Europe > Norway > Longyearbyen > Location & history

Longyearbyen

Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway
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ABOVE: Longyearbyen's aerial-cableway terminal once gathered coal from 6 km of mine conveyors for delivery to the port below.

Location and history

Location

Longyearbyen is on the Adventsfjord, an inlet where the Adventdal River meets the Isfjord or "Ice Fjord" on the western side of Spitsbergen. The town lies at a latitude of 78º N, within 600 miles or 966 km of the North Pole.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, which warms the western coastline of Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen has a relatively mild climate for a town that's closer to the North Pole than to the Arctic Circle (which lies 800 miles or 1260 km to the south). The average daily temperature in July is 43º F or 6º C. In January, Longyearbyen averages a toasty 3º F or -16º C, though winds can make it feel colder.

If you're visiting in summer, the "Midnight Sun" can be disconcerting: The sun doesn't set from April 20 until August 23, and you may find it difficult to go to bed when the wee hours look like high noon. (The small photo at left was taken around 3 a.m.) Still, if you're a night owl, you can always visit in winter, when the "Polar Night" keeps the sun below the horizon from November 14 to January 29.

History

Longyearbyen is the only self-governing municipality in Svalbard, a remote Arctic island group with a recorded history that dates back more than 800 years. According to Spitsbergen Travel, Svalbard means "the land with the cold coasts" and was first mentioned in Icelandic annals in 1194.

In 1596, a Dutch expedition led by Wilhelm Barentsz arrived in Svalbard and named the region "Spitsbergen," a name that meant "sharp, pointed mountains." Today, Spitsbergen, often spelled "Spitzbergen," is the name of the largest island.

During the 400 years after its discovery by Wilhelm Barentz, Svalbard was a whaling and hunting ground for the Dutch, English, Russian Pomors, and Norwegians. Whales, walruses, and other species were hunted nearly to the point of extinction. (Today, walruses and polar bears are protected by law, though Norway continues to practice commercial whaling.)

Polar research and tourism began in the 19th Century, and in the 20th Century, coal mining began in the region. Longyearbyen ("Longyear City") is named after John M. Longyear, an American businessman who began mining operations in 1906. The Store Norske Spitsbergen Grubecompani continues to mine coal in Longyearbyen and in Svea, 60 km away. (The local mining staff numbers about 20, and coal is used mostly in the Longyearbyen power plant.)

Svalbard has been under Norwegian sovereignty and administration only since 1925, when the Svalbard Treaty took effect. This treaty, which has been signed by 40 nations, gives all citizens of all participating nations equal rights of residence, work, and trade in the territory.

Longyearbyen today

For much of the 20th Century, Svalbard was off-limits to general tourism, and for good reason: The territory was extremely isolated, with poor communications and non-existent transportation for much of the year.

In the late 1980s, nearly 15 years after the opening of Longyearbyen's airport, tourism resumed. Today, visitors come to Longyearbyen and Svalbard year-round, cruise ships arrive in the summertime, and Longyearbyen is a popular starting point for wildnerness treks and adventure cruises. Still, the town and region are far off the usual tourist path, and Longyearbyen probably gets fewer tourists in a year than a city like Venice receives in a day.

Next page: Sights and excursions

Longyearbyen tourist information:

Hotels, guesthouses, camping

Restaurants

Shopping

Arrival and departure

Planning tips, Web links

Photos with captions