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Longyearbyen 78.10N |
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Spitzbergen (or Svalbard) is halfway between
mainland Norway and the North Pole. It is 63,000 square kilometres of
Artic expanse. It was discovered in 1596, but not really inhabited
until 1906, when J M Longyear established a coal mine at Longyearbyen. |
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First glimpse from the airport. |
Where is it? |
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Longyearbyen water front. |
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Aerial view of the waterfront, and shows the
University building. |
The reservoir is fed by an underwater spring,
so a fresh water supply is drawn even when it is frozen over. |
Longyearbyen is the administrative centre of
Spitzbergen, and has a population of 1500. |
It was completely destroyed in 1941, and
re-built in 1946 as a mining community. The hotel, at the back, was the
staff quarters. |
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A closer view across the reservoir. |
An old wooden mining gantry with a glacier in
the background. |
The top view of an old coal mine. |
Mining trucks in front of the mining museum. |
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There are more snow scooters than population
on the island! |
A Svalbard Reindeer feeding by the roadside.
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Barentsberg 78.14N |
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Barentsberg is Russian mining community of
900 inhabitants. It has many communal activities free for all
inhabitants. About 600 men, 200 women and 50 children. |
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MV Nordstjernen berthed at Barentsberg. |
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The main street and a residential hostel. |
Barentsberg Museum. |
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This small church was built in memory of 46
persons lost in one aeroplane crash. |
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In transit !!! |
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Passing mountains and galciers. |
Over the stern. |
A kittiwake on ice. |
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Magdalenefjorden.79.30N |
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An Apollo landing boat. |
Dogs in ice! |
MV Nordstjernen on Magdalenefjorden.
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Reflections around Magdalenefjorden. |
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Svenskegattet 79.40N |
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Anything from pre 1945 is an antiquity, and
hence protected by law from collectors and vandals.
Because of the frozen conditions, a burial
had taken place in the softer earth below the blubber oven. However, due to
the thawing and refreezing of the permafrost over time the buried remains
have risen to the surface and hence a coffin can be seen! |
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The remains of a trappers hut. |
Remains of a blubber oven from whaling days. |
A trappers hut, which has been repaired for
use by wardens. |
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Moffen 80.00N |
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Moffen 'Island'. The brown shapes just
discernable are Walrus! |
A midnight shot near Moffen. |
Over the stern at midnight. |
The sun nearing the horizon at midnight. |
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Woodfjorden - Mushamna 79.30N |
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There is a lone trapper living in this hut |
A shade of the Flintstones! |
A drying rack for fox skins. |
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The trapper and one of his dogs. |
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Woodfjorden - Bockfjord. 79.30N |
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Apollo boats on shore. |
Reflections of the glacier at the head of
Bokfjord. |
Red mountains as a backdrop. |
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Monaco glacier. 75.35N |
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Ice flow broken away from the glacier. |
General view approaching the Monaco galcier. |
Glacial reflections. |
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An Apollo is launched. |
Close detail of the glacier, which is 40
meters high. |
A moraine in the glacier |
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Reflections. |
A small ice flow. |
A large ribbed ice flow. |
Ice flow and water patterns. |
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Ny-Alesund 78.56N |
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Ny-Alesund was originally a mining community,
but after a fire in the mine, the activity was abandoned. It now has a
population of between 40 and 200 and is an international research centre. |
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The welcome location sign |
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A yacht against mountains. |
The main street. |
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The community pub! |
A preserved mining train. |
The post office, now self service. |
The hotel was opened in 1939 and closed the
next day, because of WW2. |
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A glacier above Ny-Alesund. |
Looking across to Ny-Alsund from Ny-London. |
An Artic fox. |
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Ny London 78.50N |
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Ny London is now deserted, but the camp was
built in the early 20th century. It was established to produce marble,
but the quality was so poor that production was ceased after the first
shipment. |
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A few houses remain, others were taken across
to Ny-Alesund. |
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Industrial archaeology in a ruin of a
workshop. |
An old steam engine. |
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A crane built in Leicester. |
The former quay. |
A cairn overlooking Ny-Alesund. |
Ny London over the stern. |
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