Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Search results
Longyearbyen (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɔ̀ŋjɛrˌbyːən], locally Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈlɔ̀ŋjɑrˌbyːən]; "Longyear Town") is the world's northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000, and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard, Norway.
- 1907
- Spitsbergen
- 1 January 2002
- Norway
Longyearbyen, (pronounced lungyer-byin) is the largest populated area, and capital of the Norwegian region of Svalbard. The settlement is generally regarded as the northernmost town in the world as well as the most easily accessed frontier in the Arctic , and is an ideal base for the greater exploration of Svalbard and the high Arctic.
People also ask
What is Longyearbyen known for?
What does Longyearbyen stand for?
Is Longyearbyen a good place to live?
When was Longyearbyen founded?
Mar 12, 2019 · March 12, 2019 by David Nikel. Home » Explore Norway » Svalbard » This Is Longyearbyen: The World’s Northernmost Town. Up here in the High Arctic, the 2,300 residents of Longyearbyen share their home with polar bears and go without sunlight for five months of the year.
Jul 31, 2023 · Longyearbyen is the largest populated area on the territory of Svalbard, located in the high Norwegian Arctic. The settlement is popular as the most easily accessed frontier in the Arctic, and is an ideal base for the greater exploration of Svalbard .
- Longyearbyen was founded by an American. An American, John Longyear, started the Arctic Coal Company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906.
- Longyearbyen is built on stilts. The ground in Svalbard is permafrost, which means the soil is permanently frozen year-round. In Longyearbyen, the permafrost ranges from 10 to 40 meters deep, with an active layer that melts each summer as the temperatures rise above freezing.
- It’s customary to take your shoes off. It’s a local custom to take your shoes off indoors and you’ll see a sign kindly asking you to do so in many establishments.
- Check your gun at the door! More than 3,000 polar bears live around Svalbard; they are curious and sometimes hungry after not eating for months at a time.
Due to the Earth's tilt and the high latitude, Svalbard has extensive twilights. Longyearbyen sees the first and last day of polar night having seven and a half hours of twilight, whereas the perpetual light lasts for two weeks longer than the midnight sun.
Longyearbyen is the administrative centre of Svalbard, a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. It is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most adventures in Svalbard. Learn about its history, culture, services, attractions and seasons.
