auto, which is also one of two businesses providing repairs.[90]

Snowmobiles are a popular mode of transport, and there are more snowmobiles than residents. In 2008, there were registered 2,672 snowmobiles, and 69 per cent of households owned at least one in Longyearbyen.[88] Off-road motorised transport is prohibited on bare ground, but snowmobiles are used extensively during winter—both for commercial and recreational activities. Transport from Longyearbyen to Barentsburg (45 km or 28 mi) and Pyramiden (100 km or 62 mi) is possible by snowmobile in winter, or by ship year round.[89]: 63–67

Svalbard Airport, Longyear is at Hotellneset, 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) northwest of town. It has a 2,483-meter (8,146 ft) long runway and is the only airport that is permitted to serve aircraft from the archipelago.[91][92] Scandinavian Airlines operates daily flights to Oslo and Tromsø,[93] and there are irregular flights to Russia. Lufttransport operates regular charter services to Svea Airport and Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben. Arktikugol operates helicopters to Barentsburg and Pyramiden.[92] There are two quays in Longyearbyen, one for the export of coal and one for general goods.[94] From 1907 to 1987, the mining companies operated a network of aerial tramways to transport coal from the mines to the port.[5]: 148 In the years 1907–1908 the then worldwide leading German wire ropeways company, Adolf Bleichert & Co. from Lipsia, built a material cableway from mine 1 to the ship's loading station, which was later supplemented by a cableway to mine 2. The remains of these wire ropeways and later successors to other mines are still visible today.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Longyearbyen at night

* Bjørndalen base station

* Houses in Longyearbyen

* View of the city

## See also

[edit]

* List of northernmost settlements

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 1270 kHz, is an unallocated frequency in the ITU region 2 spacing where Svalbard is located. Either 1269 kHz in zone 2 as in Europe or 1270 kHz in zone 1 as in North America.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/folketall/statistikk/befolkningen-pa-svalbard
2. ^ "Svalbard and Jan Mayen – pricing and customs rules". Posten Bring. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
3. ^ "Longyearbyen". Store Norske Leksikon. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
4. ^ "Final Closure: Government recommends permanent shutdown of mining at Svea, Lunckefjell | icepeople". icepeople. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw Holm, Kari (1999). Longyearbyen – Svalbard: historisk veiviser [Longyearbyen, Svalbard: Historical Guide] (in Norwegian). K. Holm. ISBN 82-992142-4-6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
6. ^ a b "Longyearbyen". Norwegian Polar Institute. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
7. ^ a b c d e Arlov, Thor B. (1994). A Short History of Svalbard. Oslo: Norwegian Polar Institute. ISBN 82-90307-55-1. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
8. ^ Bartlett, Duncan (12 July 2008). "Why dying is forbidden in the Arctic". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
9. ^ Tjomsland, Audun; Wilsberg, Kjell (1996). Braathens SAFE 50 år: Mot alle odds (in Norwegian). Oslo. ISBN 82-990400-1-9.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
10. ^ a b c d "9 Næringsvirksomhet". St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard. Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
11. ^ "Industrial, mining and commercial activities". Report No. 9 to the Storting (1999–2000): Svalbard. Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. 29 October 1999. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
12. ^ Gjesteland, Eirik (2003). "Technical solution and implementation of the Svalbard fibre cable" (PDF). Teletronikk (3): 140–152\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.140-152&rft.date=2003&rft.aulast=Gjesteland&rft.aufirst=Eirik&rft_id=http://telektronikk.com/volumes/pdf/3.2004/Page_140-152.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Longyearbyen" class="Z3988">
13. ^ "Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Frequently Asked Questions". Government.no. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
14. ^ a b "Adventfjorden". Norwegian Polar Institute. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
15. ^ "Advent City". Norwegian Polar Institute. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
16. ^ Rosenthal, Elisabeth (3 March 2008). "A Speck of Sunlight Is a Town's Yearly Alarm Clock". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
17. ^ "The World's Northernmost Permanent Settlement Set a Record High Temperature". Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
18. ^ "Longyearbyen map" (PDF). Svalbard Reiseliv. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
19. ^ "Sunrise and sunset times for Longyearbyen". Suncurves. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
20. ^ a b c Dickie, Gloria (1 June 2021). "The World's Northernmost Town Is Changing Dramatically". Scientific American. 324 (6): 44–53\. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0621-44. PMID 39020622. Archived from the original (Original title: "The Polar Crucible") on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.44-53&rft.date=2021-06-01&rft_id=info:doi/10.1038/scientificamerican0621-44&rft_id=info:pmid/39020622&rft.aulast=Dickie&rft.aufirst=Gloria&rft_id=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-worlds-northernmost-town-is-changing-dramatically/&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Longyearbyen" class="Z3988">
21. ^ a b "Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
22. ^ "EKlima". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
23. ^ "Meteostat.net". Retrieved 6 February 2022.
24. ^ "Climate and daylight in Svalbard (Longyearbyen)". NordicVisitor. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
25. ^ Sjöblom, Anna. "Weather Conditions on Svalbard" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
26. ^ "July Climate History for Longyearbyen | Local | Norway". Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
27. ^ "Sunshine & Daylight Hours in Isfjord Radio, Svalbard, Norway Sunlight, Cloud & Day length". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
28. ^ "Hottest Ever Day Recorded in Arctic Svalbard". 25 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
29. ^ a b c d "Pendlere eller fastboende?" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. 26 March 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
30. ^ a b "Om Longyearbyen" (in Norwegian). Longyearbyen Community Council. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
31. ^ a b "Ah The Thai chef". Norwegian Air Shuttle (inflight magazine). Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
32. ^ a b "Immigrants warmly welcomed". Al Jazeera. 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
33. ^ a b "Learning in the freezer". The Guardian. 29 August 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
34. ^ Amundsen, Birger (10 October 2011). "Kvinne valgt av folket". Svalbardposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
35. ^ "Information for foreign citizens living in Longyearbyen". Governor of Svalbard. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
36. ^ "From the cradle, but not to the grave" (PDF). Statistics Norway. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
37. ^ a b "The administration of Svalbard". Report No. 9 to the Storting (1999–2000): Svalbard. Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. 29 October 1999. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
38. ^ "Nord-Troms tingrett". Norwegian National Courts Administration. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
39. ^ "Lov om Svalbard" (in Norwegian). Lovdata. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
40. ^ "Dagens sysselmann på Svalbard" (in Norwegian). Governor of Svalbard. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
41. ^ "Organisation". Governor of Svalbard. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
42. ^ a b "Svalbard Treaty". Wikisource. 9 February 1920. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
43. ^ "Entry and residence". Governor of Svalbard. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
44. ^ "Lov om gjennomføring i norsk rett av hoveddelen i avtale om Det europeiske økonomiske samarbeidsområde (EØS) m.v. (EØS-loven)" (in Norwegian). Lovdata. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original on 10 December 2000. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
45. ^ "Sentrale Svalbard-politikere gir seg – slakter ny valgordning" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
46. ^ "Utlendinger blir fratatt stemmeretten på Svalbard" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Utrop. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
47. ^ "Alcohol and tobacco". Governor. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
48. ^ "12 Facts You Never Knew About Longyearbyen: The World's Northernmost City -". johnnyjet.com. 5 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
49. ^ van der Jagt, Kerry (14 May 2018). "Svalbard, Norway: The island where no one is allowed to die, or give birth". stuff. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
50. ^ "Development of the local community in Longyearbyen". Report No. 9 to the Storting (1999–2000): Svalbard. Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. 29 October 1999. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
51. ^ "Information about the museum". Spitsbergen Museum. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
52. ^ "Spitsbergen Airship Museum". Spitsbergen Airship Museum. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
53. ^ "Mass enlightenment: Sun listens to warm crowd instead of drab experts in shinning return to Longyearbyen | icepeople". icepeople.net. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
54. ^ Langset, Mona (22 October 2009). "Svalbard-blues skal lyse opp i mørketiden". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
55. ^ "Polarjazz Festivalen – Festival in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen". Visit Svalbard (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
56. ^ "Arctic Film Festival". FilmFreeway. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
57. ^ "Arctic Film Festival, Svalbard – Festival in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen". Visit Svalbard. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
58. ^ "–Ingen flytter til Svalbard for å bli gode fotballspillere". Gjengangeren (in Norwegian Bokmål). 10 March 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
59. ^ "Klasseinndeling, kontingent og lisens". Svalbard Skimaraton (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
60. ^ "Fikk se TV i opptak uker etter fastlandet". Svalbardposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). 23 March 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
61. ^ "Før ble TV-sendinger fraktet med fly. Så bygde de dette anlegget". Tek.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 22 January 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
62. ^ a b "Får bedre radiorekkevidde". Svalbardposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
63. ^ "Stille for Radio Norge og P4" (in Norwegian Bokmål). 15 June 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
64. ^ "Vedrørende AM-sendinger fra Ingøy og Longyearbyen" (PDF). Radio Nordkapp (in Norwegian Bokmål). 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
65. ^ "DAB innstallert på øya". Svalbardposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
66. ^ "Svalbard får DAB" (in Norwegian Bokmål). 4 February 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
67. ^ "Instagram: Cal_Lockwood - Music Director and broadcast host on Arctic Outpost Radio AM1270". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
68. ^ "Spinning the 78's | Arctic Outpost Radio AM1270". Retrieved 9 May 2024.
69. ^ a b "aor.am WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". whois.domaintools.com. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
70. ^ "ARCTIC OUTPOST". nordic-lodge-radio. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
71. ^ "NordicLodgeRadio.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". whois.domaintools.com. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
72. ^ Sabbatini, Mark (6 April 2020). "FEVERISHLY COOL: Arctic Outpost Radio AM1270 hosted by local man of mystery Cal Lockwood goes from three 'followers' to 40,000 in hours due to viral reaction from…Portugal?!". Retrieved 9 May 2024.
73. ^ a b c "Gruvedriften Svalbards bristende hjerte" (in Norwegian). 2017. p. 8\. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017.
74. ^ "Gruve 7". Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
75. ^ "Energy needs of Longyearbyen" (PDF). 2017. p. 15\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
76. ^ Urke, Eirik Helland (17 September 2021). "Vedtatt: Longyearbyen stenger kullkraftverket, skal fyre med diesel". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
77. ^ "Svea Nord". Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
78. ^ "Sveagruva". Norwegian Polar Institute. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
79. ^ "Gruvedrift: Svalbardsamfunnets hjerte" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
80. ^ "Arctic science for global challenges". University Centre in Svalbard. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
81. ^ "Pendlere eller fastboende?" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
82. ^ Grønli, Kristin Straumsheim (December 2006). "Øyet i himmelen laster ned på Svalbard". Forskning.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
83. ^ Roug, Louise (12 October 2007). "The Seed Bank Atop the World". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
84. ^ "Turisme: Stadig flere vil oppleve Arktis" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
85. ^ "Learning in the freezer". The Guardian. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
86. ^ "Heidi The glaciologist". Norwegian Air Shuttle (inflight magazine). Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
87. ^ "Research communities". www.forskningsradet.no. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
88. ^ a b c "Lov og rett: Anerledes lov og orden" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
89. ^ a b Umbreit, Andreas (2005). Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen (3rd ed.). Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-092-3. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
90. ^ "Om oss" (in Norwegian). Svalbard Auto. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
91. ^ "Airport information for ENSB" (PDF). Avinor. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
92. ^ a b "11 Sjø og luft – transport, sikkerhet, redning og beredskap". St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard. Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
93. ^ Avinor. "Destinations from Svalbard Airport, Longyear" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
94. ^ Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (1990): 232

1. ^ Includes Ny Ålesund[1]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Norwegian Mapping Authority (1990). Sailing directions, travellers' guide, Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Den norske los. ISBN 82-90653-06-9.
* Stange, Rolf (2012). Spitsbergen – Svalbard. A complete guide around the arctic archipelago. Rolf Stange. ISBN 978-3-937903-14-9.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Longyearbyen.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Longyearbyen.

* Longyearbyen Community Council (in Norwegian)

* v
* t
* e

Capitals of European states and territories

Capitals of dependent territories and states whose sovereignty is disputed shown in italics.

Sovereign states|

* Amsterdam, Netherlands1
* Andorra la Vella, Andorra
* Ankara, Turkey2
* Astana, Kazakhstan2
* Athens, Greece
* Baku, Azerbaijan2
* Belgrade, Serbia
* Berlin, Germany
* Bern, Switzerland
* Bratislava, Slovakia
* Brussels, Belgium3
* Bucharest, Romania
* Budapest, Hungary
* Chișinău, Moldova
* Copenhagen, Denmark
* Dublin, Ireland
* Helsinki, Finland
* Kyiv, Ukraine
* Lisbon, Portugal
* Ljubljana, Slovenia
* London, United Kingdom
* Luxembourg, Luxembourg
* Madrid, Spain
* Minsk, Belarus
* Monaco5
* Moscow, Russia
* Nicosia, Cyprus2
* Oslo, Norway
* Paris, France
* Podgorica, Montenegro
* Prague, Czech Republic
* Reykjavík, Iceland
* Riga, Latvia
* Rome, Italy
* San Marino, San Marino
* Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Skopje, North Macedonia
* Sofia, Bulgaria
* Stockholm, Sweden
* Tallinn, Estonia
* Tbilisi, Georgia2
* Tirana, Albania
* Vaduz, Liechtenstein
* Valletta, Malta
* Vatican City4
* Vienna, Austria
* Vilnius, Lithuania
* Warsaw, Poland
* Yerevan, Armenia2
* Zagreb, Croatia

States with
limited recognition|

* North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus2
* Pristina, Kosovo
* Sokhumi, Abkhazia2
* Tiraspol, Transnistria
* Tskhinvali, South Ossetia2

Dependencies|

| United Kingdom|

| Constituent countries|

* London, England
* Edinburgh, Scotland
* Cardiff, Wales
* Belfast, Northern Ireland

|

Crown Dependencies and
Overseas Territories|

* Douglas, Isle of Man
* Episkopi Cantonment, Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Gibraltar, Gibraltar
* St Helier, Jersey
* Saint Peter Port, Guernsey

Other|

* Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway)
* Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (Denmark)

Federal states|

| Austria|

* Bregenz, Vorarlberg
* Eisenstadt, Burgenland
* Graz, Styria
* Innsbruck, Tyrol
* Klagenfurt, Carinthia
* Linz, Upper Austria
* Salzburg, Salzburg
* Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria
* Vienna, Vienna

|

Belgium|

| Communities|

* Brussels, Flemish Community and French Community
* Eupen, German-speaking Community

|

Regions|

* Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region and Flanders
* Namur, Wallonia

Bosnia and Herzegovina|

* Banja Luka (de facto), Republika Srpska
* Brčko, Brčko District
* Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Germany|

* Berlin, Berlin
* Bremen, Bremen
* Dresden, Saxony
* Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia
* Erfurt, Thuringia
* Hamburg, Hamburg
* Hanover, Lower Saxony
* Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
* Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt
* Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Munich, Bavaria
* Potsdam, Brandenburg
* Saarbrücken, Saarland
* Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
* Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
* Wiesbaden, Hesse

Russia|

| Republics|

* Cheboksary, Chuvashia
* Cherkessk, Karachay-Cherkessia
* Elista, Kalmykia
* Grozny, Chechnya
* Izhevsk, Udmurtia
* Kazan, Tatarstan
* Magas, Ingushetia
* Makhachkala, Dagestan
* Maykop, Adygea
* Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria
* Petrozavodsk, Karelia
* Saransk, Mordovia
* Simferopol, Crimea (disputed)
* Syktyvkar, Komi
* Ufa, Bashkortostan
* Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia–Alania
* Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El

|

Autonomous okrugs|

* Naryan-Mar, Nenets

Krais|

* Krasnodar, Krasnodar Krai
* Perm, Perm Krai
* Stavropol, Stavropol Krai

Oblasts|

* Arkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast
* Astrakhan, Astrakhan Oblast
* Belgorod, Belgorod Oblast
* Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast
* Ivanovo, Ivanovo Oblast
* Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast
* Kaluga, Kaluga Oblast
* Kirov, Kirov Oblast
* Kostroma, Kostroma Oblast
* Krasnogorsk and Moscow, Moscow Oblast (de facto)
* Kursk, Kursk Oblast
* Lipetsk, Lipetsk Oblast
* Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast
* Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
* Orenburg, Orenburg Oblast
* Oryol, Oryol Oblast
* Penza, Penza Oblast
* Pskov, Pskov Oblast
* Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast
* Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast
* Gatchina, Leningrad Oblast
* Samara, Samara Oblast
* Saratov, Saratov Oblast
* Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast
* Tambov, Tambov Oblast
* Tula, Tula Oblast
* Tver, Tver Oblast
* Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk Oblast
* Veliky Novgorod, Novgorod Oblast
* Vladimir, Vladimir Oblast
* Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast
* Vologda, Vologda Oblast
* Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast
* Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast

Federal cities|

* Moscow
* Saint Petersburg
* Sevastopol (disputed)

Switzerland|

* Aarau, Aargau
* Altdorf, Uri
* Appenzell, Appenzell Innerrhoden
* Basel, Basel-Stadt
* Bellinzona, Ticino
* Chur, Grisons
* Delémont, Jura
* Frauenfeld, Thurgau
* Fribourg, Canton of Fribourg
* Geneva, Canton of Geneva
* Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden
* Lausanne, Vaud
* Liestal, Basel-Landschaft
* Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne
* Neuchâtel, Canton of Neuchâtel
* Sarnen, Obwalden
* Schaffhausen, Canton of Schaffhausen
* Schwyz, Canton of Schwyz
* Sion, Valais
* Solothurn, Canton of Solothurn
* Stans, Nidwalden
* St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen
* Glarus, Canton of Glarus
* Zug, Canton of Zug
* Zurich, Canton of Zürich

Autonomous
entities|

| Italy|

| Autonomous regions|

* Cagliari, Sardinia
* Palermo, Sicily
* Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
* Aosta, Aosta Valley
* Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia

|

Portugal|

| Autonomous regions|

* Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo, & Horta, Azores
* Funchal, Madeira

|

Spain|

* Barcelona, Catalonia
* Las Palmas & Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
* Logroño, La Rioja
* Madrid, Community of Madrid
* Mérida, Extremadura
* Murcia, Region of Murcia
* Oviedo, Asturias
* Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands
* Pamplona, Navarre
* Santander, Cantabria
* Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
* Seville, Andalusia
* Toledo, Castilla–La Mancha (de facto)
* Valencia, Valencian Community
* Valladolid, Castile and León (de facto)
* Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country (de facto)
* Zaragoza, Aragon

Other|

* Ajaccio, Corsica Collectivité (France)
* Batumi, Adjara (Georgia)
* Comrat, Gagauzia (Moldova)
* Karyes, Mount Athos (Greece)
* Mariehamn, Åland Islands (Finland)
* Nakhchivan, Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan)
* Novi Sad, Vojvodina (Serbia)
* Simferopol, Crimea (Ukraine)

* 1 Also the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
* 2 Continental placement may vary depending on geographic convention being followed
* 3 Also the seat of the European Union, see Institutional seats of the European Union and Brussels and the European Union
* 4 A city-state

* v
* t
* e

Svalbard

General|

* Agriculture
* Archaeology
* Cannabis
* Outline
* Economy
* Geography
* Newtontoppen
* Languages
* Museums
* Transport
* In fiction

Politics|

* Act
* Longyearbyen Community Council
* Governor
* Treaty
* Visa policy

Settlements|

* Barentsburg
* Hopen Radio
* Longyearbyen
* Ny-Ålesund
* history
* Isbjørnhamna
* Sveagruva

Former settlements|

* Advent City
* Bölscheøya
* Finneset
* Gåshamna
* Grumant
* Hiorthhamn
* Isfjord Radio
* Kobbefjorden
* Lægerneset
* Ny-London
* Pyramiden
* Smeerenburg
* Virgohamna
* Ytre Norskøya

Environment|

* Climate
* Flora
* Protected areas

Islands|

* Amsterdam Island
* Barentsøya
* Bear Island
* Danes Island
* Edgeøya
* Hopen
* Kong Karls Land
* Kongsøya
* Kvitøya
* Lågøya
* Nordaustlandet
* Prins Karls Forland
* Sjuøyane
* Spitsbergen
* Svenskøya
* Thousand Islands
* Wilhelm Island

Land areas|

Spitsbergen
Albert I Land
Andrée Land
Bünsow Land
Dickson Land
Haakon VII Land
Heer Land
James I Land
Nathorst Land
Nordenskiöld Land
Ny-Friesland
Olav V Land
Oscar II Land
Sabine Land
Sørkapp Land
Torell Land
Wedel Jarlsberg Land
Nordaustlandet
Gustav Adolf Land
Gustav V Land
Orvin Land

National parks|

* Forlandet National Park
* Indre Wijdefjorden
* Nordenskiöld Land
* Nordre Isfjorden Land
* Northwest Spitsbergen
* Sassen–Bünsow Land
* Sør-Spitsbergen

Companies|

* Arctic Coal Company
* Arktikugol
* Bjørnøen
* Isfjorden AB
* Kings Bay
* Store Norske
* Spetsbergens Svenska kolfält

Research|

* Arctic World Archive
* Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower
* Arctic Yellow River Station
* Dirigibile Italia Arctic Station
* Himadri Station
* IndARC Station
* Norwegian Polar Institute
* Polish Polar Station
* Seed Vault
* University Centre
* Zeppelin Station

Telecommunications|

* Hopen Radio
* Isfjord Radio
* Kongsfjord Telemetry Station
* .sj
* Satellite Station
* Svalbard Radio
* Undersea Cable

Transport|

* Barentsburg Heliport, Heerodden
* Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben
* Pyramiden Heliport
* Svalbard Airport
* Svalbard Rocket Range
* Svea Airport

Education|

* Longyearbyen School

History|

* 2011 Svalbard polar bear attack
* Swedish settlement of Svalbard

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Israel

78°13′N 15°39′E﻿ / ﻿78.22°N 15.65°E﻿ / 78.22; 15.65
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template