Barentsburg

Barentsburg (Russian: Баренцбург ) is a Russian polar station and miners settlement on Spitsbergen at Longyearbyen. It was founded in 1932 and is to Longyearbyen is the second largest town on the island. It is mainly inhabited by Russian and Ukrainian miners who for the Russian company Trust Arktikugol ( Арктикуголь ) working in coal mines. The distance to Longyearbyen is about 55 kilometers. The two settlements are not connected by paved roads. In summer, boat or helicopter connect the places in winter snow mobile or dog sled.

In 2006 it came into the Trust Arktikugol mine operated by a smoldering fire that was indeed deleted, but has led to speculation about the safety of the facilities. After there had been three serious mining accidents with two dead and one seriously injured again in 2013, the Sysselmann occupied the Russian mining company Trust Arktikugol by a fine in the amount of 1.3 million Norwegian kroner (about 154,000 Euros ).

The importance of tourism is growing because of the coal mining is becoming unprofitable. In spring and autumn you can explore the place snowmobile tourism. Nights there is virtually only by visitors to the mining company. Russia maintains a consulate in Barentsburg.

Overall, the importance Barentsburgs for the Russians is always lower. Had the place in the 1990s still 1100-1450 inhabitants, there were 2002 or 900 inhabitants, whose numbers fell by 2010 to only 370 inhabitants. Beginning of 2013 471 persons were, however, reported back, so Barentsburg with 101 people in 2 years, the strongest population growth of Spitsbergen had.

Climate

Barentsburg is located in Grønfjorden, a small fjord side of the Isfjord. The annual mean temperature is -6.1 ° C here, the average annual rainfall 525 mm.

Gallery

Main road in Barentsburg

View from the Dock

Barentsburg from the air

Coal Monument

Lenin monument