Arctic Cruise XVI: Svalbard Island, Norway (9.1.25)

Longyearbyen, in the Svalbard Islands north of Norway, is 78 degrees north and just 800 miles, or so, from the North Pole.  The Svalbard Islands are a traditional staging spot for explorers venturing into the Arctic. When we visited, on September 1, 2025, I knew this was Dave's kind of place--chilly, remote, and near the ends of the earth.

We knew we were far from civilization when we saw the signs warning us of polar bears.  It violates the law to travel outside city limits without a gun.

Actually, the only bears we saw were one in the city museum, and another one in the church.

Longyearbyen was a coal mining town until recently, when EU environmental regulations made operating the mines unprofitable, according to our guide.  We toured one of the mines, which felt more gritty and authentic than any other mine we have visited.

Dave took a turn at lifting the heavy mining equipment.

Our guide pointed out the veins of coal running through the rock.

Several members of our tour climbed into the narrow shafts where miners placed dynamite in holes and then, after the explosion, cleaned out pieces of coal.  Norway is the owner of the Svalbard Islands, but an international treaty allows other countries to mine coal there.  Russia has coal mines 100 or so miles from Longyearbyen which American commentators have suggested may be a spot where Russia may try to claim land as its own.

We later visited a seed storage area where specimens of the world's seeds are stored underground, to be recovered after a worldwide disaster.

We drove out of town, passing the kennels where Longyearbyen residents who don't have room for their dogs at home keep them.

We drove along the tundra, with surreal views of mountains and sea in the distance.

We hiked from the pier into town, past a sea of snowmobiles, in storage until winter.

We paused at the "Huskies" cafe, where several dogs lounged in the lobby and wandered among the guests.

We browsed at the shopping center, which had many varieties of parkas, boots, and other outdoor wares.

We then returned to the pier, with its many boats of all varieties.