In early 1900 was Barentsburg a place for temporary accommodation for whalers and hunters. Today the main Russian settlement on Spitsbergen and centre of operation for the Trust Arcticugol mining company. Since 1989 also accessible for international tourists. The mining is absolutely necessary for the settlement and important for Russia in an geopolitical sense. The company is digging out tons of coal for consumption by Russian industries and Barentburgs power plant. The coal company own everything and the only hotel has a view over Grønfjord. The facilities have a touch of another culture and give an idea of the difference of Russian and Norwegian settlement in Spitsbergen.The infrastructure in Barentsburg is low or in inferior standard. There is now neighbouring settlement and parts of the year there is non turist transportation at all, except for a long snowmobile ride from Longyearbyen. Visitors are surprised to find a school, sport center and a local brewery that belong to the mining company and worth a visit.
The islands of Spitsbergen consist of an uninhabited arctic where nature reigns supreme. Cliffs of ice, polar bears and thousands of birds nest in rock bluffs. Longyearbyen is the capital and oldest existing settlement in the archipelago. Today the growing interest of Spitsbergen travel has led to year round flights from the Norwegian mainland. Whalers and hunting tourism have been here for over a hundred years before coal. The Arctic Coal Company was founded in 1906 by Americans Ayer and Longyear. The first mine is still visible. Production was limited at only a couple 1.000 tonnes a year. Longyear City as it was called at the beginning. Populated by 73 men and women mostly Norwegians. By the winter 1912 production had reached 30.000 tonnes and population had risen to 385. Norway secure interest in buying the American mining company. In 1916 ACC was sold to a syndicate for 1,5 million NOK. Today visitors find a modern town with shopping centres and other practicalities. There is also a priest in the world´s northern most church and probably the most difficult parish to get around. There is no full life circle community and no service for elderly people who need assistance. Once the family can no longer take care of them, they have to leave to the mainland. The living condition for families in general is that they have all necessary resources for managing there own daily life. Spitsbergen is still unspoiled as a whole and tourism is central attraction. The most popular season is April to early May, followed by the summer, while the dark period of the year is still a challenge to attract tourist.
