This is Longyearbyen. It’s the largest settlement and the administrative centre of Svalbard, Norway. It’s most known to tourists as the gateway to the Arctic and home of the polar bear. It has a small town centre and a large abandoned mine sits high on the hills surrounding the town.
It is an incredible place to fly into. The flight from Tromso to Longyearbyen lasted about 2 hours and took us over the most incredible scenery. Glaciers and white topped mountains rolled on endlessly. Everywhere you looked there was jagged peaks and rolling valleys full of snow. It was the most beautiful flight ever.
Upon landing in Longyearbyen you are further reminded of the remoteness – stuffed polar bears great you in the baggage hall, and signs outside the stores in the town remind you to leave your guns at the entrance.
We spent one lovely night in Longyearbyen in the Basecamp hotel before boarding our ship for our Arctic Expedition.
This image continues the week’s “Arctic” theme here on Taraji Blue.
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