Travellers who consider the landscapes of northern cities to be monotonous and dull should visit the Norwegian city of Longyearbyen. For many tourists this town is famous for its colorful architecture, all its houses are painted in various colours. At the same time, Longyearbyen is a landmark of world significance not only for this reason. It is in this city that the Global Seed Vault is located - a place where seeds of all agricultural crops cultivated on the planet are kept.
The town is noteworthy in that it is the most northern settlement on the planet with a population of more than 1000 people. According to the data for 2008, 2040 people permanently resided in the city. The history of the city begins in 1906, when the development of a coal mine began on its present territory. During the Second World War, the city was completely emptied, all its inhabitants were moved to the UK, and the industrial enterprise was closed.
After the war, local residents returned to their homes, rebuilt them and continued to develop coal deposits. The mine had completely exhausted itself by the 90s of the last century. Nowadays, Longyearbyen is a major scientific and research center. In a miniature town there is a Svalbard International University. Tourists are interested in the city, primarily, because of its unique architecture, as well as the surrounding mountain landscapes. Many travellers prefer to admire the panorama of the city with the onset of darkness, when hundreds of street lamps are lit on the streets. In their light, bright houses look even more mysterious.
Next - St Johns
Juzcar, Spain
St Johns, Canada
Useful staff nearby
Apotheek: 'Apotek 1 Spitsbergen' in 1 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'Spitsbergen Hotel' in 1 km