At long last

Finally, I landed on Svalbard yesterday morning. It seems a long time coming and now, here I am. The air is cold and dry, the sun lingers at the top of the all-encompassing mountains but doesn’t seem to find its way into the valley where Longyearbyen is nestled. Snow fell quietly through the evening and into the morning. Tomorrow the rest of The Arctic Circle residents arrive; we sail on Monday.

Here are my first views and impressions. I do not expect to have cell service or internet over the coming weeks. I promise to check in as soon as I can. Stay warm and see you here again soon. xoxo T

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buildings, Norway, Norwegian Air

The first view of Svalbard

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, Norway, Norwegian Air

An open glacial valley with a braided stream in the bottom wends its way through inland Svalbard.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway, Norwegian Air

Flying into Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.

Longyearbyen, horizon, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway, snow, squall, clouds

Snow squalls move across Isfjorden toward Longyearbyen, later engulfing the mountains, port, and town.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway, black and white, color, patterns, monochrome, autumn

Repeating patterns of rock and power towers in early autumn snow.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway, color, housing, monochrome

The multicolored housing of Longyearbyen contrasts with the monochromatic scheme of Svalbard.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway, patterns, roof

Metal roofs in Longyearbyen imitate mountain ridge lines.

Longyearbyen, Nordre Isfjorden National Park, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, Norway, quonset hut

Modern Quonset huts mimic the position and image of mountains across Isfjorden.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buidings, Norway

The old coal cableway oversees new apartment buildings. The cableway was used to transfer coal from the mines to ships in Isfjorden.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, coal, cableway, historic buildings, Norway, church, light

The church and the coal cableway share the hillside above Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen School, Longyearbyen Skole, Nordre Isfjorden National Park, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Arctic, The Arctic Circle, Norway

Longyearbyen School stands at the edge of town, the mountains of Nordre Isfjorden National Park stand behind the school across Isfjorden.

2 Comments

Denny on 29 September 2018 at 05:02

Yay! Stay artfully warm …
- T@tamaraenz.com on 29 September 2018 at 11:52
  
  Wool and down, down and wool. I can probably knit and weave something out of that. xoxo