At a distance one can see buildings, streets, industrial structures and signs of mining industry in the nearby mountain. Just what one would expect to see when someone tells you that you’re looking at a mining town. But one thing is missing: residents.
Pyramiden’s history
During the 80s there lived over 1000 people in the mining town of Pyramiden, a town founded by Sweden in 1910 and later sold to the Soviet Union in 1927. The place got its name from the pyramid-shaped mountain towering over it. Today it’s mostly visited by seabirds, Arctic foxes, and possibly the occasional polar bear.
The Russian state-owned mining company Trust Arktikugol closed down Pyramiden’s mining operations in April 1998 after having been in continuous activity for 53 years. Dwindling coal prices, difficulties with coal extraction from the mountain, and the catastrophic Russian plane crash at Operafjellet where 141 people lost their lives, all contributed towards the discontinuation of the mining operations. There are still cups left on tables, newspaper cuttings on the walls, and skiing equipment left in the hallways to this day.
The town was developed according to Soviet ideas of an ideal society. There was a petrol station, greenhouse and farm, school, kindergarten, hotel, restaurant, pretty much “all the facilities” one could need. Most of the buildings are still standing as they were when the residents left. Still remaining in the centre of Pyramiden is the bust of Lenin who keeps a watchful eye over the town, with a view towards the beautiful glacier Nordenskiöldbreen in the far distance to the east. Around him, there is still growing grass that was once imported all the way from Siberia.
Information regarding tours with any form of connection Russian state-owned companies in Svalbard
Owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the related violations of international law and human rights, an extraordinary general meeting in Visit Svalbard has decided that all products, tours, services or other offers with any form of connection to the Russian state-owned companies in Svalbard, will be removed from Visit Svalbard’s platforms.
For more information, see the media release from Svalbard Tourism Council and Visit Svalbard.
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
