Longyearbyen, Administrative town in Svalbard, Norway
Longyearbyen stretches along the Longyear Valley and the shore of Adventfjorden, with rows of colorful wooden houses set against mountain walls and glaciers at 78 degrees north. Roads run parallel to the fjord, and the town spreads between steep slopes and the water.
The town was founded in 1906 when American businessman John Munro Longyear established the Arctic Coal Company and launched industrial coal mining. Mining shaped life here for decades until the place gradually shifted toward research and tourism.
Residents gather during festivals such as Solfestuka, Dark Season Blues and Polarjazz, celebrating under the midnight sun or in complete darkness depending on the season. The calendar of shared events reflects how people here rely on each other to make life in the Arctic feel less remote.
The town has around 40 kilometers (25 miles) of paved roads, and in winter people mostly rely on snowmobiles for longer trips. Flights to mainland Norway run year round and connect regularly.
Local rules ban cats, limit alcohol sales and require residents to carry firearms beyond town limits because polar bears roam the area. Graves in the cemetery remain unchanged for decades as permafrost prevents decomposition.
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