Spitsbergen is a heavily populated island nestled within the Svalbard archipelago. To survive, the island depends on the tourism and research industries. Therefore, it’s a trendy spot for travelers to visit.
Spitsbergen was named by a Dutch navigator and it translates to ‘pointed mountains’. Traditionally, this island is a place where people seek direction. They wish to be pointed towards the mountains of the soul and experience a totally unique way of life. Once you take yourself out of your comfort zone and pop the bubble of normality, you’re sure to find interesting areas in Spitsbergen.
What happened to Pyramiden?
Known as the ‘ghost town’ of Spitsbergen, people often wonder what actually happened to Pyramiden. Since it was closed in 1998, it was abandoned by many. It’s a place that has been frozen in time, an unloved settlement that has been left to fend for itself. Named after the pyramid-shaped mountains, it is accessible by boat or snowmobile from nearby Longyearbyen. This eerie place used to be home to over 1,000 townsfolk. It’s an amazing site to visit if you want to sample a slice of Norwegian history.
There are many old monuments around Pyramiden, for instance, an old power plant filled with coal and Siberian-style barracks from before the war. A trip to this part of the island would result in an extremely intriguing day out.
Best way to travel to Barentsburg?
A lot of locals will tell you that snowmobiling is the best mode of transport for Barentsburg. This is another land frozen in time, yet, people actually live there! It’s a pure Soviet relic that thrives in the winter sun. You’ll want to make sure that you pack a heavily layered snowsuit for your journey here and extra layers. The frosty air can hit you hard and it’s better to be prepared for all weather conditions. Barentsburg itself is like another world. There are around 500 inhabitants who are mostly Russi