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URB - DISCOVER ABANDONED
SETTLEMENTS

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WANDER WITH US THROUGH ABANDONED SETTLEMENTS

Spitsbergen has an incredible history. Today, the largest town is Longyearbyen, but historically, Grumantbyen, Barentsburg, and Pyramiden were also inhabited by over 1,000 people. Grumantbyen and Colesbukta were abandoned more than 60 years ago, and Pyramiden over 40 years ago. The buildings are well-preserved, and visiting these places allows you to experience their grandeur during the communist era

ARRIVAL IN LONGYEARBYEN

On the first day, we explore Longyearbyen. We leave our belongings, acclimate to the new Arctic reality, establish an action plan, and discuss routes. We will tour the town of Longyearbyen, go shopping, and enjoy local beer in one of the many pubs.

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PYRAMIDEN

We sail to Pyramiden, an abandoned town also known as the "ghost town." It is home to the northernmost statue of Lenin. At its peak, the town housed over 1,000 people, mainly miners. We will explore abandoned buildings such as the school, sports center, and cafeteria, as well as some less obvious ones. We will also enter a shaft under the mine to admire the city's panorama. The flora here is slightly different than around Longyearbyen, as black soil from Ukraine was brought here to grow vegetables for the residents.

PYRAMIDEN + NORDENSKIÖLDBREEN

We will walk through the town again, and during the return cruise to Longyearbyen, we will sail close to Spitsbergen's largest glacier, Nordenskiöldbreen.

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BARENTSBURG

We will sail to Barentsburg, the only inhabited Russian town. There is still an operating coal mine, a power plant, a school, and all the necessary infrastructure for the residents.

COLESBUKTA & GRUMANTBYEN

An abandoned port settlement from where coal was transported to Russia over 60 years ago. It's incredible that the Soviets had such developed infrastructure here so many years ago. The railway tracks for coal transport and all necessary buildings remain very well-preserved.

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