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Introducing Mystery Class #5 Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway 78.917 N, 11.933 E   Hello, and welcome from Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway! My name is Inger and I live and work in Svalbard, an archipelago north of mainland Norway. Me on a boat trip near a glacier front I hope you enjoyed learning about Mystery Class #5, Ny-Alesund, where I lived for two years. You can see the location of Ny-Alesund on this map, in the upper left quarter, along the NW coast of Spitsbergen. Map of Svalbard islands Our School  There is no school in Ny-Alesund, but a lot of learning is taking place there, because it is an international research station. Several nations have established research activities Ny-Alesund – Norway, Germany, UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, China and others. A geodesy antenna measuring movements in the Earth's crust The scientists study everything from marine plankton and polar bears to geology and gases in the atmosphere. Weather balloons are being launched daily from the German research station.   Our City Ny-Alesund is a very small community. Only about 30-35 people live in there year round. Those year-round residents run the infrastructure and landing field, monitor scientific instruments and do all-year measurements. Ny-Alesund viewed from west But in spring and summer at Ny-Alesund, the activity is high, and the number of people staying in Ny-Alesund may rise to over 200 people. 2007/2008 is a particularly busy year because we are in the middle of the International Polar Year with increased scientific activity in our region. Read more about the activities in Ny-Alesund. As you look around the area in Ny-Alesund, it may look barren and cold at first sight. There are no trees and the summers are very short. However, the wildlife is amazing. During the short summer months the landscape fills with small flowers and plants and the bird life is abundant. Purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) Click images to enlarge The polar bear is perhaps the most impressive animal that lives in Ny-Alesund, but we do not see them very often near the settlements. Nevertheless, we have warning signs telling people to be on alert for polar bears. (I bet you don't have any signs like that in your neighborhood!) More common are birds, the arctic fox, and the bearded seal and the ringed seal. A walrus colony can be visited a short boat trip from Ny-Alesund. Polar Bear Warning sign. The text reads: "Valid for all of Svalbard" Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) Click images to enlarge In their spare time, people like to take advantage of the many small cabins close to Ny-Alesund. They are primitive, without water or electricity. In summer we go on foot or by boat, and in winter the snowmobile is a popular means of transportation, as well as cross country skis. Cabin near Ny-Alesund Snowmobile trip Kapp Mitra viewed from Ny-Alesund Click images to enlarge It is a very special feeling, spending time in this magnificent area far from other people and the "rest of the world". Our Country Svalbard is part of Norway, and the mainland of Norway is located along the western border of Sweden and the northern border of Finland. However, Norway is actually quite a distance from Svalbard, because Svalbard is an archipelago located off the northern coast of Norway. Norway has been an independent country since 1905.   Learn more about Norway's research in the polar regions.  Would You Like to Write to Me? Do you have questions about Ny-Alesund, Svalbard or Norway in general? Write to me at ness@npolar.no and I will try to answer your questions. I hope you enjoyed your trip to Ny-Alesund and Svalbard!