I live in the northernmost town on Earth. Here are 8 surprising things about living here.
- Moving to Longyearbyen, a town only about 800 miles from the North Pole, had its surprises.
- The town, located on the Norwegian archipelago called Svalbard, has polar nights and midnight sun.
A few years ago, I packed my bags and moved from Oslo, Norway, to Longyearbyen, the northernmost town on Earth.
Located on the archipelago of Svalbard, Longyearbyen is a small town with around 2,300 residents. I've loved living even though a few things took a bit of getting used to.
Here are some surprising things about living in the northernmost town on Earth.
In Longyearbyen, the sunshine comes and goes depending on the time of year.
After moving to Longyearbyen, I soon learned we have midnight sun — when the sun's out 24 hours a day, seven days a week from April to August. The midnight sun can make it hard to sleep so many locals cover their windows with aluminum in order to keep out the sunlight.
However, it's an excellent time for long snowmobile adventures or midnight hikes.
Later, I learned that we experience polar night, which is when the sun never rises from November to February. It's pitch black throughout the day and night.
Essentially, there are only two and a half months a year when we can experience the normal day and night cycle I was used to before I moved.
There aren't any trees in Longyearbyen.
Svalbard also has permafrost, meaning the ground has been completely frozen at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for over two years. As a result of the permafrost, there are no trees and almost no vegetation here.
During the summer, when the permafrost thaws, some flowers can grow. Svalbard's unique flora are protected by law, and harvesting them is illegal since it will take many years for the flower to bloom again.
We always need to watch out for polar bears and are often encouraged to carry rifles.
According to a 2004 report from the Polar Institute, the Barents Sea area is home to between 1,900 to 3,600 polar bears. Approximately 300 of them roam around Svalbard so residents are encouraged to carry a rifle and a flare gun for protection whenever we leave our settlement.
Still, killing a polar bear is illegal so you can only shoot in a life-threatening situation.
Longyearbyen is considered to be a safe zone but there are still instances of polar bears walking inside the town.
During Christmastime in 2019, a polar bear walked down our main street. Luckily, it was early in the morning, so there weren't many people around to begin with. Eventually, the police scared the bear away.
I learned that locals can rent remote cabins.
Various organizations and the Governor of Svalbard own remote cabins located outside Longyearbyen that can be reached by snowmobile. Lots of locals take the opportunity to rent the cabins at a low rate.
Most cabins are located in areas with no mobile-phone coverage so a satellite-communication device is necessary. They usually don't have running water or electricity so renters rely on firewood and candles for heat and lighting.
I've even heard that polar bears will break through cabin walls and windows in search of food. They'll eat anything from ketchup to bed mattresses so renters aren't allowed to leave much behind.
The archipelago also has beautiful snow and ice formations like underground caves.
Approximately 60% of Svalbard is covered by glaciers. When the ice melts in summer, the glacier forms meltwater channels that turn into ice caves in the winter. You can't see the frozen channels when you stand on top of the glacier, but if you know where to look, you can explore them below the surface.
The caves can be miles long and several feet below ground. With the proper helmets, spikes, and headlights, you can safely explore their beautiful ice formations and even some fossils.
Though they're beautiful, they can also pose a big threat to snowmobilers. Snow covering the crevasses and snow bridges can easily collapse so if ever you go on a snowmobile tour in Svalbard, be prepared for accidents like this.
I had to get used to traveling by snowmobile or boat.
Only about 27 miles of roads run through Longyearbyen and no roads connect the settlements on Svalbard. In the winter, we use snowmobiles or dog sleds to get around and in the summer, we use boats. Consequently, owning a snowmobile is a common practice, and during the winter, it's the most popular activity.
Still, Longyearbyen can be reached by plane because the town has an airport. But if I wanted to go to Russian settlements like Barentsburg or Pyramiden, I have to travel by boat or snowmobile.
The town handles childbirth and deaths differently than most places I've been.
Though Longyearbyen has a small emergency medical hospital, most cases must be treated on the mainland. The hospital is not equipped to handle childbirth so pregnant people are advised to travel to the mainland about a month before their due date.
I also learned that the permafrost prevents most traditional burials so the deceased are transported to the mainland. Those who were residents of Svalbard at the time of death have the right to be buried in the cemetery in Longyearbyen but only in urns if they have been cremated.
There are also a few exceptions to the guidelines, depending on a person's connection to Svalbard.
Our remote location doesn't prevent us from enjoying Arctic luxury.
Despite its remote location, Longyearbyen is home to some great restaurants and a luxury hotel. I love the outdoors and adventure but sometimes I like to treat myself at places like the Huset Restaurant, which focuses on using as much of an animal as possible and relies on local ingredients.
If we want a staycation, my boyfriend and I might head to the Funken Lodge, a small boutique hotel with amazing cocktails and a fantastic atmosphere. The hotel has its own wine and Champagne cellars with one of the largest selections in Norway. A private tasting is perfect for a date night.
I love Lonyearbyen's arctic nature and the opulence of a big city and appreciate my adventures more than ever before.
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