Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen (which is also spelled Spitzbergen) is the largest island of the archipelago Svalbard. It was called West Spitsbergen until 1965. The name East Spitsbergen was proposed for the third-largest island of the group, Edgeøya. Today, it is the only island on Svalvard which is settled permanently. The island has a size of about 380 kilometres (240 mi) by 220 kilometres (140 mi) There are only few active settlements on Spitsbergen, among them Barentsburg, about 500 people Longyearbyen, main settlement, about 2.500 people Ny-Ålesund, scientific station, about 30-35 peolple Sveagruva,mining town, about 300, many commuting from Longyearbyen There are several abandoned ones: Grumant, mining town, abandoned in 1965 Colesbukta, shipping terminal for Grumant, about half-way between Grumant and Barentsburg. Ny-London, mining town, abandoned in the 1920s. Near Ny-Alesund Pyramiden, mining town, mostly abandoned in the 1990s References