Ny-Ålesund - Ny-Ålesund

Ny-Ålesund it is a settlement Arctic located on the west coast of the island of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard.

It is considered the northernmost human settlement in the world (with the exception of a few military bases).

To know

Once a mining community, Ny-Ålesund is now an important settlement for international polar scientific research. Compared to other polar sites, in fact, it is relatively easy to reach, has a relatively mild climate and has facilities and facilities convenient.

Ny-Ålesund is entirely managed by Kings Bay [1], a Norwegian government company owned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry that provides the necessary infrastructure, such as transport (including the airport), buildings, energy and water supply, food and other facilities. It also manages most of the surrounding area (all of the Brøggerhalvøya peninsula and parts of the coasts to the east and north of the fjord), the cruise ships that arrive in summer in Ny-Ålesund and in general the maintenance of buildings and monuments of cultural interest and the dissemination of the history of the place to residents and visitors. Finally, it often hosts groups of visitors belonging to political bodies (governments, parliaments and other institutions) who come to Ny-Ålesund to get more information on scientific activity and understand its strategic importance.

Norwegian and international research institutes operate within Ny-Ålesund, in particular 11 institutions from 10 countries have bases (3 of which are active throughout the year): in chronological order they are Norway, Germany, Japan, United United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, France, South Korea, China and India. In addition, scientists of still different nationalities can collaborate in research projects in the climatic, environmental, atmospheric, astronomical, marine, oceanographic, geological, glaciological fields, etc.

The site is therefore essentially a place of research, and tourism is left in the background. For this reason, going to Ny-Ålesund and staying there via Kings Bay is very difficult: priority is given to scientists, workers and official visitors, and this affects the availability of flights and rooms, generally available only last-minute. , about a week ago, once the company has determined that there are no other needs. If, on the other hand, you simply want to go there as a short stop on a longer trip (typically a few hours of a cruise) then there are no problems, as long as you follow the local rules and also have the appropriate clothing and equipment. On the website of the Governor of Svalbard you can find everything you need to know in terms of permits, security, prohibitions and so on. The Norwegian Polar Institute website has summarized the most important standards for the trip is for the protection of the natural environment. In particular, the rules to be followed are the following:

• stay on the marked road. In fact, the Arctic tundra is very vulnerable, and in the summer the birds can be disturbed while they nest and can leave before the eggs are hatched. Follow the signs indicating the limit of the ornithological sanctuary, which must never be exceeded, or the limit of the settlement, which must not be exceeded if you are not armed due to the danger of bears (see section #Safety);
• have the utmost respect for animals (do not disturb them, do not feed them, etc.). In particular, from 1st April to 31st August it is absolutely forbidden to cause loud noises within 1 nautical mile (1852 m) from the bird cliffs;
• to have respect for the cultural monuments of the place, protected as Norwegian historical heritage. In particular, besides obviously not damaging or removing them, it is forbidden to camp and light fires within 100 m from them;
• stay away from scientific instruments (some can be very sensitive and very expensive, and your presence is likely to interfere with ongoing measurements);
• do not enter homes without permission;
• pay attention to energy consumption (use as little electricity as possible) and waste: produce as little as possible and throw it in the correct recycling (there are 28 different categories), in a building or in the Service building. Seek assistance from Kings Bay employees in case of need;
• carcasses and skeletons (or even parts of them) cannot be collected.

The local language is Norwegian, but knowing English will have no problem (it is still an international research site).

Ultimately, Ny-Ålesund is the ideal place for anyone who loves polar environments and wants to visit a nature that is not contaminated by human activity, as well as for those who want to know the mining history of those places.

For more information you can check the following links:

• Presentation^{[link not working]} of Ny-Ålesund by Kings Bay
• Svalbard Cruise Handbook by the Norwegian Polar Institute

Geographical notes

Ny-Ålesund juts out over the King's Bay (Kongsfjorden), on the Brøggerhalvøya peninsula. It is located at 78 ° 55′N 11 ° 56′E, approximately 100 km from the Longyearbyean capital and 1200 km from the North Pole.

When to go

The most typical time to go to Ny-Ålesund is the summer (July-August), when there are many chances to find a cruise stopping there and when you can do outdoor activities like boating, kayaking or trekking. The spring period (March-April) is also fascinating, characterized by good weather but with the landscape still completely snow-covered (or almost), with the possibility of skiing, ice caving and excursions with snowmobiles and sleds with dogs.

In general Ny-Ålesund is characterized by a cold Arctic climate, with a strong wind and little rainfall, both snow and rain (less than 400 mm per year, it is in fact described as the "Arctic desert"). There is a very low humidity, and for this you have to be careful of electrostatic discharges that can occur when touching electronic instruments (it is good to touch a metal surface before starting to use a computer, a telephone or other devices). Like all Svalbard islands it has 4 months of midnight sun (17 April-26 August) and 4 months of polar night (24 October-18 February), the only place in Europe. Average temperatures are around -14 ° C in February (with peaks up to -35 ° C) and 5 ° C in July (but with a little luck they can even reach 13-14 ° C). Given the variability of temperatures, it is good to dress like an onion, also because it is very hot inside the buildings. It is also recommended to wear sunglasses to avoid problems deriving from the glare of the sun on snow or ice.

You can check the weather forecast and monitor conditions in real time (complete with a double live webcam) through the site of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Background

Ny-Ålesund was founded in 1916 as a village for coal miners, owned and operated by Kings Bay Kull Compani (KBKC) and active until 1929. The site then became a fishing station to support the fishing vessels operating there. fjords, and even opened a hotel, the Nordpolhotellet. The site then reopened mining in 1945, then expanding to accommodate 400 people at its maximum. The working conditions were not easy: several mining accidents occurred (in 1948, 1952 and 1953), maintaining the activity required a considerable economic effort on the part of the government and in 1957 the demand for coal collapsed. On November 5, 1962, an explosion killed 21 people (11 of whom were never found), an event that caused the permanent closure of the mines, the abandonment of the place by the inhabitants and even the fall of the Norwegian government in office. In about 20 years of post-World War II mining, a total of 76 people died.

After a few years the European Space Research Organization became interested in building an astronomical research station there, and in 1968 Ny-Ålesund actually started its new life as a permanent polar research base, initially through the Norwegian Polar Institute and later also expanding to other national and international research institutes, especially in the 1990s. Since 1974 it has been owned and operated by Kings Bay AS (name used by KBKC since 1998), and is home to around 30-35 people year-round (but the population can rise to 180 people in the summer), most such as scientists from around 15 countries.

Ny-Ålesund's fame also derives from the polar expeditions of Roald Amundsen (1925, 1926) and Umberto Nobile (1928) that started right here. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, already famous for being the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911, first tried to reach the North Pole with the N24 and N25 seaplanes in 1925, but failed; the following year he tried again on board the Norge airship in the company of the Italian Umberto Nobile (designer of the vehicle) and the American Lincoln Ellsworth (financier of the trip), succeeding in the intent. In 1928 Nobile made another expedition, this time all Italian, aboard the airship Italia; the Pole was reached but on the way back a storm hit the airship, causing it to crash and the death of half of the crew. Amundsen also participated in the rescue expeditions of the survivors with the Latham seaplane, but his craft fell into the ocean and died, never being found. The Italian explorers, including Nobile himself, were then rescued by the Russian icebreaker Krasin.

The remains of mining activities (coal deposits, the train used for transport, buildings used by miners, etc.) are still present in the site as a memory of its origins, as well as several memorials of polar expeditions and those who died in mining accidents.

How to orient yourself

Ny-Ålesund is very small so no special directions are needed to turn it. You can download a map of the place in Norwegian from the Kings Bay website: compact map^{[link not working]} is extended map^{[link not working]}, with legend in English^{[link not working]}. The topographical service is also very useful TopoSvalbard.

Once in Ny-Ålesund you can see the following geographical references around you:

• to the east (right, facing the sea) are the Kongsbreen ("glacier of the kings", left) and Kronebreen ("crown glacier", right) glaciers, which end in the sea; you can also see two of the Three Crowns (one is positioned behind the relief that joins the two glaciers, so it cannot be seen from the settlement), three almost twin peaks that were first seen by the Dutch explorer Willem Barents in 1596, and hence the name of the largest island of Svalbard, Spitsbergen (or "pointed mountains"). In the fjord, towards the glaciers, there are the Lovenoyane islands; on the right, immediately in front of the settlement, there is Prins Heinrichøya ("Prince Henry's island"), a small islet where seals usually rest;
• to the south (behind) there are mountain ranges, among which, immediately behind, the top of the Zeppelin with the atmospheric research observatory stands out;
• to the west (left) there are the mouth of the fjord and, just beyond the settlement, some small lagoons:
• to the north (in front, on the other side of the fjord) is the large island Blomstrandhalvøya (from the name of the Swedish mineralogist Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand), until a few years ago perennially joined to the mainland behind it by ice and therefore believed to be a peninsula. To her right and behind her, respectively, the Conwaybreen ("Conway Glacier", named after the British explorer Sir Martin Conway) and Blomstrandbreen ("Blomstrand Glacier") glaciers, which flow into the fjord.

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  East view

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  South view

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  West view

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  North view

Entering Ny-Ålesund, approximately in the part near the sea there are workshops and work stations, while taking the main road that starts from the port and goes inland you can find the most touristic buildings (shop, museum, old school, post Office). From the center of the settlement, located roughly in the clearing where the bust of Amundsen is present, most of the scientific stations and areas interested in field research begin.

In addition to being careful to stay on marked roads and not step on the tundra, remember that there are some areas where access is not allowed: around scientific instruments (towards the interior), in bird sanctuaries between May 15 and on 15 August (Solvatn and Thiisbukta areas, on the sides of the settlement), near the drinking water reserve and within 100 m of the Zeppelin station.

How to get

Ny-Ålesund is easily accessible via cruises, but it is very difficult to make long stays. Scientists interested in participating in research projects in Ny-Ålesund can apply to the scientific committee of Ny-Ålesund (NySMAC).

Being part of Norway, for a member of the European Union it is enough to have an identity card to access it.

As far as insurance is concerned, in case of travel with organized tourism agencies there is no problem. Conversely, in case of travel not in an organized group, aadditional insurance mandatory; furthermore, in case you go with a private boat or want to take a long trip out of the "safe" areas, you must contact the offices of the Governor of Svalbard to notify him and know the rules to follow before and during the trip.

If you want to take your pet with you, follow along the directions of the Governor. In particular cats and ferrets are not allowed, fish and rodents (mice, hamsters, rabbits) yes, while for dogs you must follow a series of rules on identification, vaccination, state of health, etc.

By plane

In Ny-Ålesund there is the Hamnerabben airport which hosts 2-3 weekly flights (plus any charter flights) of about 25 minutes to and from the capital Longyearbyen, at a cost of approximately NOK 2700 (340 €) each way. The service is operated by the company Lufttransport but seats can only be reserved through Kings Bay. The planes are small aircraft for about 20 passengers, and the total baggage (including hand luggage) must weigh a maximum of 20 kg (with a surcharge of NOK 38, about € 5, for each excess kg). Be careful because these flights are severely limited by weather conditions, so in case of bad weather or fog (typically in winter, but not only) there may be shifts or cancellations of flights, with repercussions on any connections to return home.

On boat

For most visitors, a stop on a cruise is the only way to get to Ny-Ålesund, but you can only stay a few hours. Cruise ships are quite frequent in the summer and unload between 20,000 and 30,000 tourists a year. An example of a local company is the Spitsbergen Travel, with 3/4 day cruises from Longyearbyen and prices starting from 7900 NOK (about 1000 €). For Italian cruises you can look at the site, for example Svalbard.it. Cruises operate only in the warm months, between May and October.

Anyone wishing to reach Ny-Ålesund by private boat should bear in mind that the port is generally accessible from April to December and that it has a general regulation^{[link not working]} it's a one especially for private boats^{[link not working]}.

By snowmobile

Only residents can reach Ny-Ålesund by snowmobile (obviously in winter) from the capital Longyearbyen. In fact, visitors cannot exceed certain areas.

How to get around

Due to its small size, Ny-Ålesund can be easily visited on foot. Since the roads are all unpaved, and in the spring months still completely or partially covered with snow, the use of boots or at least trekking shoes is recommended.

It is not uncommon, however, to see researchers or other workers on bicycles or four-wheeled vehicles in the summer. In winter it is possible to ride by snowmobile only in the marked areas (in addition to the license, a helmet is mandatory; the speed limit is 80 km / h).

What see

There are just over 60 buildings in Ny-Ålesund, around thirty of which are protected by Norwegian law as cultural monuments due to their historical interest. The utmost respect is therefore required. Furthermore, although no door is locked for security reasons (to be able to take refuge in any building in the event of the presence of a polar bear), it does not mean that it is permissible to enter everywhere, particularly in the scientific bases where there are people who are working and probably would not like to be invaded by dozens of tourists (there have already been cases of people who find themselves in the Italian base Italian tourists who have entered because "so much is the base of my country, I am authorized"). When in doubt, always ask for permission.

Inside the settlement there is an information path consisting of signs in the most significant positions that provide information on nature, history, monuments and scientific activities. In the surroundings it is easy to find remnants of mining activity, such as piles of coal, old heating pipes, railway carriages, etc.

Historic sites and monuments

• 78.92548611.9308291 Mining Museum. Free. Small museum open all year round on the life of miners and polar expeditions, including equipment and photos from the time. There is also the tourist information center to find out what to do in Ny-Ålesund, how to get around and what kind of attention to use. Inside there are also the only public toilets in the place. 

• 78.92671111.9369022 Train. Old coal train dating back to 1909, now left near the port as a historical memory of Ny-Ålesund mining. Although no longer active, it is still the northernmost train in the world. 

• 78.92495611.9311953 School. Once a village school, today the building houses the Indian base "Himadri". It is located immediately after the shop, in front of the gym. 

• 78.9245611.9309484 Post Office. The northernmost post office in the world, no longer active today. It usually opens when cruise ships arrive, and visitors can enter and use the historic postmarks (also invalid). It is located in front of the gym, before the clearing in the center of the settlement. 

• 78.92387811.9310915 Bust of Amundsen. Bust dedicated to the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the expeditions that first arrived at the South Pole (1911) and the North Pole (1926). It is located in the clearing roughly in the center of the settlement. 

• 78.92413411.9336166 Amundsen's house. Built in 1918, it was Amundsen's historic residence when his airship was "parked" in Ny-Ålesund. It is located in the center of the settlement. 

• 78.92158211.9468677 Tower for airships. Docking tower for dirigibles from which the two polar expeditions of 1926 and 1928 departed: the first, that of the "Norge" airship, with Roald Amundsen and the Italian Umberto Nobile on board, considered the first indisputable discoverers of the north pole; the second, only Italian, with the airship "Italia", also led by Umberto Nobile, and which ended tragically, with the famous episode of the red curtain. It is located slightly outside the settlement boundaries, along the road to the east. 

• Memorials to the dead of the Norwegian expedition and the Italian expedition. Monuments commemorating the members of the Norwegian expedition (left), and the dead of the Italian expedition of 1928 (right). They are located to the east, beyond the airship tower, in front of Prins Heinrichøya. 

• 78.92145411.9236198 Memorial of the dead in mining accidents. Monument that commemorates the dead in the Ny-Ålesund mining accidents in the 1900s. It is located slightly outside the settlement boundaries, towards the Zeppelin. 

Scientific basis

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  Marine laboratory (since 2005), on the beach

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  British base "Harland House" (since 1992)

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  Franco-German base "Koldewey", or "Blue House" (since 1991)

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  Chinese base "Yellow River Staton" (since 2004)

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  French base "Charles Rabot" (since 1999) and Korean "Dasan" (since 2004) that share the building

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  Norwegian base "Sverdrupstasjonen" (since 1968, rebuilt in 1999)

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  Italian base "Dirigibile Italia" (since 1997)

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  German Observatory (since 1991)

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  Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower (since 2009)

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  Zeppelin Station (since 1999, redone in 2000)

Other buildings

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  London houses, now workers' residences

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  Green harbourhuset, the oldest house in Ny-Alesund

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  Greenhouse

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  Yellow House, now the workers' residence

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  White House, now the workers' residence

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  Old telegraph station

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  Kennel for sled dogs

Nature

Given the scarce human presence, the naturalistic aspect is certainly one of the most important in Ny-Ålesund.

• Vegetation. The vegetation in general is sparse, near the bird colonies it is possible to come across something similar to meadows. Nevertheless, there are about 170 plant species, all strictly protected (absolutely not to be collected), including small but very colorful flowers, with a short life. 

• Birds. Kongsfjorden has many bird sanctuaries, with large colonies of fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), Brünnich's urie (Uria lomvia) and three-toed gulls (Brawl tridactyla). Arctic terns are also very present (Sterna paradisaea, pictured), lips (Stercorarius parasiticus) and Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis). 

• Other animals. The most common mammals are reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), which also often graze on the edges within the settlement, and arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). In front of the settlement there is also Prins Heinrichøya, where the seals rest, which when they swim are very curious about what happens on the shore. Sometimes even a few schools of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) reach inside the port. As for polar bears (Ursus maritimus), however, it is very rare to see specimens near the settlement, even if not impossible. 

• northern Lights. In winter it is possible to observe the phenomenon of the Northern Lights in the sky. It is not as predictable as a normal weather phenomenon, so be prepared for the eventuality that you don't happen to see it. 

Events and parties

The Ny-Ålesund community obviously celebrates the classic international holidays (eg Christmas or Easter) but also national ones (eg the Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17th).

There are also some "special" feasts, celebrated in particular moments in the life of the community and which often include masked celebrations:

• Sun party (Solfest): celebrated in early March, the first day the sun comes out after the "long polar night" of 4 months.
• Midsummer party: celebrated on the summer solstice, a day of maximum light. It is generally celebrated with a grilled meat and beer.
• Autumn party (Høstfest): celebrated in October to greet the sun before the polar night.

Cruise ships passing or stopping in Ny-Ålesund harbor may also occasionally be greeted with orchestral music played by Ny-Ålesund workers with old instruments (as hardly any of the workers really know how to play the instrument they pick up, generally these are improvised musical rhythms, so take it for a symbolic and heartfelt greeting without great musical pretensions).

What to do

Given the limited time for which tourists can generally stay in Ny-Ålesund, and since the purpose of the settlement is purely scientific and not touristic, there are no particular activities that can be done.

Instead, the residents have formed a volunteer organization called Velferden which manages the unscientific activity of the place, i.e. social events, bars, boat and kayak rentals, gymnasium, nearby shelters etc.

• Indoor activities: gym, sauna, jacuzzi, billiard room, library, video room
• Outdoor activities in summer: kayaking, boat, trekking
• Outdoor activities in winter: skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice caving

Shopping

• 78.9251711.9321451 Kongsfjordbutikken. Ny-Ålesund's only shop is Kongsfjordbutikken ("King's Bay Shop"), a yellow building opposite the museum. It is open two days a week (Monday and Thursday) from 5pm to 6pm, with special openings when cruise ships arrive. Inside you can find gadgets, souvenirs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, books and maps, but also articles and goods for those who live there (food, drinks, hygiene products, etc.). 

The national currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK) divided into 100 øre, where 1 € corresponds to approximately 8 NOK. Cash is accepted in the shop, both crowns and euros (with a rather unfavorable exchange rate) but credit cards are preferred (the main ones are accepted: VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners).

Being outside the Schengen area, buying alcohol and tobacco can be very affordable. But pay attention to limitations expected.

How to have fun

• 78.92644911.9357371 Mellageret Kafé. The only place to have fun in the place is the Mellageret Kafé, or simply Mellageret ("flour warehouse"), located near the port, near the old miners train. It is only open on Saturday evenings from 9pm until 2 or 3am (in the summer season there is also an additional, shorter midweek opening) and is therefore intended almost exclusively for residents, since tourists are generally only passing through. during the day. Inside there are tables, music and space for dancing, and you can drink the most common alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks; characteristic is the "Ny-Ålesund coffee" (coffee, cognac and Baileys), and if you are lucky you can happen on an evening in which the ice of the perennial arctic glaciers is used to prepare cocktails. It is run by volunteer residents and only accepts Norwegian kroner in cash (no credit cards). 

Where to eat

When you can book with the Kings Bay to stay in Ny-Ålesund you pay full board, and in fact the only place to eat in the settlement is the canteen in the service building run by Kings Bay. It is a self-service service which, despite the logistical difficulties of supply, offers a very wide international choice, having to satisfy researchers from different parts of the world. You will therefore have no problems having a continental or Italian breakfast, and also having lunch and dinner with first courses, meat, fish, vegetables, cheeses, etc. without quantity limits. It is also possible to eat reindeer meat when available.

As for the times, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at approximately 8, 12:30 and 17 (dinner time is particularly early for Italian standards). The hours are quite tight because it is still a canteen of what is first and foremost a workplace, and each meal is divided into a double time, not mandatory but highly recommended: the first half hour for the workers of the company, to allow them to eat safely to find a place and without disturbances (in summer the settlement is relatively crowded), the second half hour for researchers and visitors. Also, a particular aspect to keep in mind is that if you stay in Ny-Ålesund on a Saturday night, it is a deeply felt tradition for the locals to go to dinner in elegant clothes instead of the usual sports or work clothes worn during the week.

The only other places to eat in the settlement are the Mellageret, which is only open once a week and only offers chips, and the Kongsfjordbutikken, where there is the possibility to buy some snacks (chips, chocolate etc.).

Where stay

As mentioned at the beginning, to stay overnight in Ny-Ålesund you need to contact the Kings Bay but it is very difficult and expensive, and you can only make a "last minute" booking. For more information, in addition to the Kings Bay website, you can consult the agency's website Terra Polaris.

• 78.92453311.9284981 Hotel. Kings Bay provides full board only and you have the option of staying at Nordpol Hotellet, which is the northernmost hotel in the world. Alternatively, rooms can be assigned in other buildings used for the reception of guests. As in all Nordic countries, you have to take off your shoes before entering buildings. For this reason, it is advisable to bring indoor shoes or be prepared to stay with socks (at the entrance of the buildings there are some slippers that you can use, but in case of crowded period you risk not to find them). Prices (per person): * Single room: 1370-1980 NOK (175-250 €) * Double room: 1135-1440 NOK (145-180 €), only bookable by 2 people 

• Camping. 90 NOK (11 €) per person per night. The only alternative to the hotel is camping on a special site in the tundra about 2 km from the settlement, with an external bathroom. In addition to bringing the necessary equipment (tent, camping stove, provisions, firearm, sound alarm for bears, etc.) it is necessary to strictly follow the rules for camping is those so as not to leave traces in nature. 

Safety

As a settlement entirely populated by Kings Bay scientists or employees who in fact almost get to know each other one by one, there are no problems with crime or other man-made dangers. However, there are some precautions to follow with the animals that inhabit the place.

• Terns: terns nest from late May to early August, and in that period they are very aggressive if someone gets too close to their nest, even involuntarily. For this, in addition to being careful where you walk, the best advice given to avoid being pecked in the head is to carry a stick or any long object with you, and keep it up in case the tern tries to attack you. This way the animal will attack the stick instead of your head. It is strictly forbidden to use the stick to hit the terns.
• Foxes: Arctic foxes can appear in the village in spring and summer, attracted by the eggs laid by geese, terns and other birds. They usually do not come close to humans, but beware of their bite as there is a risk of anger.
• Bears: the most serious risk is obviously polar bears, the true symbol of the entire archipelago. È molto raro che si avvicinino all'insediamento, specialmente di giorno, ma non è escluso che possa accadere; d'estate, infatti, la scarsità di ghiaccio si traduce in una scarsità di foche, principale preda degli orsi, che diventano quindi affamati e potenzialmente più audaci e aggressivi. Per questo all'interno dell'insediamento nessuna porta è chiusa a chiave (a parte quella del bar), in modo che in caso di pericolo ci si possa rifugiare nell'edificio più vicino. Non è permesso inoltre uscire dai confini di Ny-Ålesund senza una'arma (fucile, pistola o altro), controllate i segnali di pericolo ai limiti della città. Chi porta un'arma mentre si trova dentro i confini dell'insediamento deve averla sempre senza munizioni inserite e con il caricatore aperto o rimosso.

Per qualunque emergenza (avvistamento di orsi polari, incidenti, incendi o in generale qualunque situazione che possa generare pericolo) bisogna chiamare il numero del Kings Bay watchman: 79027238. Il pronto soccorso più vicino si trova a Longyearbyen.

How to keep in touch

Ny-Ålesund possiede l'ufficio postale più a nord del mondo, situato davanti alla palestra, prima dello spiazzo al centro dell'insediamento. Oggi non è più attivo in quanto la posta viene gestita dall'ufficio centrale della Kings Bay. Viene aperto quando arrivano le navi da crociera, e i visitatori possono entrare e usare i timbri postali storici (anch'essi non validi), ma per comprare cartoline e francobolli e spedire la posta devono recarsi alla Kongsfjordbutikken.

Per quanto riguarda le telecomunicazioni, l'intera zona è "radiation free" per evitare possibili interferenze con le misurazioni scientifiche in corso nel posto, spesso molto sensibili. Questo significa che prima di arrivare a Ny-Ålesund è necessario spegnere (o settare in modalità "aereo") dispositivi come cellulari, bluetooth, sistemi LAN dei computer ecc. Tutte le comunicazioni del posto (telefono, internet ecc.) avvengono tramite cavo.

Around

Ny-Ålesund è un ottimo punto di partenza per molte attività all'aria aperta nei dintorni. In particolare d'inverno è possibile praticare sci, ice caving e fare gite con motoslitte e con le slitte con i cani; d'estate, invece, si possono fare delle gite in barca, kayak o del trekking sui monti e nei rifugi lì intorno. Il noleggio dei mezzi e la prenotazione dei rifugi può essere effettuata tramite la Velferden lì sul posto; in alternativa, per viaggi organizzati si possono contattare Svalbard.it o la Spitsbergen Travel.

Visto le particolarità del posto, sia di condizioni difficili sia di necessità di tutela ambientale, è necessario seguire strettamente le regole del governatore [2], in particolare sull'equipaggiamento. Ricordate inoltre che è assolutamente vietato andare volontariamente in cerca degli orsi polari, che sono una specie protetta e pericolosa.

Related items

• Notte polare

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Ny-Ålesund
• Commons contains images or other files on Ny-Ålesund

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