Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway

Barentsburg

There is an entire Russian town - Barentsburg - on Svalbard, not far from Longyearbyen. Russia maintains coal mines on the island. About a thousand Russians and Ukrainians currently live there. The Barentsburg settlement is characterized by a comprehensive industrial infrastructure and well-developed social amenities (a recreation center, a sports complex, the "Pomor" museum, a hospital, a kindergarten). Several Russian archaeological, meteorological, geophysical and glaciological institutions work here. There is a Consulate of the Russian Federation2 working in Barentsburg.

The distance from Longyearbyen to Barentsburg is about 55 km. There is no roadway connection between settlements. Water transport (in the navigation season) or helicopter is used to get from one to the other. In the winter time snow-mobiles (scooters) are used as well.

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