History: From ice desert to civilization

It is undoubtably Icelandic Vikings who first discovered Spitsbergen in 1194. The archipelago was then rediscovered in 1596 by the Dutchman Willem Barentsz. The first overwintering was experienced by 8 Englishmen by accident in 1630. Even though the area was known as technically uninhabitable they remarked that there were indeed animals but all of them were white thanks to the harsh conditions.

The main activity and source of income was whaling and walrus hunting originally for the production of jewelry, ornaments and whalebone hoop skirts. Later these animals were hunted for the manufacture of soap. It is hard to imagine now but, in the 1750s, Smeerenburg in the north of the island was a bustling city and home for more than a thousand souls (according to the stories - scientists report a number closer to 250 people). At this whaling port today there are hundreds of graves and from time to time the alternative freezing and thawing reveals skeletons on the surface. In addition to whale hunters, the island was home to trappers from Russia and Norway.

1899 was a turning point in the development of Spitsbergen. It was this year that Captain Søren returned to Tromsø with coal he found in the archipelago. This discovery triggered a real 'gold rush' in the North of Europe. Seemingly endless expeditions to Svalbard were organized much to the despair of many as profitable mining is no mean feat. John M Longyear from Michigan, USA, first set foot in Spitsbergen as a tourist in 1901. He purchased a mine and four years later established Arctic Coal Co. which quickly became the largest coal producer in Longyearbyen.

The foundations of Ny Ålesund also deserve a mention. This city and mining company were created in the early 1950s under the principals of self-management.

 On August 14th, 1925, Svalbard was awarded to Norway. This agreement, the Svalbard Treaty, was signed by 42 countries. It states that the archipelago may be used for non-military purposes and that all signatory countries have equal rights to establish industrial activities there.