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In 1906 John M. Longyear established the first coal mine and named the area Longyear City. Now called Longyearbyen, Svalbard's capital has a population of 2,150. With a local economy fueled by oil drilling, the town has some good accommodations and restaurants. Svalbardporten, the Gateway to Svalbard, is where you'll find a museum, the area's tourist office, research facilities, and more.
In addition to being used for services, the only church on Svalbard also serves as a cozy place to relax with a cup of coffee or tea at any point during your visit. Completely destroyed during World War II, this new church was a symbol of the city's rebirth, and the baptismal font was a gift to the town by Norwegian King Haakon VII. The candlesticks on the altar are the only thing that remains from the original church, built by architect Hans Magnus.
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