{"id":3379,"date":"2019-12-19T20:42:58","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T20:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/?post_type=artikler&#038;p=3379"},"modified":"2025-09-01T11:18:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:18:00","slug":"svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago","status":"publish","type":"artikler","link":"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/","title":{"rendered":"Svalbard Museum tells you all about the archipelago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-ingress\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vnn__ingress\">\n\t\t\t\t Svalbard&#8217;s rich history and unique nature are the focus of the award-winning Svalbard Museum. Before you venture far and wide on Svalbard, this museum gives you an excellent insight, putting the wildlife, geology and people into context.\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The Svalbard Museum is an excellent place to start your visit to Svalbard, regardless of whether you are planning a relaxing time in Longyearbyen or camping in a tent on the east coast. You will learn about the flora, fauna on the land and in the sea, voyages of discovery, whaling and coal mining. Surprisingly, the museum also covers the Age of Dinosaurs, European costumes and meteorology during the war. All of this has unexpected links to the archipelago near the North Pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm-1536x2048.jpg\" alt=\"The Svalbard Museum is located in Forskingsparken in the lower end of downtown Longyearbyen along with the University Centre of Svalbard and the Norwegian Polar Institute \u00a9 H\u00e5kon Daae Brensholm\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm.jpg\" data-caption=\"The Svalbard Museum is located in Forskingsparken in the lower end of downtown Longyearbyen along with the University Centre of Svalbard and the Norwegian Polar Institute \u00a9 H\u00e5kon Daae Brensholm\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-53.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1788\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-53-768x572.jpg\" alt=\"The Polar Bear up close \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-53.jpg\" data-caption=\"The Polar Bear up close \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-116.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-116-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Where are we? Where is the North Pole? A museum visit often starts with the map \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-116.jpg\" data-caption=\"Where are we? Where is the North Pole? A museum visit often starts with the map \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-74.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-74-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Touring the Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-74.jpg\" data-caption=\"Touring the Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: The Svalbard Museum is located in Forskingsparken in the lower end of downtown Longyearbyen along with the University Centre of Svalbard and the Norwegian Polar Institute \u00a9 H\u00e5kon Daae Brensholm<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: The Polar Bear up close \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Where are we? Where is the North Pole? A museum visit often starts with the map \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Touring the Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-land-is-barren-but-the-sea-is-rich\">The land is barren, but the sea is rich<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Only a handful of species survive the entire year on land in the High Arctic. These include the Svalbard rock ptarmigan and the compact Svalbard reindeer. However, the sea is extremely productive with a rich supply of food where warm and cold ocean currents meet. Ringed seals, bearded seals, walruses and many species of whale feed on abundant fish and plankton, while around 3,000 polar bears hunt seals. The vegetation is only a few cm high, but species such as Svalbard poppies, various saxifrages and polar willow grow. Scurvygrass grows in the naturally fertilised areas below the bird cliffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-svalbard-was-once-near-the-equator\">Svalbard was once near the equator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The sparse vegetation means that it&#8217;s easy to pick out the different types of rock on Svalbard. The archipelago used to be much closer to the equator, which explains the large coal deposits from the Carboniferous period and the many fossils from the Jurassic period. The whole of Svalbard is a rich picking ground for fossils of plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, armoured prehistoric fish and other marine fossils from many different eras.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/tundraGD.jpg\" data-size=\"1154x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/tundraGD.jpg\" alt=\"Reindeers are in the exhibition at Svalbard museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/tundraGD.jpg\" data-caption=\"Reindeers are in the exhibition at Svalbard museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/indreGD.jpg\" data-size=\"1136x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/indreGD.jpg\" alt=\"Svalbard Museum can be a relaxing place \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/indreGD.jpg\" data-caption=\"Svalbard Museum can be a relaxing place \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD106.jpg\" data-size=\"1118x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD106.jpg\" alt=\"Polar bear and seal at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Guri Dahl \/ Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD106.jpg\" data-caption=\"Polar bear and seal at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Guri Dahl \/ Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD097.jpg\" data-size=\"1102x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD097.jpg\" alt=\"Do you recognize what it is? \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD097.jpg\" data-caption=\"Do you recognize what it is? \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Reindeers are in the exhibition at Svalbard museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Svalbard Museum can be a relaxing place \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Polar bear and seal at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Guri Dahl \/ Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Do you recognize what it is? \u00a9 Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ancient-marine-reptiles-were-found-in-svalbard\">Ancient marine reptiles were found in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the summer of 2001, students from the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) found a series of bones of a swan lizard in Janusfjellet by Deltaneset. Three years later, researchers from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.uio.no\/forskning\/prosjekter\/plesiosaur\/historikk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Natural History Museum<\/a>, University of Oslo, started an excavation in this area. Within a small area, the researchers found the bones of <a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/natur\/marine-ogler\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two different marine reptiles<\/a>: fish lizards and swan lizards. The swan lizard lived in Svalbard 150 million years ago. It was a marine lizard that swam in the sea and fed on fish and squid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-you-can-also-dig-for-fossils\">You can also dig for fossils<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, children and playful adults can dig up a lizard skeleton in the museum\u2019s exhibition. If you use a broom, you can reveal all the bones of this large animal. You can also measure it and learn more about what it ate and how it lived. The museum has a small \u201cactivity kit\u201d for palaeontologists, comprising of a bucket, measuring tape, visibility vest and information, which they lend to visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-12.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-12-2048x1536.jpg\" alt=\"Male eider ducks. Gathering down for duvets was a valuable extra income for trappers a hundre years ago \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-12.jpg\" data-caption=\"Male eider ducks. Gathering down for duvets was a valuable extra income for trappers a hundre years ago \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-74.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-74-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Pink-footed geese on the tundra \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard Museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-74.jpg\" data-caption=\"Pink-footed geese on the tundra \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard Museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-20.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-20-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Colourful eider males and better camouflaged females; the Svalbard eider duck belongs to the high arctic variety \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-20.jpg\" data-caption=\"Colourful eider males and better camouflaged females; the Svalbard eider duck belongs to the high arctic variety \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5-2.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5-2-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Fluffy eider down, left behind by the eider duck female when she leaves the nest straight after hatching with the cute, newborn ducklings \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Fluffy eider down, left behind by the eider duck female when she leaves the nest straight after hatching with the cute, newborn ducklings \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Male eider ducks. Gathering down for duvets was a valuable extra income for trappers a hundre years ago \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Pink-footed geese on the tundra \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard Museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Colourful eider males and better camouflaged females; the Svalbard eider duck belongs to the high arctic variety \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Fluffy eider down, left behind by the eider duck female when she leaves the nest straight after hatching with the cute, newborn ducklings \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-bird-life-in-svalbard-is-for-the-tough-ones\">The bird life in Svalbard is for the tough ones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The exhibition covers several of the <a href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bird species in Svalbard<\/a>, including the glaucous gull, pink-footed goose, little auk, puffin and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npolar.no\/arter\/aerfugl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">common eider<\/a>. The eider (<em>Somateria mollisima<\/em>) is a large diving duck. In Svalbard, the eider breeds in colonies on islands and in a more dispersed manner along the Spitsbergen coast. Several sub-species have been described. The Svalbard population belongs to the sub-species&nbsp;<em>Somateria mollissima borealis<\/em>, which also breeds in northeast Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Franz Josef Land in Russia. The eider can be spotted in several places in Longyearbyen, including the colony at Hundeg\u00e5rden, which is abundant in spring and early summer. Pairing takes place in autumn or early winter. The nest is made in a flat, exposed area as a shallow scrape lined with plant material and a thick layer of down. Nests are often re-used for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-eiderdown-provides-the-world-s-finest-duvets\">Eiderdown provides the world\u2019s finest duvets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Down from an eider is called eiderdown. The down is well suited as a duvet filling. It\u2019s extremely light and gives off a lot of heat. Consequently, an eiderdown duvet has insulating properties like no other. In Norway, there are a few producers of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.svalbardfangst.no\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">these extremely exclusive products<\/a>. Gathering eiderdown was often an important part of a trappers\u2019 life in Svalbard. The wonderful down supplemented their income from trapping and hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-4.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-4-2048x1536.jpg\" alt=\"Searching for fossils on the tundra. Once, Svalbard was on a warmer place on the globe \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-4.jpg\" data-caption=\"Searching for fossils on the tundra. Once, Svalbard was on a warmer place on the globe \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-108.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1798\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-108-768x575.jpg\" alt=\"Dutch woollen caps from the 17th c. Due to the dry climate, they are well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-108.jpg\" data-caption=\"Dutch woollen caps from the 17th c. Due to the dry climate, they are well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-66.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-66-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Inside the trapper&#039;s cabin, where Hansine Hansen gave birth to a child \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-66.jpg\" data-caption=\"Inside the trapper&#039;s cabin, where Hansine Hansen gave birth to a child \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-59.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-59-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Helmet for miner \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-fritt-bruk-59.jpg\" data-caption=\"Helmet for miner \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Searching for fossils on the tundra. Once, Svalbard was on a warmer place on the globe \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Dutch woollen caps from the 17th c. Due to the dry climate, they are well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Inside the trapper&#039;s cabin, where Hansine Hansen gave birth to a child \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Helmet for miner \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-dutch-wanted-to-go-to-china-but-came-to-svalbard\">The Dutch wanted to go to China but came to Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the 16th century, the western European countries organised expeditions to find a quicker sea route to Asia. In 1596, a Dutch expedition led by Willem Barentsz came north in an attempt to sail north around Asia to China. The first thing they did was kill a polar bear beside an island, which they then named Bj\u00f8rn\u00f8ya, or Bear Island. They then sailed along a coastline of sharp peaks, or&nbsp;<em>Spitsbergen<\/em>&nbsp;in Dutch, observing the many whales and walruses. At Novaya Zemlya, further east, they became icebound and had to stay over winter, eventually managing to make their way to north-west Russia where they found people again. The expedition was a fiasco, but Svalbard and its rich natural resources were now on the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-klondike-like-atmosphere-at-79-degrees-north\">Klondike-like atmosphere at 79 degrees North<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first whale was killed in 1612, and that was the starting signal for a whaling rush on Svalbard. The bowhead whale was hunted with harpoons from small boats in the fjords along the west coast of Svalbard. The fat was then cut up and boiled in large onshore vats, a process involving several hundred men. In about 1650, however, the whales were hunted out of the region, and larger ships were now needed to hunt them further up towards the edge of the ice. Svalbard became a much quieter place, and by the end of the 18th century, the whales were almost extinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5-2048x1536.jpg\" alt=\"One minute you&#039;re dressed in a stylish coat in Amsterdam, the next scurvy sent you into a cold grave in Northwestern Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-5.jpg\" data-caption=\"One minute you&#039;re dressed in a stylish coat in Amsterdam, the next scurvy sent you into a cold grave in Northwestern Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Wool keeps you warm, and especially so in Northwestern Svalbard in the first part of the 17th C. \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1.jpg\" data-caption=\"Wool keeps you warm, and especially so in Northwestern Svalbard in the first part of the 17th C. \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-2.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1600\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-2-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"At Svalbard Museum you can learn how to dress to impress in Amsterdam around 1630 \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"At Svalbard Museum you can learn how to dress to impress in Amsterdam around 1630 \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-140.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-140-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Woollen hats in vivid colours, and well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-140.jpg\" data-caption=\"Woollen hats in vivid colours, and well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: One minute you&#039;re dressed in a stylish coat in Amsterdam, the next scurvy sent you into a cold grave in Northwestern Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Wool keeps you warm, and especially so in Northwestern Svalbard in the first part of the 17th C. \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: At Svalbard Museum you can learn how to dress to impress in Amsterdam around 1630 \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Woollen hats in vivid colours, and well preserved \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-european-costume-history-has-been-preserved-in-svalbard\">European costume history has been preserved in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How did Europeans dress in the 17th century? You will find the answer at Svalbard Museum since few other places have such well-preserved clothes worn by ordinary Europeans in this era. Analyses of garments and material from discoveries made in northwest Spitsbergen provide a wealth of information. Silk from France, dyes from Africa and wool from Spain are among the evidence of a well-developed textile industry. If you visit Svalbard Museum, you can see garments recovered from the graves of whalers in Svalbard in the 17th and 18th centuries. The garments are&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.norark.no\/prosjekter\/likneset\/velkledde-skjeletter-pa-svalbard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">surprisingly well preserved<\/a> owing to the cold, dry climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perhaps Willem Barentz\u2019 hat is at the Svalbard Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The well-preserved finds exhibited at the museum include a jacket, hats, knitted socks and a pair of trousers. Svalbard Museum has created a digital collection of objects from European whaling in Svalbard in the 17th and 18th centuries. The clothing was mainly found in northwest Spitsbergen. Another fun and exciting clothing find may have been Willem Barentz\u2019 hat. Willem Barentz discovered Svalbard in 1596 when he was searching for the Northeast Passage. The hat forms part of the Svalbard Museum exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image00007.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image00007-2048x1536.jpg\" alt=\"Mining has been important to Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image00007.jpg\" data-caption=\"Mining has been important to Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10073-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1462x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10073-2.jpg\" alt=\"Inscription from the rich whaling period of the 17th C. \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10073-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Inscription from the rich whaling period of the 17th C. \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10081-2.jpg\" data-size=\"1633x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10081-2.jpg\" alt=\"Fox trap \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svb10081-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"Fox trap \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD074.jpg\" data-size=\"1129x800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD074.jpg\" alt=\"Trapper cabin at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD074.jpg\" data-caption=\"Trapper cabin at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Mining has been important to Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Inscription from the rich whaling period of the 17th C. \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Fox trap \u00a9 Guri Dahl\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Trapper cabin at Svalbard Museum \u00a9 Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-russians-wintered-in-the-18th-century\">The Russians wintered in the 18th century<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1704, the Russians started setting up overwintering stations on Svalbard to use as bases from which to hunt and trap walruses and fur animals such as foxes, seals and polar bears. It was part of a co-ordinated Russian investment in the Nordic regions. The trappers&#8217; stations were built from logs brought in from the White Sea, and were fairly large buildings with several rooms. Large Orthodox crosses served both as protection and as navigational markers. This Russian activity calmed down towards 1800, and stopped altogether after 1840.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fur-hunters-wintered-in-huts-in-svalbard\">Fur hunters wintered in huts in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>From the first half of the 20th century, trappers, mostly from Northern Norway, overwintered on Svalbard in simple trappers&#8217; cabins. They hunted fur animals such as Arctic foxes, polar bears and seals, gathered down from the Eider ducks, and shot birds and reindeer for fresh meat. Altogether, more than 1000 people overwintered during this period, mostly before 1940. The trappers were probably attracted less by a thirst for adventure than by the money they could earn here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-were-there-only-male-trappers\">Were there only male trappers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No! Adventurous women also went on hunting\/trapping expeditions in the Arctic. Some women also went hunting\/trapping with their husbands. The heyday for overwintering was from <a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/kultur-og-historie\/pelsjegerliv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the late 1890s until 1941<\/a>. Almost 400 people operated as hunters and trappers during this period, of which 6% were women. This amounted to well over 1,000 winterings. You can learn more about the history of hunting\/trapping at Svalbard Museum, where you can also see a replica of a trapper\u2019s hut where Hansine Hansen wintered with her husband and son \u2013 and gave birth to a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wanny-woldstad-was-a-woman-who-became-a-trapper\">Wanny Woldstad was a woman who became a trapper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/polarhistorie.no\/personer\/Wolstad%2C%20Wanny.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wanny Woldstad<\/a> is a pioneer among the female trappers. She was the first female hunter\/trapper in Svalbard. \u201cShe was an oddity in a field that was the exclusive domain of men since the Stone Age,\u201d wrote Helge Ingstad in the foreword to Wanny Woldstad\u2019s book. In a book about Svalbard published in 1989, Marit Anne Hauan says: \u201cOne winter she baked 900 loaves of bread in addition to cakes. She was responsible for washing clothes, keeping the hut clean, mending and patching. She also played an active role in the hunting and trapping work.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/uit.no\/tavla\/artikkel\/634721\/wanny_og_henry_fangstliv_i_arktis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">From the Polar Museum\u2019s exhibition, we can read<\/a>: \u201cThere is one woman who stands out, namely Wanny Woldstad. As an equal trapping partner, she has left her mark on Svalbard more than any other woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-3\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-22697.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1805\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-22697-2048x1540.jpg\" alt=\"Mine 1a in old Longyearbyen \/ Longyearbyen City. Taken somewhere between 1925 and 1935. You can still see the mine from town, along with the cable car. For more photos from the mines: https:\/\/digitaltmuseum.no\/021098865820\/sveagruva. Photographer is unknown \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-22697.jpg\" data-caption=\"Mine 1a in old Longyearbyen \/ Longyearbyen City. Taken somewhere between 1925 and 1935. You can still see the mine from town, along with the cable car. For more photos from the mines: https:\/\/digitaltmuseum.no\/021098865820\/sveagruva. Photographer is unknown \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-05930.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1560\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-05930-768x499.jpg\" alt=\"The trappers had a hard and adventurous life. This is the secondary trapping station &quot;Kl\u00f8ftehytta&quot; (&quot;Canyon cabin&quot;) from Georg Bj\u00f8nnes&#039; winterings at Edge\u00f8ya Island in 1929-30. Trappers had one main station, and one or more secondary stations distributed in their hunting area. The photo is part of \u00a9 Svalbard museum&#039;s photo collection, and taken by Alfred Svendsen in 1930.\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-05930.jpg\" data-caption=\"The trappers had a hard and adventurous life. This is the secondary trapping station &quot;Kl\u00f8ftehytta&quot; (&quot;Canyon cabin&quot;) from Georg Bj\u00f8nnes&#039; winterings at Edge\u00f8ya Island in 1929-30. Trappers had one main station, and one or more secondary stations distributed in their hunting area. The photo is part of \u00a9 Svalbard museum&#039;s photo collection, and taken by Alfred Svendsen in 1930.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-25252-2.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1537\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-25252-2-768x492.jpg\" alt=\"The settlement in Longyearbyen has moved around according to where the mines were found. This photo from about 1979-80 shows Svalbard church and the old hospital in the foreground. In the back you see Lia (&quot;The hillside&quot; - Left) and Haugen (&quot;the hill&quot; - right) with the Funktion\u00e6rmessen (canteen for the white collared employees). Most of this will be visible on a walk in today&#039;s Longbyearbyen, but there are many more houses. The photographer is unknown. \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/SVF-25252-2.jpg\" data-caption=\"The settlement in Longyearbyen has moved around according to where the mines were found. This photo from about 1979-80 shows Svalbard church and the old hospital in the foreground. In the back you see Lia (&quot;The hillside&quot; - Left) and Haugen (&quot;the hill&quot; - right) with the Funktion\u00e6rmessen (canteen for the white collared employees). Most of this will be visible on a walk in today&#039;s Longbyearbyen, but there are many more houses. The photographer is unknown. \u00a9 Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: Mine 1a in old Longyearbyen \/ Longyearbyen City. Taken somewhere between 1925 and 1935. You can still see the mine from town, along with the cable car. For more photos from the mines: https:\/\/digitaltmuseum.no\/021098865820\/sveagruva. Photographer is unknown \u00a9 Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: The trappers had a hard and adventurous life. This is the secondary trapping station &quot;Kl\u00f8ftehytta&quot; (&quot;Canyon cabin&quot;) from Georg Bj\u00f8nnes&#039; winterings at Edge\u00f8ya Island in 1929-30. Trappers had one main station, and one or more secondary stations distributed in their hunting area. The photo is part of \u00a9 Svalbard museum&#039;s photo collection, and taken by Alfred Svendsen in 1930.<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: The settlement in Longyearbyen has moved around according to where the mines were found. This photo from about 1979-80 shows Svalbard church and the old hospital in the foreground. In the back you see Lia (&quot;The hillside&quot; &#8211; Left) and Haugen (&quot;the hill&quot; &#8211; right) with the Funktion\u00e6rmessen (canteen for the white collared employees). Most of this will be visible on a walk in today&#039;s Longbyearbyen, but there are many more houses. The photographer is unknown. \u00a9 Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-christiane-left-germany-for-the-polar-night-in-svalbard\">Christiane left Germany for the Polar Night in Svalbard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Christiane Ritter is another woman worth noting. She travelled from Germany to Gr\u00e5huken in Svalbard in 1934 to spend a year with her husband in the far north of Svalbard. The transition from Central Europe to the Arctic was huge, which is well described in her book <em>A Woman in the Polar Night<\/em>. You will find this book and a lot of other polar literature in the museum shop. You can also read about <a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/sally-kraemers-fangstopplevelser-i-sallyhamna-pa-svalbard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sally in Sallyhamna<\/a><a href=\"#_msocom_1\">[GT1]<\/a>&nbsp; (Norwegian only&#8230;google translate?=<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-coal-mining-started-around-1900\">Coal mining started around 1900<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Svalbard&#8217;s coal deposits were discovered just before 1900, and people from many countries eagerly staked their claims. Places like Svea, Pyramiden, Grumantbyen, Barentsburg and Longyearbyen were a hive of activity. The Norwegians and Russians (Soviets) have mined here for the longest continuous periods, but there were also times when the Swedes, Americans and Dutch were heavily involved. The mining communities worked all year round&nbsp;\u2014 and from November to June, they and their hundreds of workers were cut off from the mainland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-war-in-svalbard-was-a-war-about-the-weather\">The war in Svalbard was a war about the weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Svalbard has its own <a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/kultur-og-historie\/krigen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">war history<\/a>. Although the archipelago was never occupied, from 1941 the Germans had several automated and manned weather stations in Svalbard. The purpose of these was to obtain all types of weather information that the German war administration considered important for warfare in Europe. The history, location and cultural monuments that remain from these weather stations show how the war in Svalbard was about weather and a battle for information that was of great importance in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-2\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1350\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1-2048x1152.jpg\" alt=\"The seedvault can&#039;t be visited. They simply don&#039;t want the door to open and close all the time in order to protect the seeds deep down in the permafrost. The Svalbard museum has thus taken on the task of informing us \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen \/ Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-1.jpg\" data-caption=\"The seedvault can&#039;t be visited. They simply don&#039;t want the door to open and close all the time in order to protect the seeds deep down in the permafrost. The Svalbard museum has thus taken on the task of informing us \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen \/ Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-32.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-32-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Thousands of maize varieties in Mexico, thousands of rice varieties in the Philippines, thousands of different potatoes in Peru all constitue a treasure of valuable genes in an age of modernising agriculture and climate change. Cold, dry Svalbard is a good back up storage \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-foto-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-32.jpg\" data-caption=\"Thousands of maize varieties in Mexico, thousands of rice varieties in the Philippines, thousands of different potatoes in Peru all constitue a treasure of valuable genes in an age of modernising agriculture and climate change. Cold, dry Svalbard is a good back up storage \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: The seedvault can&#039;t be visited. They simply don&#039;t want the door to open and close all the time in order to protect the seeds deep down in the permafrost. The Svalbard museum has thus taken on the task of informing us \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen \/ Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Thousands of maize varieties in Mexico, thousands of rice varieties in the Philippines, thousands of different potatoes in Peru all constitue a treasure of valuable genes in an age of modernising agriculture and climate change. Cold, dry Svalbard is a good back up storage \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/ Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-seed-vault-is-humanity-s-backup-plan\">The seed vault is humanity\u2019s backup plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regjeringen.no\/no\/tema\/mat-fiske-og-landbruk\/svalbard_global_frohvelv\/id462220\/\">Svalbard Global Seed Vault<\/a> is a <a href=\"https:\/\/seedvault.nordgen.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gene bank<\/a> deep inside the mountain. This is the largest reserve storage location in the world for many of the world\u2019s gene banks. All gene banks have a duplicate copy of their seed collections stored here. This ensures that food plants and other useful plants are preserved so they are not eradicated by disasters such as storms, war and terrorism. Although the seed vault is not open to visitors, you can view it from the <a href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outside<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-svalbard-museum-takes-you-on-a-journey-into-history-and-nature\">Svalbard Museum takes you on a journey into history and nature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Svalbard Museum is a modern museum that explains things in a vivid manner. The many original objects are supported by models and recreated environments to enable visitors to get closer to history, flora and fauna. In this way, children become enthusiastic while adults learn and are entertained. It\u2019s only a short way to even more knowledge as you are welcome to visit the museum\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/samlingene\/samlingene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digital collections<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/samlingene\/fotosamling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">photo archive<\/a> and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/svalbardmuseum.no\/no\/samlingene\/historisk-arkiv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">history archive<\/a>. The museum is located at the Svalbard Science Centre and is open year-round. It\u2019s co-located with the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and the Norwegian Polar Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-vnn-gallery gallery-count-4\">\n\t\t<ul><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-21.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1588\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">01<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-21-2048x1355.jpg\" alt=\"When in Svalbard... shoes come off indoor in Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-21.jpg\" data-caption=\"When in Svalbard... shoes come off indoor in Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-4.jpg\" data-size=\"1800x2400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">02<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-4-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Little miners \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-4.jpg\" data-caption=\"Little miners \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-8.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1800\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">03<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-8-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Poetry and panoramas \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Svalbard-Museum-Hege-Anita-Eilertsen-8.jpg\" data-caption=\"Poetry and panoramas \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\">\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/skotrekk-8.jpg\" data-size=\"2400x1675\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"block-gallery-count\">04<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/skotrekk-8-768x536.jpg\" alt=\"Shoe covers made from sugar cane fibres take you safely and environmentally friendly around Svalbard museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/skotrekk-8.jpg\" data-caption=\"Shoe covers made from sugar cane fibres take you safely and environmentally friendly around Svalbard museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"vnn-gallery-figcaptions\"><figcaption>01: When in Svalbard&#8230; shoes come off indoor in Svalbard \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>02: Little miners \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>03: Poetry and panoramas \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><figcaption>04: Shoe covers made from sugar cane fibres take you safely and environmentally friendly around Svalbard museum \u00a9 Hege Anita Eilertsen\/Svalbard museum<\/figcaption><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-style-faq\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\t\tPractical about the Svalbard Museum\n\t\t\t<\/h3><div class=\"t2-accordion wp-block-t2-accordion\" data-allow-multiple=\"1\" role=\"list\"><div class=\"t2-accordion-item wp-block-t2-accordion-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t2-accordion-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"t2-accordion-trigger\" id=\"where-do-i-find-svalbard-museum?\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\tWhere do I find Svalbard Museum?\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-closed-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevrondown\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 14.9c-.1 0-.3 0-.4-.1-.1 0-.2-.1-.3-.2L6.7 10c-.2-.1-.3-.4-.3-.6 0-.3.1-.5.3-.7.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3s.5.1.7.3l3.9 3.9 3.9-3.9c.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3.3 0 .5.1.7.3.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7l-4.6 4.6c-.1.1-.2.2-.3.2H12z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-open-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevronup\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6.7 14.7c-.2-.2-.3-.4-.3-.7s.1-.5.3-.7l4.6-4.6c.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.1 0 .2-.1.4-.1.1 0 .3 0 .4.1.1 0 .2.1.3.2l4.6 4.6c.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3L12 10.8l-3.9 3.9c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"t2-accordion-item__inner-container is-layout-flow\" id=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"where-do-i-find-svalbard-museum?\" role=\"region\" hidden>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\tThe Museum is found in the same building as UNIS, the University Centre at Svalbard, in central Longyearbyen. It is easily reached on foot from almost everywhere in Longbyearbyen. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div class=\"t2-accordion-item wp-block-t2-accordion-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t2-accordion-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"t2-accordion-trigger\" id=\"what-are-the-opening-hours-of-svalbard-museum?\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the opening hours of Svalbard Museum?\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-closed-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevrondown\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 14.9c-.1 0-.3 0-.4-.1-.1 0-.2-.1-.3-.2L6.7 10c-.2-.1-.3-.4-.3-.6 0-.3.1-.5.3-.7.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3s.5.1.7.3l3.9 3.9 3.9-3.9c.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3.3 0 .5.1.7.3.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7l-4.6 4.6c-.1.1-.2.2-.3.2H12z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-open-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevronup\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6.7 14.7c-.2-.2-.3-.4-.3-.7s.1-.5.3-.7l4.6-4.6c.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.1 0 .2-.1.4-.1.1 0 .3 0 .4.1.1 0 .2.1.3.2l4.6 4.6c.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3L12 10.8l-3.9 3.9c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"t2-accordion-item__inner-container is-layout-flow\" id=\"accordion-panel-1\" aria-labelledby=\"what-are-the-opening-hours-of-svalbard-museum?\" role=\"region\" hidden>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\tThe museum is open every day 10am-5pm, all year. Exceptions include the 1st and 2nd of January, May 17th and the Christmas holiday. Double-check with their website. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div class=\"t2-accordion-item wp-block-t2-accordion-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t2-accordion-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"t2-accordion-trigger\" id=\"why-do-we-take-off-our-shoes-at-svalbard-museum?\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\tWhy do we take off our shoes at Svalbard Museum?\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-closed-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevrondown\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 14.9c-.1 0-.3 0-.4-.1-.1 0-.2-.1-.3-.2L6.7 10c-.2-.1-.3-.4-.3-.6 0-.3.1-.5.3-.7.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3s.5.1.7.3l3.9 3.9 3.9-3.9c.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3.3 0 .5.1.7.3.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7l-4.6 4.6c-.1.1-.2.2-.3.2H12z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-open-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevronup\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6.7 14.7c-.2-.2-.3-.4-.3-.7s.1-.5.3-.7l4.6-4.6c.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.1 0 .2-.1.4-.1.1 0 .3 0 .4.1.1 0 .2.1.3.2l4.6 4.6c.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3L12 10.8l-3.9 3.9c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"t2-accordion-item__inner-container is-layout-flow\" id=\"accordion-panel-2\" aria-labelledby=\"why-do-we-take-off-our-shoes-at-svalbard-museum?\" role=\"region\" hidden>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\tSvalbard museum practices shoes-off &#8211; as many places in Longyearbyen do. This is a tradition that came about because of coal dust and dirt from mining. It was about avoiding dragging all this into the houses. Even today, although most mining has ceased, this is a practical  tradition. At the museum, you can take off your shoes in the cloakroom, or borrow shoe covers over your own shoes. At the Svalbard museum, they call their shoe covers &#8220;sugar shoes&#8221;. That&#8217;s because they&#8217;re made from polyethylene, which is made from sugar cane-based material. They have the same properties as regular polyethylene and are 100% recyclable and made mainly from renewable raw materials. This is an environmental choice that contributes to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div class=\"t2-accordion-item wp-block-t2-accordion-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t2-accordion-title\">\n\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"t2-accordion-trigger\" id=\"i-want-to-be-well-prepared-for-my-svalbard-museum-visit.-where-do-i-go?\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\tI want to be well-prepared for my Svalbard Museum visit. Where do I go?\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-closed-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevrondown\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 14.9c-.1 0-.3 0-.4-.1-.1 0-.2-.1-.3-.2L6.7 10c-.2-.1-.3-.4-.3-.6 0-.3.1-.5.3-.7.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3s.5.1.7.3l3.9 3.9 3.9-3.9c.2-.2.4-.3.7-.3.3 0 .5.1.7.3.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7l-4.6 4.6c-.1.1-.2.2-.3.2H12z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t2-accordion-icon is-open-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-chevronup\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6.7 14.7c-.2-.2-.3-.4-.3-.7s.1-.5.3-.7l4.6-4.6c.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.1 0 .2-.1.4-.1.1 0 .3 0 .4.1.1 0 .2.1.3.2l4.6 4.6c.2.2.3.4.3.7s-.1.5-.3.7c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3L12 10.8l-3.9 3.9c-.2.2-.4.3-.7.3s-.5-.1-.7-.3z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"t2-accordion-item__inner-container is-layout-flow\" id=\"accordion-panel-3\" aria-labelledby=\"i-want-to-be-well-prepared-for-my-svalbard-museum-visit.-where-do-i-go?\" role=\"region\" hidden>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\tSome people go for a quick tour through the exhibits. Others like to spend more time. For the latter, these links might be of interest: The Object Collections &#8211; overview of every object in the museum The Photo Collections &#8211; 20 000 digitalised photosThe Historical Archive &#8211; Collection of archive documents\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"t2-featured-content-layout alignwide alignwide wp-block-t2-featured-content-layout\" role=\"list\"><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-backpacking todo-hiking todo-hiking-trips season-autumn season-summer region-svalbard malgrupper-outdoor-adventure wp-block-t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content-layout-col-4\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/hiking-in-svalbard\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/008880_Jarle-Roessland_Visit-Svalbard-768x432.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tSvalbard\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Hiking in Svalbard<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tHiking\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-activities todo-attractions todo-backpacking todo-boat-tour todo-dog-sledding todo-drink-in-northern-norway todo-eat-and-stay todo-food-in-northern-norway todo-hiking todo-icecave todo-northern-lights todo-photo todo-photography-courses todo-snowmobile todo-snowshoeing facilities-adrenaline facilities-family-friendly facilities-groups season-winter region-svalbard malgrupper-bucket-list-betty malgrupper-friendship-bonder malgrupper-local-insider malgrupper-nature-lover malgrupper-teambuilder wp-block-t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content-layout-col-4\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/go-to-svalbard-for-24-7-northern-lights\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 50% 50%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Jan-Hvizdal-1-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tSvalbard\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Go to Svalbard for 24\/7 Northern Lights<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tNorthern Lights\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content is-post-type-artikler todo-eat-and-stay region-svalbard malgrupper-local-insider wp-block-t2-featured-single-post t2-featured-content-layout-col-4\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t<div class=\"default-card wp-block-t2-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"t2-post-link wp-block-t2-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/longyearbyen-on-svalbard-has-more-to-offer-than-polar-bears\/\">\n<div class=\"t2-post-dynamic-part is-source-filter filter-default_card wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\">\n\t\t<figure style=\"--t2-focal-point: 51% 80%;\" class=\"t2-post-featured-image has-image-ratio-16-9 wp-block-t2-post-dynamic-part\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Svalbrd-1-Foto-Emilien-Gigandet.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t<div class=\"card-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-region\">\n\t\t\t\tSvalbard\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2>Longyearbyen on Svalbard has more to offer than polar bears<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-activities\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\" class=\"t2-icon t2-icon-activites\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M625.941 293.823L421.823 497.941c-18.746 18.746-49.138 18.745-67.882 0l-.36-.36L592 259.882 331.397 0h48.721a48 48 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zm-128 0L293.823 497.941C284.451 507.314 272.166 512 259.882 512c-12.284 0-24.569-4.686-33.941-14.059L14.059 286.059A48 48 0 0 1 0 252.118V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h204.118a47.998 47.998 0 0 1 33.941 14.059l211.882 211.882c18.745 18.745 18.745 49.137 0 67.882zM464 259.882L252.118 48H48v204.118l211.886 211.878L464 259.882zM144 96c-26.51 0-48 21.49-48 48s21.49 48 48 48 48-21.49 48-48-21.49-48-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\tEat and stay\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"vnn__byline vnn-grid has-no-author has-no-date has-tags\"><div class=\"vnn__byline-tags\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=culture-and-history\" rel=\"tag\">Culture and history<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=polarhistory\" rel=\"tag\">Polar history<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_se-og-gjore=worldwar2\" rel=\"tag\">World War II<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_omrder=svalbard\" rel=\"tag\">Svalbard<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=autumn\" rel=\"tag\">Autumn<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=spring\" rel=\"tag\">Spring<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=summer\" rel=\"tag\">Summer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_sesonger=winter\" rel=\"tag\">Winter<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_fasiliteter=family-friendly\" rel=\"tag\">Family Friendly<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/experiences-and-activities\/?fwp_fasiliteter=groups\" rel=\"tag\">Groups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":20610,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_searchwp_excluded":"","vnn_header_layout":"featured","vnn_header_layout_image_id":3401,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_x":0.52,"vnn_header_layout_image_focal_point_y":0.65398550724638,"vnn_header_layout_description":"","vnn_header_layout_url":"","vnn_header_layout_url_text":"","vnn_header_layout_photographer":"\u00a9 Svalbard Museum","vnn_header_layout_video_id":"","vnn_header_layout_yt_id":"","vnn_header_layout_vimeo_id":"","teft_location_geodata_lat":78.223111691611,"teft_location_geodata_lng":15.647277832031,"teft_cards_image_id":20610,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_x":0.5,"teft_cards_image_focal_point_y":0.5,"teft_cards_title":"","teft_cards_excerpt":"","footnotes":""},"todo":[19,41,82],"facilities":[15,5],"season":[6,8,7,16],"region":[17],"malgrupper":[23],"class_list":["post-3379","artikler","type-artikler","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","todo-culture-and-history","todo-polarhistory","todo-worldwar2","facilities-family-friendly","facilities-groups","season-autumn","season-spring","season-summer","season-winter","region-svalbard","malgrupper-heritage-explorer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.5 (Yoast SEO v25.3.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Svalbard Museum | Polar bears and history | Northern Norway<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Svalbard Museum tells you all about the archipelago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Svalbard Museum is an excellent place to start your visit to Svalbard, regardless of whether you are planning a relaxing time in Longyearbyen or camping in a tent on the east coast. You will learn about the flora, fauna on the land and in the sea, voyages of discovery, whaling and coal mining. Surprisingly, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Visit Northern Norway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernNorway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-01T11:18:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm-Visit-Svalbard.jpg\" \/><meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/svmGD093.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm-Visit-Svalbard.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@NorthernNorway\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/\",\"name\":\"Svalbard Museum | Polar bears and history | Northern Norway\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/foto-Haakon-Daae-Brensholm-Visit-Svalbard.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-12-19T20:42:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-01T11:18:00+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nordnorge.com\/en\/artikkel\/svalbard-museum-tells-you-all-about-the-archipelago\/\"]}],\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where do I find Svalbard Museum?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"&lt;p class=&quot;&quot;&gt;\\n\\t\\t\\t\\tThe Museum is found in the same building as UNIS, the University Centre at Svalbard, in central Longyearbyen. 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At the museum, you can take off your shoes in the cloakroom, or borrow shoe covers over your own shoes. At the Svalbard museum, they call their shoe covers &quot;sugar shoes&quot;. That&#039;s because they&#039;re made from polyethylene, which is made from sugar cane-based material. They have the same properties as regular polyethylene and are 100% recyclable and made mainly from renewable raw materials. This is an environmental choice that contributes to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.\\n\\t\\t\\t&lt;\/p&gt;\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"I want to be well-prepared for my Svalbard Museum visit. Where do I go?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"&lt;p class=&quot;&quot;&gt;\\n\\t\\t\\t\\tSome people go for a quick tour through the exhibits. Others like to spend more time. 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It is easily reached on foot from almost everywhere in Longbyearbyen. \n\t\t\t&lt;\/p&gt;"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the opening hours of Svalbard Museum?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"&lt;p class=&quot;&quot;&gt;\n\t\t\t\tThe museum is open every day 10am-5pm, all year. Exceptions include the 1st and 2nd of January, May 17th and the Christmas holiday. Double-check with their website. \n\t\t\t&lt;\/p&gt;"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why do we take off our shoes at Svalbard Museum?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"&lt;p class=&quot;&quot;&gt;\n\t\t\t\tSvalbard museum practices shoes-off - as many places in Longyearbyen do. This is a tradition that came about because of coal dust and dirt from mining. It was about avoiding dragging all this into the houses. Even today, although most mining has ceased, this is a practical  tradition. At the museum, you can take off your shoes in the cloakroom, or borrow shoe covers over your own shoes. At the Svalbard museum, they call their shoe covers &quot;sugar shoes&quot;. That&#039;s because they&#039;re made from polyethylene, which is made from sugar cane-based material. They have the same properties as regular polyethylene and are 100% recyclable and made mainly from renewable raw materials. This is an environmental choice that contributes to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.\n\t\t\t&lt;\/p&gt;"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"I want to be well-prepared for my Svalbard Museum visit. Where do I go?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"&lt;p class=&quot;&quot;&gt;\n\t\t\t\tSome people go for a quick tour through the exhibits. Others like to spend more time. 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