Longyearbyen Audiowalk – Start City Center
von spitzbergen_reisen · Longyearbyen · 48 Stationen · 68:08 min · 11.35 km · Zu Fuß
1. Welcome to Longyearbyen
1:22 min · Welcome to Longyearbyen and the Longyearbyen Audio Walk. On this approximately 10 km journey, we'll guide you through the world's northernmost town...
47 m
2. Svalbardbutikken & Nordpolet
1:41 min · Situated at the heart of Longyearbyen, Svalbardbutikken, now part of Coop AS since 1996, started as a small shop selling touristy items and snacks....
22 m
3. Nordover
0:47 min · Nordover houses the permanent exhibition of the Kaare Tverter Foundation Collection, events by Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, and changing temporary art di...
148 m
4. Visit Svalbard – Tourist Info
0:29 min · Visit Svalbard is the official representative of the tourism industry in Svalbard and Longyearbyen.
The tourist information centre not only provide...
194 m
5. Spishusene
0:54 min · Longyearbyen, though often associated with barren landscapes, surprises visitors with houses in vibrant shades of green, blue, red, and brown. Beyo...
275 m
6. Ski Lift
1:06 min · Norwegians' love for skiing is well-known, and even in the northernmost town, having a ski lift isn't surprising.
The new ski slope, opened in 2024...
292 m
7. Avalanche Wall
1:36 min · In December 2015, an avalanche struck Gruvefjellet, burying homes and residents, shocking the entire town of Longyearbyen. Elevated snowfall and wi...
352 m
8. Bruktikken
1:22 min · Bruktikken, Longyearbyen's only second-hand shop, where all items are free. Operated by the Longyearbyen Local Council in collaboration with the Un...
471 m
9. Haugen & Funken
0:48 min · Built after World War Two, the Haugen district in Longyearbyen was created to house engineers and employees, transforming the town into a family-or...
176 m
10. Old Hospital
0:20 min · The initial hospital in Longyearbyen, established after World War Two In Haugen, was destroyed in a 1953 landslide. A second hospital was then set ...
108 m
11. Longyearbyen Skole
1:39 min · Longyearbyen Skole, the northernmost school globally, accommodates approximately 250 students offering both primary and secondary education.
Conne...
182 m
12. Water System
1:35 min · In Longyearbyen, above-ground sewage pipes are a practical solution due to the town being built on permafrost. The permafrost's active layer thaws ...
274 m
13. Gruve 2B
1:50 min · Opened in 1937, Mine 2b, established by Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani, operated until 1968, offering stable working conditions with a 70 cm t...
241 m
14. Nybyen
1:24 min · Established in 1946 to address housing shortages after Longyearbyen's wartime destruction, Nybyen served as accommodations for Mine 2b workers.
Wi...
27 m
15. Dynamo Graffitti
0:55 min · Unfortunately, even a remote place like Longyearbyen is not immune to vandalism. In 2016, several buildings, including some of Longyearbyen's cultu...
137 m
16. Nybyen Artist Center
0:39 min · Walking towards the outermost part of Longyearbyen, about a kilometer away, a prominent red building appears on the right. Once Svalbard Galeri, it...
358 m
17. Sverdrupbyen
1:38 min · Opposite Nybyen, Sverdrupbyen, founded in 1938, lies outside the safe zone. Named after Einar Sverdrup, Store Norske's director, it endured the 194...
182 m
18. Einar Sverdrup Obelisk
1:05 min · This obelisk-shaped statue honors Einar Sverdrup for his contributions to the community. Joining the Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani in 1922, h...
49 m
19. Huset
1:31 min · Located away from Longyearbyen, the lone white house, Huset, has profound historical significance.
Constructed after World War II and opened in 195...
795 m
20. Old Cemetary
1:16 min · Established in 1917, Longyearbyen's cemetery replaced an earlier graveyard at Hotelneset. In its inaugural year, it witnessed burials due to illnes...
485 m
21. Camp America & Mine 1a
2:06 min · In 1901, John Munroe Longyear collected coal in Adventdalen, envisioning its potential. Back in the USA, analysis results were promising. Four year...
185 m
22. J.M. Longyear Memorial Plate
0:23 min · Located at the base of a trestle from John Munroe Longyear's first mine, Mine 1a, known as the American Mine, stands a memorial to commemorate Long...
104 m
23. Pigsty and Stables
1:29 min · In Longyearbyen's early days, it operated as a company town, and land ownership was prohibited until the Svalbard Treaty of 1920. The Norwegian Sta...
29 m
24. Solfest Stairs
1:31 min · Every March 8th, Longyearbyen celebrates Solfest, the Sun Festival. The highlight is the gathering on the old hospital stairs, accompanied by town-...
50 m
25. Abondend Barnehagen
1:00 min · As of 2024, Longyearbyen boasts two Nursery Schools, with a third one closed due to avalanche risk. No children are born on Svalbard due to medical...
52 m
26. Svalbard Kirke
1:33 min · Built from July to August in 1921, Longyearbyen's first church was consecrated on August 28th of the same year. Unfortunately, the church was destr...
39 m
27. 22 of July Memorial
0:34 min · On July 22nd, 2011, terrorist attacks targeted offices in Oslo and Utoya Island. Among the 69 victims was 14-year-old Johannes Buo from Longyearbye...
471 m
28. Taubanesentralen
3:03 min · Established in the 1920s, Taubertalsentralen served as the sorting and logistics hub for Longyearbyen's coal operations, connecting lines from vari...
129 m
29. View to the Coalharbour
1:19 min · Not all of the Longyearbyen Safe Zone is marked by the Polar Bear sign. A small bridge towars the airport signifies its limits, forbidding departur...
555 m
30. Old Sysselmannenbygget
4:33 min · Perched over Longyearbyen, the Government building Sysselmannen Bygget dominates the town's skyline. Built in 1934, it symbolizes Norway's sovereig...
80 m
31. Sysselmesteren
0:43 min · Adjacent to the old Sysselmanennbygget, now Sysselmannen's residence, stands a sleek silver structure—the new government headquarters. It hosts the...
81 m
32. Skjäringa
0:56 min · Ayer & Longyear's inaugural coal expedition to what later became Longyear City was led by William D. Munroe, arriving in Advent Fjord on June 2nd, ...
50 m
33. War Memorial
1:10 min · On August 8th, 1945, Crown Prince Olav unveiled this memorial during the first royal visit. It honors 23 Norwegians, 2 Brits, and 1 Swede who lost ...
346 m
34. Powerplant
2:14 min · Norway's longest-lasting coal power plant, the Power Plant in Longyearbyen, has played a crucial role in the town's history.
Its initial installati...
636 m
35. University Centre in Svalbard
1:55 min · Polar research has a rich history on Svalbard, with Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Ålesund serving as homes for the scientific community. The Sv...
170 m
36. North Pole Expedition Museum
0:47 min · Nestled among private housing, the North Pole Expedition Museum, identifiable by a cutout polar bear and a blimp model, specializes in Arctic explo...
25 m
37. Houses on stilts
2:10 min · All buildings in Longyearbyen share a unique feature – none of them have basements due to the permafrost.
To prevent thawing, cooling coils are ins...
322 m
38. Snow Scooters everywhere
2:43 min · Svalbard residents favor snowmobiles, crucial for transportation in winter and utilized for weekend getaways and day tours.
During summer, these sn...
88 m
39. Svea Airport Tower
0:56 min · On October 25th, 2022, Longyearbyen residents witnessed an unusual sight on the roads – a historic piece from Svea Airport, the tower, being transp...
941 m
40. Dogyards & Duck huts
2:35 min · Heading towards the famous polar bear sign on Longyearbyen's eastern edge, you'll pass two dog yards. The first, owned by Svalbard Villmarksenter, ...
200 m
41. Polar Bear Sign & Adventdalen
2:59 min · Four of Longyearbyen's roads culminate with the iconic Polar Bear Sign, while a fifth is located just outside the airport. This sign is not only a ...
1466 m
42. Svalbard Museum
1:15 min · Since 2006, the Svalbard Museum has been situated in the eastern wing of the Svalbard Forskningsparken (Science Park), sharing a roof with the Univ...
320 m
43. Longyearbyen Sykehus
0:55 min · Longyearbyen's small hospital provides primary and specialist healthcare, offering outpatient services like dentistry, walk-in clinics, and minor s...
73 m
44. Kulturhuset
0:59 min · The Culture Center Kulturhuset, sharing an entrance with Tio Muncho restaurant and the local library, hosts various events like the Christmas craft...
56 m
45. Posten & former Bank
2:15 min · Longyearbyen is now a predominantly cash-free settlement, a shift accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, SpareBank Norway closed less profi...
38 m
46. Lompensenteret
1:00 min · Today's Lompen Senteret is a bustling shopping center housing various shops, a pharmacy, a bar, café, restaurant, spa, and hairdresser, often refer...
24 m
47. Miners Memorial
0:34 min · Positioned between Svalbardbutikken (Coop) and Lompensenteret, this statue depicts an anonymous miner clad in full lomp, the traditional attire wor...
48. Farewell
0:34 min · Congratulations, you have reached the end of our audio walk. We hope you enjoyed discovering the history and culture of the northernmost city in th...
34. Powerplant
Norway's longest-lasting coal power plant, the Power Plant in Longyearbyen, has played a crucial role in the town's history.
Its initial installati...
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