Barentsburg is the second largest town in Svalbard, located on the island of Spitsbergen. It is a Russian mining settlement, managed by the company Trust Arktikugol. Approximately 340 people live there, mainly Russians, but also Tajiks and Ukrainians. The settlement is located about 60 km west of Longyearbyen, the largest town in Svalbard, but there is no road connecting these places.
We arrived in the city by cruise ship
Barentsburg has its own infrastructure, including a coal-fired power station, a school, a kindergarten, a hospital, a hotel, and a Russian consulate. In the centre of the settlement, there is a bust of Lenin, which highlights the historical ties to the Soviet Union. Although the settlement was destroyed during the Second World War, most of the buildings have been rebuilt and have a relatively modern character.
Just after disembarking from the ship, we came across flags... of the Soviet Union
When we left the ship, Diana, our guide, came to us and she would be telling us about the city.
To get to the town, we could either take a minibus or climb up 365 steps and reach the town on foot. Of course, we chose the latter option.
Watch the video below, where you will see the city and find out exactly what Diana said. The film is entirely in English.