Human Life

Guest

From reading your journal and seeing pictures, I cannot imagine any human communities in your area. How close are you to a city? How many people in the area? DO those people only live there during the summer?

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

Hi Joe!

Yours is an interesting question, and one that I had before arriving in Svalbard!

The Svalbard archipelago is still 60% covered with glaciers and ice at its warmest months! That leaves only 40% of its approximately 61,200 square kilometer area where people could even think about settling! The town referred to as Longyearbyan is the capitol of Svalbard. Sometimes you hear about Spitzbergen because that is the largest of the islands of Svalbard. On Spitzbergen is Longyearbyan which is the northernmost town on the planet! About 1,400 individuals live in Longyearbyan at least for part of the year. Longyearbyan has a school, hotel, post office, health clinic, grocery store, restaurants, a bar, cabins, a snowmobile repair shop and some gift shops. No street lights or stop signs, however there are polar bear danger signs reminding of their constant threat. You seldom see an individual who is alone, and a rifle is always carried, especially if you will be venturing even slightly off the main road. There is almost a total absence of an older generation in this area, making the population rather unique. Most living in Longyearbyan are in support of scientific research or tourism. Actually, no one is permitted to live in Longyearbyan as a permanent resident. You must have a home somewhere else and just work here with plans to return when your business is over! And that is about it for human population!

At Isfjord Radio, on KappLinne, we are far more remote than the thriving metropolis of Longyearbyan! You might want to look at my journal to learn more about Isfjord Radio, where it is, and how remote we are. No roads and access only by helicopter or sea! There is a Russian coal mining village called Barentsberg consisting of a few hundred Russians about 30 kilometers from Isfjord Radio, but it has seen more productive times and is apparently on the verge of becoming a ghost town. On one occasion since I have been at Isfjord, a small group of Estonian scientists trekked over from the Barentsberg area, two Norwegian scientists were here last week studying Congressvatnet and its fish population, and just before we arrived one of the Russian miners wandered in and got a bit belligerent with the two young girls who are here to cook for us. They had to call for help and a helicopter was sent from Longyearbyan to take him away!

Basically, at this time only the 10 of us and the two cooks are anywhere near the area of KappLinne. Other international researchers may arrive briefly to stay for a day or two, but basically it is just us.

The total population of Svalbard at any given time is not known, but it is not very many more than the population for Longyearbyan. Many people leave Longyearbyan for the summer so that they can take a holiday and enjoy the night! Remember, there is 24-7 of total daylight here at this time of year. The sun will not even drop below the horizon again until late August. During the winter, adventurers, scientists, and some tourists will visit and the population returns to service their needs. During the summer it is mostly researchers who venture this far north.

Again, thanks for your question. Keep the questions coming and read the other posts and journal entries when you have a chance!