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Nybyen is a small settlement located on the southern outskirts of Longyearbyen, on the island of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago of
The settlement was founded in 1946-47 for the miners of "mine 2B" (later named Julenissegruva, "Santa Claus Mine"), one of the area's many coal mines. During the second half of the 20th century the "New Town" became a notable part of Longyearbyen, with the town's only shop for a period, though commercial activity has moved back down the valley. Today its character reflects that of Svalbard's more mixed economy (tourism, research and mining) with two guesthouses (''Guesthouse 102'' and ''Spitsbergen Guesthouse'') utilising the former miners' barracks, as well as being home to the Svalbard Art Gallery & Craft Centre, and nearby is the ''Huset'' restaurant, club and cinema. Most students at the
Nybyen falls within the community of Longyearbyen (incorporated in 2002) though it is somewhat detached from the town. Between the two settlements is the Longyearbyen School. Svalbard Airport is away and there is a shuttle bus between the airport and the guesthouses. To the south, is a prominent hill named Sarkofagen (" Sarcophagus") which rises to .
To the west, just on the other side of the river, is a place called Sverdrupbyen, named after Einar Sverdrup (1895–1942), the managing director of the mining company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. He was the leader of Operation Fritham in World War II, but died in the course of that operation, which attempted to secure Svalbard for the Allies. Nybyen is sometimes alternatively known as Østre Sverdrupbyen ("East Sverdrupbyen").Gezgeen
et al. Most buildings in Sverdrupbyen, including those of Mine 1B, were destroyed in a fire drill in the 1980s before they became protected under the cultural heritage preservation law.
UNIS
— Map of Longyearbyen and Nybyen
Guesthouse 102
— History and information about Nybyen {{authority control Longyearbyen Populated places established in 1946 Populated places in Svalbard 1946 establishments in Norway
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. The name is Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
and translates as ''The New Town''.
History and features
The settlement was founded in 1946-47 for the miners of "mine 2B" (later named Julenissegruva, "Santa Claus Mine"), one of the area's many coal mines. During the second half of the 20th century the "New Town" became a notable part of Longyearbyen, with the town's only shop for a period, though commercial activity has moved back down the valley. Today its character reflects that of Svalbard's more mixed economy (tourism, research and mining) with two guesthouses (''Guesthouse 102'' and ''Spitsbergen Guesthouse'') utilising the former miners' barracks, as well as being home to the Svalbard Art Gallery & Craft Centre, and nearby is the ''Huset'' restaurant, club and cinema. Most students at the University Centre in Svalbard
The University Centre in Svalbard ( no, Universitetssenteret på Svalbard AS; UNIS) is a Norwegian state-owned limited company that is involved in research and provides some higher education in Arctic studies. The company is wholly owned by the ...
(UNIS) lived in six renovated mining barracks in Nybyen. However, since the opening of new student housing in the centre of Longyearbyen, the students no longer live here.
Geography
Nybyen is situated in the upper part of the Longyear Valley, about uphill from the centre of Longyearbyen, at an altitude of around .Svalbard interactive mapNybyen falls within the community of Longyearbyen (incorporated in 2002) though it is somewhat detached from the town. Between the two settlements is the Longyearbyen School. Svalbard Airport is away and there is a shuttle bus between the airport and the guesthouses. To the south, is a prominent hill named Sarkofagen (" Sarcophagus") which rises to .
Sverdrupbyen
To the west, just on the other side of the river, is a place called Sverdrupbyen, named after Einar Sverdrup (1895–1942), the managing director of the mining company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. He was the leader of Operation Fritham in World War II, but died in the course of that operation, which attempted to secure Svalbard for the Allies. Nybyen is sometimes alternatively known as Østre Sverdrupbyen ("East Sverdrupbyen").et al. Most buildings in Sverdrupbyen, including those of Mine 1B, were destroyed in a fire drill in the 1980s before they became protected under the cultural heritage preservation law.
References
External links
UNIS
— Map of Longyearbyen and Nybyen
Guesthouse 102
— History and information about Nybyen {{authority control Longyearbyen Populated places established in 1946 Populated places in Svalbard 1946 establishments in Norway