Ny Ålesund has a
population of around 120 people in the summer
months, made up of researchers, assistants and
technicians, in the winter, the population falls to
about 30. The various huts and houses belong to
national research stations, currently, China,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, The
Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and the United
Kingdom. Not all are occupied year-round.
There is a restaurant block where all the research
staff go to eat, there is also a hotel. The greatest
number of visitors however come from tourist ships
for whom a stop-off at Ny Ålesund is a must on
a trip around Svalbard. They have a museum to visit
and also a gift-shop which in the tradition of such
shops sells over-priced (though admittedly pretty
good quality) souvenirs.
78° 55' N 11° 56' E
Picture
copyright Paul Ward |
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