Field excursions to Barentsburg and Pyramiden

The ‘Pollution in the Arctic’ module that I am taking at UNIS included trips to both Pyramiden (completely deserted Russian settlement) and Barentsburg (very small population of approximately 250 Russians and Ukrainians).  Both places have an interesting history which instead of 'copying' and 'pasting' from Wikipedia I suggest you take a look at these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barentsburg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramiden

Both trips were about two hours away from Longyearbyen by boat, which at times got very interesting when faced with unsettled seas! Barentsburg and Pyramiden were very similar in terms of architecture and the facilities such as theatres and sports centres that they had.  Pyramiden however differed in that the town as a whole was more worn with neglect and also damaged from a severe flood in 2005. 

The first five photos were taken in Barentsburg and the rest are from Pyramiden.  I hope that these images give you an insight into these settlements as they are today and perhaps as they would have been as thriving settlements not too many years ago.

We were accompanied by a film crew who were making a documentary on UNIS students and what it is like to study in the Arctic.

Flood damage from 2005.  The football grounds now form part of the modified river flow running directly through the town.

Remains of demolished industrial buildings in the foreground and the coal mine in the background.  Some may question why Pyramiden was evacuated so abruptly yet there was enough time to destroy evidence of its industrious past.

Hut constructed entirely of beer bottles from the Soviet era.

Ghostly pictures of a building that was possibly associated with the mining activities in Pyramiden.