Barentsburg is a small mining village on the shores of the striking Grønfjord, about 60 km west of Longyearbyen. The roughly 450 miners who live here are employed by the Russian state mining company Trust Arktikugol, which owns and operates the mines and infrastructure. Barentsburg's facilities include a coal-fired power plant, a hospital, a hotel, a school, a nursery, a sports and cultural centre, a Russian scientific research station and the Russian consulate.
Although the Russian company still operates the mines, in recent years it has also invested in tourism, as shown by the creation of the Arctic Travel Company. Even the most seasoned globetrotters find themselves fascinated by Barentsburg and its stark contrast with Longyearbyen. A trip to Barentsburg can combine pristine Arctic wilderness with Russian history and culture, Soviet-era architecture, a mine visit, traditional cuisine and engaging activities. Barentsburg offers several accommodation options, a husky kennel, and a handsome Russian Orthodox church well worth a visit.
Barentsburg takes its name from the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz, who discovered Svalbard in 1596. The name was given by the Dutch, who worked the mines after purchasing the site from Russia in 1920. Russia took back the site in 1932 and expanded it considerably, but Barentsburg came under heavy fire during the Second World War and was almost entirely destroyed. Although the buildings seen in Barentsburg today are relatively recent, the place still carries a historic atmosphere — a statue of Lenin looks out over the Grønfjord in front of rows of colourful buildings. Norway and Russia are the only two countries that have maintained mining interests in Svalbard.
