THE WORLD’S NORTHERNMOST CITY
Surrounded by permanent snow fields, Longyearbyen was founded by American John Longyear, who started a mining operation on the island in 1906. Much of the original community was burned down during the Second World War, but a lone pair of wooden pillars and a set of wooden steps remain. Today, this northernmost city in the world is a unique community featuring art galleries, museums, a school, university and sports complex. It’s not unusual to see reindeer wandering around town, and snowmobiles are the primary mode of transportation in the winter months.
A Quark passenger arriving in Longyearbyen
SPITSBERGEN DESTINATION GUIDE | 9
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