In Norway there
are post offices above the Arctic Circle on the mainland. Also the island of
Jan Mayen has a post office. The region of Svalbard has four post offices on
the largest island Spitsbergen and two on the islands of Hopen and Bear Island
(Bjørnøya).
Barentsburg is
named after Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz, who (re)discovered Svalbard in
1596. The Russian state owned Trust Arktikugol has been mining coal here since
1932, and during the Cold War Barentsburg was a veritable hotbed of activity as
the Russians attempted to expand their zone of control over the islands. After
Pyramiden was closed in 1998, Barentsburg has been the only Russian settlement
still operating, with 471 inhabitants (2015) and some 100.000 tons of coal
exported yearly. The mine closed in 2006 due to concerns over an underground
fire breaking out, but resumed production in late 2010.
The population
of the settlement has been steadily decreasing in the recent years. Many
buildings are not inhabited, and some are left to decay. Combined with a truly
stunning setting for the town when the weather is clear enough to see across
the Isfjord, and the black smoke from by the old coal power plant, the visit
will leave a strong impression on the few who come here.
The postmark shows
a Svalbard grouse and the geographic coordinates of the town. It has been in use for many
years. As stamps I bought the most recent Norwegian Svalbard stamps from 1996.
Although the postal rate for an international letter is only NOK 17, I used the
complete series because they look very nice on the envelope.
Date sent: 28
April 2017
Date postmark:
12 May 2017
Date received:
23 May 2017
Number of days:
25
Envelope in
collection: 95
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