Countries

The northernmost cities in the world

May 6, 2020

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When most people think of their dream house, they probably think of a tropical beach house. But for many, the house is located in a country with constant winter conditions such as cold, ice and snow. Lifestyles are different in the most remote areas of the northern hemisphere, where summers mean that daylight hours and 24 winters are hours of darkness. Vegetation is scarce in these places and consists mainly of grasses, grasses, mosses and lichens. The frozen soil does not allow plants with deeper root systems. As conditions are not ideal for crops, food generally comes from ocean fauna and fish. The industry in these areas is based on mineral resources and oil and natural gas deposits. Below, this article looks at life in the northernmost cities and towns in the world.

Life in the northernmost towns and villages

Ny-Ålesund

The four northernmost cities are all located in Norway, the most distant being Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago. Founded in 1917 as a coal mining town, it now serves as a research base for 35 employees. Kings Bay, an office of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, owns and operates the settlement in ensuring that the infrastructure is functioning properly. Most researchers focus on environmental and atmospheric problems. Their life is confined to the colony because the roads exist only inside its borders. their only option is to use snowmobiles.

Pyramid

With an even smaller population, Pyramiden in Svalbard, Norway is the northernmost city. Anytime between 4 and 15 people live here, but there were once 1,000 residents. Like Ny-Ålesund, this colony was founded as a mining community and ownership in 1927 was transferred to Russia (Soviet Union). Today it is owned by Arktikugol, a Russian mining company that employs residents to service and maintain the buildings.

Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen, in Svalbard, Norway, is the first city on the list with a large population. Around 2.075, people live here and take advantage of educational services, churches, cultural facilities, transportation infrastructure, air services and public safety services. This colony also started as a coal mining town, although mining activities have almost stopped since then. In the 1990’s, the locality went through a process aimed at making it more traditional than a mining town. A significant percentage of residents, around 23%, moved in the first 2000s, probably because of the difficulty of life so far in the north.

Barentsburg

The next city is also the last in Norway. Barentsburg in Svalbard has a population of 470. Russia and Norway carry out mining activities there, which explains the presence of the city in the 1920s. Today, the inhabitants depend on Russia for food and currency. Sometimes Russia has not sent enough food rations, and Longyearbyen’s neighbors have sent emergency aid. The two colonies are close to each other but are not connected by roads. To reach each other, people must go by boat, helicopter or snowmobile. To say that life here is isolated would be an understatement.

Other towns / villages

Other cities located in the northernmost parts of the world are all located in Greenland, Canada and Russia. These countries are all known for their northern sites and arctic conditions. None of them has a population as large as Longyearbyen in Norway.

Tourist opportunities

Many tourists seek distant places to “get away” from the hustle and bustle of city life. The other travelers are wildlife lovers and those looking for a pristine natural environment. Yet others are tired of lounging on sandy beaches and hoping for a unique vacation getaway. All of this is found in the northernmost cities in the world. Even the smallest and furthest from these places, Pyramiden, offers a hotel with a small museum. The tourist facilities are not very developed, but only the more adventurous of travelers should try a visit. Many of these cities hope to develop their tourism industry to complement and strengthen the economy.