Between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole lies the Spitsbergen archipelago. Surrounded by glaciers, frozen tundra and plenty of solitude lies the abandoned mining settlement of Pyramiden.
Polar bears regularly make their rounds on the archipelago in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. Bit by bit, nature is reclaiming what was taken from it years ago. The houses fall into disrepair, birds nest in the windows. In winter there are Northern Lights and from April to August the midnight sun shines. Organized day trips to the ghost town take place several times a week, where the abandoned buildings can be viewed under supervision. A tour guide tells visitors about the history of the mining settlement. Tourists who want to spend more time on the island than the typical day trippers can stay at the Hotel Tulipan.
In 1920 the Soviet Union bought the mining rights to Svalbard and operated a coal mine there. The settlement was built later. More than 1000 people lived in pyramids in the 1950s. There are houses, a hospital, a swimming pool, a school, a kindergarten, a gas station, a restaurant and of course a port. A large number of the buildings were used for coal mining, such as administration buildings, workshops and the mining building. The settlement has been deserted since the Russians shut down the mine in 1998. Today only a few people take care that the place does not deteriorate further.
“Urbexer” and Lost Places:
So-called “urbexers” have a dangerous hobby: they visit forgotten, abandoned or dilapidated places that are in danger of collapsing. They usually have good camera equipment on board to take photos and videos of the seats. However, the exact address of the Lost Place is never revealed – that counts as an absolute no-go in the community. This is to prevent people from traveling to the places that cannot do anything with the abandoned beauty and presumably cause destruction.
In addition to the general risk of injury, visiting such a place can have legal consequences: It is often assumed that buildings that are empty and thought to be abandoned no longer have an owner. A dangerous misconception. “Urbexers” who enter such a site or building without official permission commit trespassing. It is always a good idea to ask the owner for permission beforehand.
Sources:“Mirror“, “Spitsbergen.de“