Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world

This is the island of Spitsbergen. Or, as Norwegians call it, Svalbard.

Came here from Oslo for 4 days. I spent 3 days in Longyearbyen and 1 day in the soviet mining town called Pyramiden.

Outside the towns, you are not allowed to go without a weapon. Because of the bears. In the city center, there’s a shop where you can buy or rent a rifle. And it’s common to see locals around town with a rifle slung over their shoulder.

Everything here is the northernmost: the northernmost church, the northernmost bar, the northernmost international airport, the northernmost brewery, the northernmost ATM.

Inside the northernmost church, there’s a stuffed polar bear.

A reindeer can casually wander right through the town. While sailing to Pyramiden, I spotted a whale, but unfortunately didn’t manage to take a photo.