Mine 2B, Airships, and Twenty Years of Tourism

By Alexandra Wright and Jane Rivas

Today we started bright and early.  It was our intention to scale the cliff face directly behind our guesthouses with the goal of exploring the remains of Mine 2B.  Of all the mines present in the mountains of Longyearbyen, Mine 2B is the most complete.  It was created in 1937 after its adjoining mine, 2A, became too long, so an alternative, and more practical, entrance was created: 2B.  The mine used the long wall technique, where long tunnels were used in the mine with side aisles.  The coal was extracted via coal cutters and floor scrapers that helped to move the rocks to the entrance of the mine where they could be processed.  In 1943, with the continuation of the World War II, German warships visited Longyearbyen and set fire to its mines.  It was not until 1947 that work was restarted in the 2B system.  It continued to be in use until 1960 when the coal seam ended and Store Norske started work on Mine 5.

Like many of our other hikes, the one up to 2B proved to be a rewarding challenge! Being able to maneuver around within the old mine, its adjoining buildings, and the surrounding landscape provided us with a valuable new perspective on the mining industry present in Spitsbergen.  The steep terrain, cold climate, and relative isolation faced on the side of the mountain represented only a fraction of the difficulties faced by those that chose to make their home here.  Having seen this mine, it also gives a greater historical significance and understanding to the role that coal mining companies, like Store Norske, have and continue to play within these Arctic environments.

After safely making it back down the mountain, we continued to examine the built environment within Longyearbyen city while grabbing lunch at the local café, Fruene.  Our next stop was the newly opened Spitsbergen Airship Museum.  A private owner, with the sole purpose of bringing these artifacts back to their rightful home, compiled the entire collection and covered the ceiling and walls with aluminum to give the exhibition a modern Arctic feel. The museum deals with three of the dramatic aerial expeditions to reach the North Pole that originated in Svalbard. Our day concluded with a relaxed interview of Andreas Umbreit, a local tourist company owner.  It was nice to discuss over hot chocolate the changing character of Arctic Tourism as a means of better understanding the evolution that has occurred in this location. 

Alexandra Wright is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Human Dimensions. She is from Chicago, IL

Jane Rivas is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She is currently studying in the pre-medical field and pursuing a duel degree in Chemistry and the History of Art.  Jane is studying in Stockholm, Sweden with the Arctic Summer Program.

Mine 2B, Airships, and Twenty Years of Tourism

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Demystifying the Arctic

by Alexandra Wright and Jane Rivas

Barentsburg

Longyearbyen

We ended our week of lectures with a lesson on Actor Network Theory and the role it plays in Arctic sovereignty. We talked about how it is not only people and organizations that influence the narratives presented regarding claimed territories, but how physical structures also demonstrate this. This is especially apparent when comparing the two mining towns, the Russian settlement Barentsburg and the Norwegian settlement Longyearbyen. The struggles over physical sovereignty are expressed by the number of people, museums, sign boards, research, and mining facilities present. These are some of the methods that we will be using when addressing climate change and the future of the Arctic in our final reports. We incorporated our previous knowledge on whaling, mining, and Arctic exploration with this new form of analytical description as a means of fully understanding the intricate relationships that existed during these events. It is the hope of our professor Dag Avango that by using this form of narrative interpretation that a more complete and transparent view of the Arctic can be gained as a means of establishing better international relations with regards to this changing region.

With this knowledge we feel better prepared to embark on our Arctic adventure! The past few weeks have definitely taught us to look beyond the external romanticized and enlightenment ideals that are often present with the interpretations that surround this region. We hope that by physically engaging with the environment and people in Svalbard we will be able to bring these concepts full circle and contribute to a modern Arctic narrative. This narrative will function as a new means of reacting to climate change and how the powers at play are affecting and using it. The multidisciplinary integration of science, history, and anthropological investigation will work to complete this. It is important that this type of approach receive further exposure so that much of the confusion surrounding this issue can be dispelled. By removing disillusionment surrounding the Arctic, a more practical plan of action can be devised in the face of the effects of climate change.


Alexandra Wright is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Human Dimensions. She is from Chicago, IL

Jane Rivas is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She is currently studying in the pre-medical field and pursuing a duel degree in Chemistry and the History of Art.  Jane is studying in Stockholm, Sweden with the Arctic Summer Program.

Demystifying the Arctic

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A Royal Weekend

by Alexandra Wright and Jane Rivas

This past weekend, our group embarked on an exploration of the Swedish Royal Palace.  Along with viewing the Royal State and Bernadotte Apartments, we were treated to a viewing of the Changing of the Guard, glimpses of the Royal Treasury, a walking tour of the palace’s exciting history, as well as the antiquities collection of King Gustav III.  We began the day with a guided tour of the Royal Apartments as an introduction to the palace.  After a fire in 1697 that destroyed much of the medieval castle, the current building was completed in 1757.  The rebuilt palace modeled its exteriors on the Baroque, and its later completed interiors after the Rococo.  Many of the rooms drew directly from the decorative designs of Versailles.  Each aspect of ornamentation within the lavish rooms was imbued with meaning for not only visiting dignitaries, but also for the members of the royal family.  One could tell their place in court simply by the state of the plastered ivy encircling the royal shield above their bedroom door.

After having toured the castle, a brief respite in the day’s rain enabled us to witness the parade of the guards and military band.  As they waved the Swedish flag and changed the guard, a program of national tunes, including a few of ABBA, entertained the crowds of tourists.  When the band marched away and the rain again began to fall, our touring continued with the glittering items of the Royal Treasury.  The crown jewels were followed by an exploration of the archeological remains of the original Tre Kronor Castle.  Built into the base of the building, the Tre Kronor Museum presented a fascinating exploration of the pottery shards, suits of armor, and delicate china that were recovered from the ashes of the 1697 fire.  Each aspect of the Royal Palace presented an in depth view of the Swedish Monarchy from the beginnings of its reign to the present day.

Amid this whirlwind immersion into the cultural past, we were also lucky enough to stumble upon one of the cellar cafes of Gamla Stan.  Built into basements of the homes lining the streets of the city’s central island, these medieval alcoves have been transformed into modern and themed cafes.  Resting between tours, we dined on traditional Swedish dishes and deliciously warm beverages.  The homemade white hot chocolate found particular favor with our group!


Alexandra Wright is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Human Dimensions. Chicago, IL

Jane Rivas is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She is currently studying in the pre-medical field and pursuing a duel degree in Chemistry and the History of Art.  Jane is studying in Stockholm, Sweden with the Arctic Summer Program.

A Royal Weekend

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