With a permanent population of over 1,000 people, the world's northernmost settlement is a charming town on Svalbad Island, and tourists are not allowed to venture out of safe areas without armed or armed.
From the outside, Longyearbyen's daily life may seem somewhat unusual to visitors. Located about 1,316 km from the Arctic, the polar bear is not far in this town, so it must carry weapons or be accompanied by armed persons if they come out of a clear marked safe area of settlement due to fatal risk. The strange yet exciting town of Longearbean has a population of 2,748 and has residents of almost 53 countries. This small, Norwegian metropolitan city is the administrative centre of Svalbad, and is primarily home to nature lovers. This enthusiast thrives in close-knit communities despite harsh climate conditions, and soon the Arctic wilderness lined up.
In a harsh and unpredictable climate, Longyearbyen experiences the midnight sun from April to August, lasting around 127 days, also known as polar nights between October and February, sinking into darkness that lasts around 113 days.
The town is usually covered in snow from November to March, with the coldest temperature recorded at -46.3°C in March 1986 and the highest temperature recorded at 21.7°C in July 2020. In this isolated heaven, the effects of global warming are felt dramatically.
The unique and eclectic facets make up the very fabric of the town and become a thrill of visiting, as backed by popular travel ticker Phil Carr.
Longyearbyen only has one grocery store, and the streets have numbers instead of names. There is a university center with around 300 registered students, and everyone is ordered to learn how to use firearms.
It is not an unusual sight for townspeople to be used to find whales living at the door next door and swimming blissfully in the fjord through the window.
A historically typical mining town (until 1990), coal production was a major industry in Svalbad. Currently, all coal mines are inactive, except for Mine 7, the only operating mine that is scheduled to cease operations by summer.
All the mining infrastructure in the town is protected and exists as a surreal reminder of the settlement.
The problem of coal dust plagued townspeople in the olden days, and tradition has arisen in residents who were used to removing their shoes while in restaurants or hotels.
Since the 1990s, tourism has emerged as one of the major pillars of the industry in this isolated town.
This magnificent settlement is a mere 90-minute flight from Tromso or a 3-hour flight from Oslo.
Although ruled by Norway, Ron Ierbean is a completely visa-free zone. This means you don't need a separate visa or residency permit to visit or live in this gorgeous natural scenery.
Travelers with visa requirements to enter the Norwegian mainland or Schengen region must obtain a Schengen visa if they intend to pass through those regions and reach Longyearbyen.
A passport or national ID card is required to enter and check your identity.
Education and research are another industry that is extremely important for this lesser-known town. At the University Centre at Svalbad (UNIS), students come from around the world to focus on Arctic research and research in the fields of geology, biology, geophysics and technology.
There's a lot to do with Longyearbyen, as Svalbad is one of the world's largest untouched wildernesses.
From dog sledges, aurora adventures, snowmobile activities, ice cave visits, skiing and incredible food and drink experiences, this remote settlement can certainly be on your bucket list.
