Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen - the northernmost community in the world! Just 1,300 kilometers (807 miles) from the North Pole, this fascinating administrative center is located on the Svalbard Island. With a population of around 2,700, Longyearbyen offers a unique blend of history and modernity. Founded in 1906 by John Munroe Longyear as a mining town, Longyearbyen has a turbulent past. After being destroyed by the German army in 1943, the town was rebuilt after the Second World War and today shines in new splendor. Longyearbyen is not only a place of history, but also a center of science and research. A branch of the Norwegian Polar Institute is located here. A particular highlight is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which houses valuable seeds from all over the world.

Longyearbyen's road network is around 40 kilometers (24 miles) long and does not connect any other towns. Snowmobiles and boats are therefore the main means of transportation. In the surrounding area you can observe reindeer, geese and Arctic foxes in their natural habitat. Mining plays only a minor role today, with Pit 7 being the last active mine. However, this is endangered by the meltwater from the glacier above and has been closed several times due to the corona pandemic and meltwater.

The seven Islands

Sjuøyane is the Norwegian name by which the islands are known, the seven islands is the literal translation. This remote and breathtaking region lies at 80°50'N and is home to Rossøya, the northernmost island in Europe. The seven islands offer an impressive variety of metamorphic and igneous rocks that characterize the barren and rocky landscape. Although the islands are not glaciated, they are surrounded by drift ice, which gives them a unique, high Arctic character. The flora consists mainly of lichens and mosses that have adapted to the extreme climatic conditions. Seabird colonies can be found here, including puffins and ivory gulls.  Walruses and polar bears are also frequent visitors to the region, making Sjuøyane an ideal place for wildlife watching and a paradise for nature lovers and ornithologists.

Each of the islands has its own history and was named by its discoverers. Nelsonøya, for example, was named after the famous admiral Horatio Nelson, who, according to legend, was almost attacked by a polar bear during an unauthorized hunting trip.

Hinlopen

The waterway is a 150 kilometer (93 miles) long and between 10 and 60 kilometer (6-37 miles) wide passage, covered with pack ice, which often makes the passage difficult or impossible, planning an alternative route is a basic requirement.  The islands in the Hinlopen Passage have a dark appearance as they are often barren, rocky and surrounded by fog and drift ice. There are many polar bears on the individual islands, the basaltic intrusions, small hills and dips form perfect hiding places for the large animals. This terrain, together with the strong currents, Arctic weather and drifting ice, can make landings with the Zodiac difficult or impossible. If these are successful, long walks on the islands are unusual. However, short walks are rewarding, as there are many colorful flowers, driftwood, old whale bones, basalt columns and limestone rubble with fossils on the beaches of the many islands.  The expeditions that were carried out in the Hinlopen Passage were often of a scientific nature or for hunting polar bears, foxes and whales.