Come take a walk with me, around Longyearbyen. That’s the largest town on the Norwegian islands of Svalbard. Parts of it may look familiar. But make no mistake, this place IS different. At 78° north, It is just 1800mi/1300km from the North Pole. And with over 2000 permanent residents, it is the northernmost real town on Earth. There are only 50km (31mi) of road, including the small streets between houses. So people get around the island mainly on snowmobile. In fact, there are more registered snowmobiles, than residents. Anyone leaving town is required to travel with a gun and someone who knows how to use it. Because the islands are also home to polar bears. The average daytime high, is below freezing for all but four months of the year. Hi. And from the end of October to mid February, the sun doesn’t rise at all. This is the long polar night. Living here, is tough. This past December, an avalanche in town destroyed 10 homes, which used to be here, killing two people. So how did this cold, remote, ice-covered archipelago come to be inhabited? Well, the hills around town are rich in coal deposits, that have been mined for over 100 years. The coal was transported to the port via a series of aerial tramways. Some of which remain today, though they are no longer operational. Coal is a reminder that Svalbard was not always an Arctic ice world. 360 million yaers ago it was actually in the tropics, just north of the equator. A swampy area it was covered with a precursor to modern ferns, which were much larger than they are today, reaching 10-30m (33-98ft) in height. This vegetation was then covered in mud and sand, and submerged under the sea. Over time, it turned into the coal deposites that in the 20th century brought miners from Norway, Russia and the US. Most of the coal mines have now closed and the economy is gradually shifting towards tourism, education and research. Tourists take trips on snowmobiles and dog sleds. There is a university center in Svalbard which offers semester courses in biology, physics and geology. And up on the side of a mountain, is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. But that’s a story for another time. The locals tell me that interest in the region from different nations is increasing. As the globe warms and Arctic ice shrinks trade routs are opening up across the north. And Svalbard is strategically placed between North America, Asia and Europe. So one day in the future, Svaldbard may no longer be as cold or as remote as it once was. But for now, it is a reminder of how through our ingenuity people can live in even the most inhospitable of places.
By popular demand: this video without my narration: https://youtu.be/DLUb14UsgJ8
Yet you little brat want to play fortnite than taking the the snowmobile for a ride in that place! do not lie!
sval bard , bard in Arabic is Cold what a coincidence.
Awesome shots and a really cool place, I am so scared for this place though with more people and the warming earth….
You don,t give an impression How people live there. This is the most un interesting video I ever saw of Svalbard. I was there for 10 years ago on midsummernight. They hat fun. Young people playing music in the street. There is a Hugh supermarket where you can get everything. There is a museum, restaurants, shops Travelagency. The last time I visit Longyearbuyen was in July this Year. No there is no snow in the Summer, only high on the mountains. There are Husky Farms where they keep over 100 Husky,s. They have a weather station an AirPort.
You miss something!! I have missed lot of things in your video.
So this is Jon Snows territory! Son of fire rules the ice
Beautifully done. I’ve never knew about this place and I’m interested in knowing more now. Thanks for sharing this with the world.
I’m moving there
The music is so soothing and matching
Polar bears will track and hunt a human for days …
Best thing…no Walmart! 👍
3:11 avalanche kills people
When will humans realize they can’t build anywhere they want!
So glad we watched the whole video 👍👽👽👽🌍
7:35 reminded me of a scene in monsters inc.
Actually alert is the northern most town
I’ve got to say Derek, everything from the story you’re telling here, to the camera shots and angles you captured on your 4K drone, was crafted beautifully. I’m a huge fan of all your material, and in comparison to your other episodes, the cinematography in this one sets it apart. Absolutely fantastic work, sir!
"From the end of October to mid of February, the Sun doesn't rise at ALL"!
WHAT!???
Amazing .. Narration music views of Svalbard touching heart #pixstube
Love the long drawn out pan across the village at the end 👏
3:35 comfirmed
Real life is based on minecraft
The biome with most coal in minecraft is the ice spikes one sooo
I visited this place 10 years ago….
The white walker also live there
So lonely but home is where the heart is
lmao
We have been to the Fjords but not this place.
such a magical place which reminds me with Iorek Byrnison. Thanks for the video
My grandfathers father worked in a mine at Svalbard when he was young. It feels like I have a connection to this place, its a part of my heritage.
wow.
even in the middle of summer there is still a thick layer of snow on the ground.
Great video about Svalbard, probably the best on youtube. Thanks a lot. Greets.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Sorry, I can only like it once and I just wanted to say it again.
insane video quality. nuts
You needed funding for that?
Quote "As the globe warms and arctic ice shrinks" … Total and utter garbage ! Please cite your evidence for this manifestly false statement. Your are just another far-left, racist FAKE!
at 0:52, 1800 miles is NOT 1300 kilometers
What a beautiful episode! Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful video
It's sad that all those ice will melt one day and will rise sea level.
I wonder why the roofs aren't steep, wouldn't the weight of the ice and snow crush the buildings?
So many windows wouldn't allow heat to stay in, cheap heating out there I guess?
I have been living in Norway for 2 years but never been to Tromsø and Svalbard. I am gonna regret if I don't travel there soon.
Beautiful
Any issues with the drone in cold weather? DJI gives 0C as the lowest operating temperature but I have been looking to fly it during the winter.
He is all about science yet not one shred of information other than the stunning visuals (which are truly beautiful IMO) how about "They monitor Vitamin D levels of all residents due to the extreme lack of sun year-round" nope, instead we get "in the summer it is still cold" ** he mentioned the university briefly **. What happened? this has to be part of a series, there is so much human physiology data that can be explored to peak interest, he did write in the description of the video section "More information soon". I say title it "First impression of Svalbard, the closest town to the north pole"
Going there next march to shoot some polar bears, can't wait 🙌
6:19 the look on my face when the nearest starbucks is more than 900miles away
This place looks so cold, But i would love to visit it once.
Author look Indian.
Was that cluster of snow mobiles banashed from Town? Seems puzzling to me; them parked way out there like that.
Music track is beautiful.
thats a new time low making a selfie with a drone…. just kidding great video man keep it up!
This is ghost town now. Too expensive to live there.
I've been tryna gets some facts on living in Svalbard lately as it is visa free for all nationals but hey! Are there single man there as I will be needing lots of cuddles and some jobs for me to do?
Why so many down votes, I can't see what there is not to like about this video?
It seems a different planet
Cousin Fuckers
I visited Longyearbyen in 2014 Fantastic and unique place!
beautiful landscapes!
Do you think it would make sense to build a giant dam between Svalbard and Greenland to prevent icebergs from flowing through the Greenland Sea? This could have a benefit at preventing sea level rise by keeping the ice in the Arctic.
Could the Queen of Exoplanets & the Queen of Ices hide here ???
Looks a hell of a lot nicer than Barrow Alaska..
Need to own the snowmobile dealership in town! You'd be rich…lol
Only reason I wouldn’t live there is the ping must be 5000
Never seen snow yet in my life it's soo beautiful
increase in tourism=increased warming in that area
Really felt the love from bottom of my heart ♥
Nice work! Not bad for a Canadian 🙂
Alert, Nunavut is the northern most town on Earth.
Next time check out Pyramiden – an abandoned Soviet mining town just across the Sassenfjorden. Now that would be a cool drone video. I will be posting a video (on foot, no drone) as soon as I have time to make edits to the footage (definitely not as professional as yours). I just came back so there was no snow on the ground. Also, you forgot to mention another fun fact besides more registered snowmobiles than people. There are also more polar bears than people in Svalbard 🙂 Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I didn't see one during my days there. Thank you for sharing!
why don't you visit one the most hospitable and inhospitable places on earth, the open air prison called Gaza.
elsker Norge
I live in Canada and last winter was colder and longer than the one of 1980.
Do not believe the (Things are warming up) BS.
Just back from this place. This is the best travel vlog I’ve seen of Svalbard. Thank you
Depressing video
Northpole=secret on flat earth
No mowing grass, no skin cancer…. If you're tired of yard work, maybe this is worth a look!
a tur krapālis ir ?
Quality content in this channel
nice music;slow paced narriation;informative…Great Job!!!
mesmerizing
No one noticed that he said
1800miles or 1300 km from North pole
I actually live here lol, a bit weird watching this
What a beautiful place
Ahhh so phenomenal.
What’s the party scene like there? Wish you showed some people and the pub!
great vid …peace out
I don't know why this town, and I am talking about the man made part of it, looks much better than Barrow, Alaska, which in comparison looks like a dump. Of course, the surroundings are also magnificent to look at.
how sad to think that these isolated, serene and majestically beautiful places on earth are going to be transformed into a landscape we will no longer be able to label as being truly unique and wonderfully wild.
🇮🇩
The background music is relaxing
oh man i hope that humanity wont destroy this place too
Now do 'Point Barrow, AK, USA'
I watched this video about a month ago and last week my university sent an email to the earth and ocean science students about a coop program in collaboration with UNIS. I am thinking about going there for a semester but I dont know if i am gonna be able to cope with the weather and life in general in a place this extreme
Global Warming is a HOAX.
Is there any statistic on crime rates there? It sounds like a joke, but I wondered if in such remote places with relatively low number of inhabitants there are crimes committed?
but…but.. the conservatives tell me that global warming is a myth! how could new trade routes be opening up? sounds like a massive conspiracy funded by the 2k residents of Svalbard to increase interest in their city!
Derek ! WOW !
Of any of your videos that I've watched, this is the most breathtakingly beautiful.
The tone of your narration is perfect.
Well done, my friend. Well done.
not anymore avg daytime high above freezing 4 months of the year, approaching 6 months now and an overall average above freezing, ruining shallow permafrost already.
I bet there’s no racism there. Perhaps the people weren’t dark enough
Bro, i live there🤣🤣
Anyone from there please don't use plastic
the music drove me to tears though
Went there about five years ago. Great place. Went in July and temperature was 10 degs with no wind and blue sky. Beautiful place!