Is Svalbard dangerous?

Svalbard’s main settlement of Longyearbyen is an extremely safe town, one where crime is almost unheard of. A few things to remember: Dress warmly, even in summer when night-time temperatures can fall below freezing.

Why can’t you be buried on Svalbard?

Namely, they realized that bodies of the dead that were buried underground weren’t decomposing. This is because the temperature and weather on Svalbard (which sits between the 74th and 81st latitudes north) are frigid year-round. … No other burial types are allowed.

Is there crime in Svalbard?

Between 130 and 150 criminal cases are reported in Svalbard every year. The majority involve petty theft or criminal damage, but some involve serious accidents, environmental issues and workplace accidents. … Crime in Svalbard differs considerably from the conditions in densely populated areas on the mainland.

Is Svalbard a good place to live?

What life is like on Norway’s rugged Svalbard Islands, where anyone can move without a visa. Norway is consistently ranked among the happiest countries. Thanks to the Svalbard Treaty, foreigners don’t need a visa or any kind of permit to live and work in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Do they speak English in Svalbard?

The official language is Norwegian. However, nearly everyone speaks English. In Barentsburg Russian and Ukrainian are spoken.

Can you be buried on Svalbard?

Svalbard in Norway can’t handle dead bodies – because of the permafrost. … “The corpses won’t decompose, so they have to be shipped back to the mainland for burial.”

Is Dying illegal in Norway?

Contrary to popular beliefs, it is not illegal to die in the town of Longyearbyen, Norway. There are simply no options for burial there, and terminally ill residents are flown to Oslo to live their last days.

Are there police in Svalbard?

Svalbard is its own police district. The Governor has the same authority as a chief of police on the Norwegian mainland. The police in Svalbard have the same responsibilities as the Norwegian Police Service on the mainland. …

Is Svalbard nice?

But despite the significant costs involved and the time it takes to get there, Svalbard is 100% worth a visit. The scenery is spellbinding, and the islands offer you the chance to enjoy experiences that few other destinations can offer.

Is Svalbard a rich country?

The economy of Svalbard is dominated by coal mining, tourism and research. … The same year, mining gave a revenue of 2.008 billion kr, tourism NOK 317 million and research 142 million. In 2006, the average income for economically active people was NOK 494,700, or 23% higher than on the mainland.

Is it expensive to live in Svalbard?

Living expenses

The cost of living in Svalbard is approximately the same as in the rest of Norway. Stipulated costs for accommodation and food is approximately NOK 10 000 per month. All travel expenses to and from Longyearbyen must be paid by the student.

Can you just move to Svalbard?

Everybody may live and work in Svalbard indefinitely regardless of country of citizenship. The Svalbard Treaty grants treaty nationals equal right of abode as Norwegian nationals. Non-treaty nationals may live and work indefinitely visa-free as well.

Can I buy property in Svalbard?

The Norwegian state owns practically all land in Svalbard and in practice it is not possible to buy a plot for building your own home. Some private housing has been built on rented land. This housing has been sold or rented out to private individuals in Longyearbyen. Housing prices are very high.

Is there WIFI in Svalbard?

Svalbard is among the first places in Norway with a functioning 5G mobile network. … The cables made it possible to reach average internet connections of 50 megabits per second in and around Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s main settlement.

Is it difficult to get a job in Norway?

Many foreigners dream of getting a job in Norway, hoping to have a better life in the land hailed as one of the happiest in the world. But, the hard truth about finding a job in Norway is that doing so is far from simple. Unemployment rates in Norway are low, making it even more difficult to find a job here.

Are there Russians on Svalbard?

Has Svalbard ever been murdered?

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A polar bear attacked a camping site Friday in Norway’s remote Svalbard Islands, killing a 38-year-old Dutch man before being shot and killed by onlookers, authorities on the Arctic island said.

In which country Death is illegal?

Biritiba Mirim – Brazil

The mayor of the town took an extreme step and filed a public bill to make it illegal for people to die in 2005.

Why are cats banned in Svalbard?

The island is populated by many polar bears. Scientists at Norwegian Polar Institute have carried out a counting of polar bears in the Norwegian region. … As the eco system is so isolated, cats are banned to protect the rich bird life on the island.

Can you give birth on Svalbard?

You cannot give birth on Svalbard.

When a pregnant women has a few weeks remaining before her due date, she must travel to the mainland to give birth.

Is it illegal to wear shoes to bed?

However, wearing shoes to bed is perfectly acceptable. In Minneapolis, Minnesota it is illegal to sleep naked, even in your own bed, in a home that you own. … Sleep laws do not apply to just humans but to animals, too. In Santa Ana, California it is illegal to let a horse sleep in a bakery.

Can you have cats in Svalbard?

The answer is an emphatic no! Even worse: cats are prohibited on the Svalbard Islands. This strict but necessary law was introduced to protect the local fauna and safeguard the local bird life.

Is Svalbard poor?

Poverty in Svalbard is practically nonexistent, but its economic policies and small population shed light on broader social issues. And while the archipelago’s economy is small and seemingly insignificant, it provides a fascinating microcosm of larger societies and a powerful platform for research.

What is the language of Svalbard?

Approximately 70% of the people are Norwegians, the remaining 30% are Russian and Ukrainian. The official language of Svalbard is Norwegian. Russian is used in the Russian settlements, but formerly, Russenorsk was the lingua franca of the entire Barents Sea region.

How do I become a citizen of Svalbard?

Svalbard Citizenship

There is no such thing as svalbard citizenship. Norwegian citizenship rules apply here. Immigrants must understand that time spent in svalbard does not count towards becoming norwegian citizen. This includes for marriage and children.

Can you be vegan in Svalbard?

If you’re less inclined to eat highly intelligent mammals, then Svalbard does cater to vegans also. Svalbard in Northern Norway is a place where the local restaurant might serve seal, whale and reindeer, but fresh vegetables are so uncommon it’s prohibited to even pick a wildflower.

Does Svalbard have a hospital?

Longyearbyen Hospital is a public hospital. Since the EEA rules do not apply to Svalbard, the European Health Insurance Card does not apply here. … Everyone has to pay deductible for consultation at the hospital.

How hard is it to get to Svalbard?

Svalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway. Surprising then, that getting there is quite so straightforward, with regular flights from Norway to Longyearbyen throughout the season.

What is fishing like in Svalbard?

There’s plenty of fish in the Isfjord in Svalbard. The last few years, Longyearbyen has had an abundance of large cod during the late summer season and during the fall. The locals in Svalbard have been able to harvest these resources for a long time, and now it’s finally your turn to go fishing in the Arctic!

Is Svalbard tax free?

Svalbard is a tax-free area which means that many commodities are cheaper here than on the Norwegian mainland. … Norwegian Kroner (NOK) is used all over Svalbard, also in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg. Credit cards are accepted in Longyearbyen.

What do people in Svalbard do for a living?

Finding somewhere to live

Longyearbyen is a former mining town. As such, the majority of accommodation was built for mine workers and people providing services to them. Nowadays, the vast majority of homes are owned by the mine company, the local government (for their employees), or the university.

How much is a beer in Svalbard?

How do I become a Norwegian citizen?

To apply for Norway citizenship, you must have lived in Norway for at least seven out of the last ten years. This means, during the last ten years, you must not have been out of the country for more than two months per year, and if you add up all the time you lived in Norway, it has to total at least seven years.

What is the population of Svalbard 2021?

Are there blacks in Svalbard?

Negerfjellet is one of three areas in southern Svalbard named for their large amount of black rocks. … It’s worth noting black residents in Svalbard are far and few between.

What’s the weather like in Svalbard?

Meteorology. Average summer temperatures on Svalbard range from 3 to 7 °C (37.4 to 44.6 °F) in July, and winter temperatures from −13 to −20 °C (8.6 to −4.0 °F) in January. The highest temperature ever recorded was 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) in July 2020 and the coldest was −46.3 °C (−51.3 °F) in March 1986.

Can I get a job in Svalbard?

You must obtain a job on Svalbard before travelling. Most housing on Svalbard is owned by employers, and accommodation is usually offered in combination with a job offer.

Do you need a passport to go to Svalbard?

Do I need a passport when travelling to Svalbard? Foreign citizens must bring a passport or a national ID card. Visitors from countries outside of Schengen must also have a transit visa (both ways) to Svalbard since you will transit through Norwegian mainland.

Does anyone live in Svalbard?

Although Svalbard belongs to the Kingdom of Norway, two settlements in the archipelago are mostly populated by Russians and Ukrainians. Around 450 people live in the modern mining community of Barentsburg, while fewer than 10 live in the Soviet ghost town of Pyramiden.

Does Svalbard have an airport?

The farthest north you can get on a regular commercial flight is Svalbard Airport, Longyear, on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, located around halfway between the North Pole and the European mainland.

Does Svalbard have TV?

There’s clearly a fascination with reality TV shows set in the Arctic. So of course Svalbard has seen projects where locals are followed around by camera crews for months on end. This 10-episode series’ aired on Norway’s TV2 in 2018.

How fast is Svalbard Internet?

One area where Svalbardians have it made, however, is online. While most of this high Arctic territory lacks high-speed Internet, Svalbard enjoys speeds estimated to be 10 to 20 times as fast as any in the rest of Norway.

Is Norway friendly to foreigners?

Foreigners may find Norwegian working hours surprisingly lax and flexible, and very family- and sun-friendly.

What is the highest paid job in Norway?

What do they speak in Norway?

Does Norway own Svalbard?

The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 recognizes Norwegian sovereignty, and the 1925 Svalbard Act made Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway. They also established Svalbard as a free economic zone and a demilitarized zone. The Norwegian Store Norske and the Russian Arktikugol remain the only mining companies in place.

Why was pyramiden abandoned?

In 1998, Pyramiden was abandoned. The reasons lay in the bad general economical situation of Russia in the 1990s, lack of political support, shrinking coal reserves and finally the catastrophic airplane crash at Operafjellet in 1996, where 141 Russians on the way to Barentsburg lost their lives.

Can you see Northern Lights in Svalbard?

It may be visible in southern Norway once a month and even less frequently further south in Europe. The Northern Lights season in Svalbard is from late September to the middle of March. The best time is from 18:00 (6 p.m.) to midnight, while there is also a good period between 04:00 and 08:00 (4 a.m. and 8 a.m.).

How many polar bears are killed in Svalbard?

Eleven polar bears are known killed in order to protect property. Relatively few serious confrontations, 11 in all, occurred in the field. In only three cases since 1973 have people been injured or killed by bears.

Has anyone been killed by polar bear?

Polar bear attacks in Svalbard

The incident is the first attack by a polar bear on a human since last autumn when a Dutch man was attacked in his sleep at a campsite close to Longyearbyen. The man died from his injuries, as did the polar bear after being shot by other campers.

Has anyone been eaten by a polar bear?

A polar bear has killed a man in Norway’s Arctic Spitsbergen island, local officials say. The attack occurred at a campsite near Longyearbyen, the main town of the island in the Svalbard archipelago.

What are the weirdest laws?

Is being immortal illegal?

Even though immortality is illegal, not matter what you do to enforce it, someone will always find a way to get away with it.

What are some dumb laws in America?

What is special about Longyearbyen Norway?

Longyearbyen (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɔ̀ŋjiːrˌbyːən], “The Longyear Town”) is the world’s northernmost settlement (with population greater than 1,000) and largest inhabited area of Svalbard, Norway. … Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK) took over the mining operations in 1916, and still conducts mining.

Is Svalbard volcanic?

Sverrefjellet is a Pleistocene-age basaltic volcanic construct on north-western Spitsbergen Island (Svalbard Archipelago, Norway). Published ages for the Sverrefjellet eruption range between 6000 years and ca. 1 million years before present.

What is the main town in Svalbard?

Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. The small Arctic town is inhabited by nature enthusiasts who live in close unity under tough climatic conditions with the High Arctic wilderness right on their doorstep.