Longyearbyen expanding

Who´d have thought that so many people want to live up here, on such a cold, desolate island? But that´s indeed the case. The population in Longyearbyen has risen steadily since people settled here one hundred years ago - the first years only male mineworkers, then after some years a few women and children as well (230 altogether in 1920). In 1959-60 there were 741 inhabitants (523 men, 127 women and 91 children) - and in 2006 the number of people had reached 2001.

And it´s still rising - by 2011 the population is expected to reach 2260, that´s an increase of 13%. There´s still slightly less women than the average on the mainland, and a lot less children and old people, but Longyearbyen has definitely become a family-society, which needs several nurseries, a big school - and of course housing. There´s a constant need for new houses for everyone - last year they built 20 new flats/houses, and in 2006 51.


There are three building sites being finished as we speak, one in our street - and more will come.


Houses have to be built on poles - because of the permafrost. It seems that the biggest part of the job is to get the poles into the ground!


The third nursery was opened last year, and as far as I know it´s already full - another will be needed fairly soon. And the school has been extended several times, in 2006 a new wing was added - to the cost of around 30 million kroner.


Our addition to the building activity - the igloos - are in a sad state, I´m afraid, due to the inevitably effects of gravity. But at least we can see them now.