In Norway, there is Longyearbyen – the northernmost settlement in the world, home to more than 2,500 people. It is the largest inhabited area in the Svalbard province; according to the 2026 census data, about 2,512 residents live here, reports the “Daily Express”.
Read more The money laundering scandal finale: «Swedbank» paid a 50 million USD fine in the USA
This remote town, characterized by brightly colored houses, covers an area of four square miles, but it has all the facilities necessary for comfortable living and recreation for locals and visitors alike.
According to the official Svalbard website, Longyearbyen residents and guests can use only one grocery store. However, this picturesque town also has a kindergarten, school, church, post office, gourmet restaurant, and even a museum.
In Longyearbyen, where streets do not have names but are numbered, there is also the Svalbard University Centre – the northernmost scientific and higher education institution in the world. This university offers courses in various scientific fields closely related to the environment, such as Arctic biology and Arctic geophysics. Longyearbyen, located in a valley on the shore of Adventfjord, is surrounded by majestic mountains and glaciers, offering an impressive panorama.
Although it is widely reported that dying is forbidden in Longyearbyen, in reality, it is simply not allowed to bury the dead in this settlement.
Not only people visit here – the area is often frequented by reindeer and whales, as well as polar bears, so it is necessary to carry a weapon when venturing outside the settlement. The name of the settlement actually honors its founder John Munro Longyear, rather than reflecting the passage of time or geographical isolation. Despite its location and year-round negative temperatures, this Norwegian settlement has become an important center for scientific research and education.
Read more Never leave tips in these countries: your generosity will be considered a terrible insult
The tourism sector in the community is also becoming increasingly important – this is illustrated by 2016 data showing that the area received 115,000 visitors, of whom 35,000 arrived on cruise ships from abroad. It is possible to fly to Longyearbyen in three hours from Oslo or in 90 minutes from Tromsø; flights operate to Svalbard Airport.
Those intending to visit this settlement should familiarize themselves with unique rules dictated by its remote geographical location; among them are a ban on keeping cats and monthly alcohol purchase limits for individuals.
Although it is widely reported that dying is forbidden in Longyearbyen, in reality, it is simply not allowed to bury the dead in this settlement – due to this rule, terminally ill residents usually decide to move to the mainland.
The burial ban came into effect in 1950, after it was discovered that due to extremely low temperatures, the bodies of those who died during the 1918 flu pandemic did not decompose. This raised concerns that active deadly virus strains might still be present in the buried remains.
Read more The second part of the exhibition «Jacques Lipchitz. Sculptures-Pilgrims» opens in Druskininkai
