Pyramiden is an extraordinary place in the Svalbard archipelago, which fascinates with its history, atmosphere, and wild nature. The town was founded by the Swedes in 1910 and was sold to the Soviet Union in 1927. The name comes from the distinctive pyramid-shaped mountain that overlooks the area.
We reached the city by snowmobiles, more about this trip is available HERE
In its heyday, Pyramiden was a model socialist town, with full amenities for its residents, including a school, kindergarten, library, theatre, swimming pool, and even a statue of Lenin, which to this day is the northernmost statue of this leader.
The city was mainly inhabited by miners from Ukraine who worked in the coal mine. Between 1955 and 1998, around nine million tonnes of coal were extracted there. However, economic difficulties, falling coal prices, and a tragic plane crash in 1996 that claimed the lives of 141 people led to the closure of the mine and the abandonment of the city in 1998. The last residents left Pyramiden in October of the same year, leaving the city almost untouched.
Currently, Pyramiden is a "ghost town" that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Many buildings and their interiors have remained in the state in which they were abandoned, making this place like a time capsule. Since 2007, efforts have been made to transform the city into a tourist attraction.
The Pyramiden Hotel was renovated and reopened in 2013.
It offers a CCCP-style restaurant serving Russian specialities and a souvenir shop. The hotel is open seasonally and serves as a base for tourists visiting this extraordinary place. You can read more about this hotel HERE
Pyramiden is also home to wildlife, including polar bears, which sometimes visit abandoned buildings. Polar bears are a symbol of the Arctic and serve as a reminder of the harsh living conditions in this region. Tourists are warned to exercise caution and always travel with a guide, as encountering a polar bear can be dangerous.
The city is currently managed by several caretakers who take care of its maintenance and organise tours for visitors.
Pyramiden is a living museum that allows you to immerse yourself in the history of the Soviet Union and feel the atmosphere of life in the Arctic. The city's development plans also include the establishment of a scientific centre aimed at attracting researchers from various countries and supporting international cooperation in the fields of climate, biological, and geological research.
The following film is a record of our trip to Pyramiden with the guide Roman.
