Exploring Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway

Barentsburg is the second-largest settlement in Svalbard, Norway, with a population of about 455 as of 2020. It's a Russian coal mining town with a strong presence of ethnic Russians & Ukrainians. The town has a rich history, dating back to when it was sold to the Soviet state-owned company Arktikugol in 1932. Despite being under Norwegian sovereignty, Barentsburg has a Russian consulate, making it a unique place where Russian influence is evident in the midst of Norwegian territory. The town also features a coal-powered power plant, hospital, hotel, school, and other facilities, and is home to a research station connected to the Kola Science Centre and The Russian Academy of Sciences. Barentsburg has an interesting status due to the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, which allows citizens of signatory countries to exploit natural resources, leading to the continued operation of mining activities by Russia and Norway on the archipelago.