Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the mid-1910s coal was discovered here and operations were set up by the same
Swedish concern that exploited Sveagruva. In 1926 it was taken over by a Soviet firm,
Russkiy Grumant, which sold out to the Soviet Trust Arktikugol, exploiters of Barents-
burg, in 1931. In the 1950s there were as many as 2500 Russian residents, well exceeding
the population of Longyearbyen today. During its productive heyday in the early 1990s it
had 60km of shafts, 130 homes, agricultural enterprises similar to those in Barentsburg and
the world's most northerly hotel and swimming pool. But with the mine no longer yielding
enough coal to be profitable and with Russia no longer willing or able to subsidise the
mine, Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998. A skeleton staff of (at last count) eight Russians
still live at Pyramiden to keep the flag flying, but the sense of abandonment in this remote
corner of Svalbard is poignantly evocative.
The former hotel has recently reopened; contact one of the boat-tour companies to ask
about prices and making a reservation.
Sights
As with other sights around Svalbard, there are startling juxtapositions between the near-
pristine surroundings and the apparent meltdown of industrial infrastructure all across Pyr-
amiden. Focal points for your walk around town are the 1970s-era
Soviet architecture
, a
prominent
bust of Lenin
and the
sports hall
. There's a small shop in the
hotel
selling a
small selection of Soviet memorabilia and a bar serving up vodka shots.
Across Billefjorden to the east,
Nordenskjöldbreen
is a stunning glacier running as a
broad front from the Svalbard interior to the fjord shoreline; most boat excursions from
Longyearbyen draw near for photos. The boat journey itself from Longyearbyen is a stun-
ning trip, passing striated cliffs and accompanied by puffins and fulmar.
Getting There & Away
In summer, at least two Longyearbyen-based tour agencies offer 10-hour day cruises to
Pyramiden -
Henningsen Transport & Guiding
and
Polar Charter
.
In winter, snowmobile safaris between Longyearbyen and Pyramiden are possible.
Ny Ålesund
Pop pop 30-130
