Svalbard in September

Last year, I spent a week of September in Longyearbyen at Svalbard visting some very good friends. And making some new ones! I had only been to Svalbard in the winter before, so I was very curious to see what it was like in autumn. It was AMAZING!

Hiortfjellet, covered in two layers of clouds.



I really enjoy Svalbard and Longyearbyen. The nature surrounding the settlement of Longyearbyen is dramatic, and a lot of places you can see remains of the old coal industry that used to dominate the area. Unfortunately, this is not well maintained in many places, so it just looks like it is left there to rot. It might have, at one point, but this is currently beeing improved. After I have been a few times at Svalbard, I have actually come to think of this as a bit charming, as it seems to be a big part of the place. Hopefully, it will be left that way for future generations to see as well!

Longyearbyen seen from Sukkertoppen.

Buildings where they used to ship out the coal from the mines in the old days. Now it is "cultural heritage".

Hiking towards Vannføringsdalen - always with a gun in case of polar bears.

 Longyearbyen is the largest settlement at Svalbard with just over 2000 people living there. It is one of the world's most northern settlements at 78 degrees north. These days, tourism is one of the main industries there and there are daily flights from Tromsø. It is a fascinating place, where you will see people carrying guns in the streets due to the constant threath of polar bears walking into town.

One morning it had snowed a bit and I woke up to this view - a little bit of frosting on the top of Hiortfjellet.

Gruve 2. We actually hiked up here late one evening and spent the night. Early in the morning, five German tourists climed the ladder and the look on their faces when they saw four people laying in their sleepingbags on the floor was priceless!!

Old constructions for shipping the coal.

The Longyear clacier.

Hiortfjellet. This was the view from my friend's livingroom
- we never got tired of looking at the shifting lights at the mountain. 

Platåfjellet - the funniest mountain construction. I hiked along the side of it one day, and it was quite tricky, as it is very steep and covered in small rocks gravel that are very loose and slippery. The view of the town is however very pleasant.