+Veritasium My mother actually went to the Global Seed Bank because she works in a danish government agency and I learnt something about seed preservation and different seed species ;)
+Veritasium - I won't 'thumb's down' on this comment because I don't want this disappointment to be misinterpreted. That's because I agree that the video would be pleasurable watching it with only the music to accompany. But, I also enjoyed the narrative, because I enjoyed getting the background info of what I was witnessing. Couldn't you have two versions uploaded?
+Veritasium Awesome! Both versions worth it. What time of the year did you shoot this? The dim snowy landscape with that soft light on the mountains looks mesmerizing.
Can You answer me where does the wind comes from. Nobody answered my questions before, so I would be happy if You could answer this question, where does the wind comes from?
+Dean Hartland thank you. I'm sorry for the confusion, I didn't mean "what direction wind come from". I mean "pruduced the wind?" can You answer me, what exactly pruduced the wind. that what I asked. Veritasium
As an international airline pilot I’ve occasionally had to list Svalbard as an emergency alternate airport when planning polar flights. I’ve never seen it until now. Excellent aerial drone footage. Thanks for sharing.
Hey. You’re a pilot. Obviously flying over the North Pole/arctic ocean (ice shelf). So? You can confirm that the earth is not flat like some idiots are trying to claim. They’re saying that there’s nothing North of the North Pole. But obviously you would have flown past that to the other side of our round globe. Correct?
@@savagecub that’s what I keep telling these idiots. “Are you telling me that “whoever” has bribed every single pilot on the planet to keep their mouths shut on their little secret and are all ‘in on it’”? Weirdos.
*+Paulshizzle* I'm just trying to figure out what sort of people go and lay the concrete pads or piles for the prefabricated buildings to go onto? Then there's the connections and electrical bits&pieces etc.,. I know human kind has always found a way to live in seemingly the most difficult places but wow. The arctic circle is something entirely different. Though not completely different to Antarctica and the South Pole communities. The latter having its own small nuclear power generation. The sheer austere beauty of the region is astonishing. PS: I can think of worse things than to be stuck in bed with a warm and sexy individual for one dark night.
It looks nice but as anyone who lives in a place that freezes over more than 6 months out of the year can tell you - that ambient music is really what makes it look so romantic.
I was in Himalayas for few weeks, it's true. something magical, peaceful bound in the mountains. I would like to go visit this place now. Places like this, where you can connect more with nature, you can speak with nature and where you can explore other side of you.
Norwegians who live there are only paying a small fraction of taxes compared to those on mainland Norway. It definitely helps to "ease" the cold climate. Btw, the coal up there was discovered by John Longyear from the state of Michigan more than 100 years ago. The name of the city - Longyearbyen, is an amalgamation of his name and the Norwegian word for the city = byen (i.e. The City of Longyear)
4 years after seeing this video we finally made it to Svalbard last week and it was one of the most breathtaking journeys we ever did. Spent 3 days on a dogsled with temperatues down to -35°C :) cant beat the light in the north. Beautiful!
@@6torthor What is ur job? and what kind of jobs are common there? Do u know every face in the town? how long have u been there? what do u and the residents do when the sun light shuts down for 4 months? how do u describe the general character of the people?
@@yosanmelese2094 I'm currently in high school, but the jobs up here are like any typical town's jobs in addition to jobs related to tourism such as expedition guides, dog sleding company jobs, etc. It really is a small world up here, most people know each other though there's currently around 2250 residents (according to SSB, 8. April 2019). I've lived here for 3 years and starting my fourth year. When the sun goes down is generally when the snow starts to come (though it snows even in the summer sometimes) so that's snow scooter season, when the sky starts turning dark blue not too long from the start of the next year there's an annual jazz festival, and other small town events. The general character of the people, I would say Norwegian with strong international influence.
@@6torthor very cool I'm just fascinated with this place. Being from Las Vegas couldn't be any different of two places. How does one fly or arrive at the city. Thank-you for taking the time to respond Svalbard
I've been there. At summer the first days will have you disoriented. You could end up doing what I did, going to town for an ice cream in this beautiful weather only to realize it's 3 a.m and everyone is asleep. It's surreal how bright and fresh and alive the night looks. The opposite of course goes for the winters, when everything is dark for months on end. Around April, the sun starts coming back and personally I feel like that's the most beautiful part of the year in Svalbard. When you get there you get there you're struck by a lingering feeling that you're at edge of civilization. Which you are. Barentzburg, the russian village on Svalbard is also worth visiting if anyone of you decide to go there. It's part of the soviet era and is very much an untouched fossil of soviet life. It's very interesting to see, especially since from every corner of the village you can see the words "Mir o mir" in russian on the mountain just like the Hollywood sign. Mir means both world and peace in russian and "Mir o mir" means world peace. Which stands there as a reminder of the ideals and the dreams of the communists. Gives you an alternate look at the age old enemy of the West.
@erik so... for around 4 months (oct to jan) , it is completely dark at all times!? The sun does not come up at all!? How do people live in such darkness for 4 months!?
Curious....what took you there? How do you deal with that level of cold everyday? Running water/showers/indoor plumbing? What clothes do you have to bear being out in that type of weather? Internet?! lol What the hell is there to do there?! Seems like I would go nuts!
NUMBEROCK Math Songs even though you're right about this costing a good amount of money, ayy lmao is right because there doesn't really appear to be any major editing here apart from transitions between clips and one arrow being drawn in the clip.
Reminds me of Skarsvag Norway. There is a live cam for it so you get the endless daylight, endless night there over the months and it's billed as the northernmost fishing village in the world. At my age the cold is a bit much for me but I do love these isolated places in the world.
I guess it's because speed and ease of construction has to take priority over form in that environment and everything has to be shipped in, but the buildings are all so ugly - it puts me in mind of a prison camp or something
I don't know why but looking at those landscapes. The horizon. It feels amazing, I know it must be difficult living there but it's so compelling to be there, a mystical land which looks so special and unreal.
Its a hard, rewarding life. Some people don't care for the comforts that most other places on the globe have to offer. Me? I thrive in the winter in N.E. Wisconsin. When everybody else is miserable, I am happy. My favorite thing to do is winter camping.
There is a RUclipsr called Cecilia Blomdahl who lives in Longyearbyen, and she makes videos about things like what it is like to live there, why she chooses to, how she earns a living etc.
it gives me hope, that if we can do this, we can create environments for when the climate reaches higher temps such as 160 F. death valley has already hit 130 F as of july 2021.
We are special like that We were not made for swimming but we tried to conquer the sea, we can't fly but we find a way to fly we will never stop exploring and searching
Fair warning - not nearly as many trolls out there as people would have you believe. On the other hand, one of the lowest populations of rough sleepers of anywhere I've been.
Ikr? I always want to visit the coldest and northernmost places. Less people, closer to nature, and just mysterious and majestic, gives a sense of peace and awe
Technically: the Canadian town of Alert is more north than Svalbard. But you need to be an indigenous resident or a scientist or government official to go there. No tourists are allowed.
@@yackfou2412 Nobody cares what you think about Skyrim. I can't stand Five Nights At Freddys. Doesn't mean I wake up every day thinking "man, I'm going to be an asshole to people who like FNAF today."
Yeah, I bet the next time a guard in Whiterun walks up to you to talk about his knee, you can tell him you came from Svalbard and he will just think it's a small town near winterhold that he never heard about 🤣
That was Very,Very well put together man, That music, and the very little bits of information you fed to us, was a perfect balance and I loved the work, Thanks man P.S Congrats seeing you on Documentaries mate, You earned It !
I've had the pleasure of visitong Svalbard in the winter. It's spectacular. The little museum is worth a visit, as is the ridiculously good whiskey bar.
When I was a pilot in the Air Force we would often fly to Thule, Greenland. ThuIe is very similar, in its remoteness yet beauty, to Svalbard As one would well imagine however, these are EXTREMELY rough places in the dead of winter. Now when I fly the Polar Routes "up over the top" we use Svalbard as an emergency alternate. I much prefer to view it this way in the comfort of home instead of visiting it whilst making an emergency landing in the dead of winter.
***Having all those polar bears, would make any emergency landing, a major survival challenge, if you plane didn't have adequate weapons made for that remote landing***
@@davisoregon1 They have a small terminal and passenger handling capabilities, but a 777 can have more than 250 passengers so dropping in there in the harshest winter conditions requires serious consideration. It would indeed be a rather bracing moment, however, to see a Polar bear putting in an appearance to investigate our arrival.
@@damonthomas8955 No, I flew C-141s and we used to go up there on regular supply runs. The C-130s (ski equipped if I remember correctly) used to go even further north to Alert, Canada. Sonderstromfjord, Greenland ( now Kangerlussuaq) further south was actually more interesting than Thule because of the terrain.
@@prakharmishra3000 They may have meant being able to look out your window and see/hear birds and squirrels and such in the trees outside. It's relaxing for a lot of people.
Took a quick stop in Longyear this year on my way up to Ny-Alesund for work and let me tell you, it is so much more breathtaking and beautiful in person. Climbing to the top of one of the mountains and taking in the treeless view was an experience I will never forget.
I usually am not a big fan of the cold, but I've been watching videos on norway, iceland, greenland and svalbard. There is something so awe inspiring about these places. I'd love to visit some day
I really want to escape to a place like this once in a while. I get tired, stressed, and fed up living in the city, working, and working, and working.... This isn't what life is supposed to be, we should all be take some time out of our lives to just live the moment, and explore the beauty of this world.
Tell that to those who get to keep and enjoy the fruits of your work. I bet they'll be less than enthused about the whole "leave and keep getting paid" idea. Unless of course you mean "leave and no longer get paid" - in which case most people won't be.
I live in beautiful northern New Mexico mountains and still have to remind myself to stop thinking about work and go outside to sit still among the trees. There’s something so cleansing about being in nature; it feels like home, unlike the cities, and the computer, and everything about modern life, and I think deep down, some primordial piece of us knows that.
I've found it helpful to simply go tent or hammock camping locally or somewhat locally about a week per month. It gets you in nature, away from most people, and still close enough to commute to work!
Just come back from Svalbard with 5 of my friends, one of the most epic trips i have ever been on, this any many other videos inspired my trip, so in part i have this video to thank.
He was at the outskirt of the town, the sign said "Applies to all of Svalbard." They do not use handguns, they use rifles, it's impossible to kill a polar bear that's rushing right at you with a goddamn handgun. Svalbard is a beautiful place and honestly not that difficult to live in, it's very similar to mainland Norway.
I miss living in Alaska. The army took me all over the Country. I wanted to retire back in Alaska but life has other plans. Living like this is a different world of it own. It’s beautiful and peaceful. This place looks like heaven on earth.
A friend told me about Svalbard last week, I'd never heard of the place. Now here I am, laid in bed on saturday morning watching this beautifully produced video, dreaming of planning a trip one day
If somehow i found out that i only have one day left to live i would go there, buy 5 pounds of weed and just sit outside and stare the mountains sparking blunts one after another.
Such a calm, beautiful, relaxing place. I imagine people are very friendly and welcoming there. I feel like I can knock at any door and ask for stay, and they'll happily let me in - treating me with local foods and drinks. My next dream destination is definitely Svalbard.
@@markoajduk7096, You don’t get it. By equinox, they get 12h day just like anywhere else. Only that the sun stays low, even at midday. Then they get a four-month long polar day over summer, mirroring the polar night in winter.
The Reaper The sun is below the horizon for about 2 and a half months here (we call it mørketiden) where it’s total darkness, then the sun first comes up in town for a few minutes in late February In total it’s about 4 month darkness and 8 months light though ‘darkness’ and ‘light’ in between the months of not mørketiden varies
Of all the places I've visited, Longyearbyen, Pyramiden and Barentsburg in Svalbard are the places I cherish. A place where you can see nature in its pristine best, humankind's ingenuity to survive in this climate!!
Someone owns a Nissan GT-R R35 there. The coal miners make a fair amount and the taxes are very low to none so you can buy cars up there for much cheaper than in Norway. People that live there and make good money sometimes buy expensive cars and take them down to norway by boat during summer to avoid paying the expensive car taxes
So it's a European TOWNCAR in a European 'country' with only 50km of roads total that is buried in snow like 100% of the time. Give me one good reason why you would pick a benzo over a light 4WD, pimpin doesn't count.
The Earth is a real paradise, where something is there for everyone. Its just we don't realize the importance and preserve it. Amazing video. Thanks for posting. I am sure to visit this town in my lifetime.
Ever since I’ve started watching Cecilia’s videos I have made it my life’s goal to live in Longyearbyen or one of the other places on Svalbard. It’s spoke to my soul immediately n so intensely I’ve never felt anything like it
really? Because the report (the video) just told you that the coal mines are gone and what's left is teaching, research and tourism. did you noticed they also have a university?
Seems great until you realize there's thousands of polar bears on Svalbard. They're so dangerous that you have to be proficient using a shotgun, its also illegal to lock your cars there in case someone has to get in to hide from the polar bears.
@@adventureawaits3860 Yes I would love to visit. He worked in 'Svea gruva' at Spetsbergen around 1923, (gruva is mine in swedish). Svea gruva had a fire 1925 and they closed the mine for some years until norway opened it again around 1935 if I remember correct. The swedish workers earned 10 times more at Svalbard than at home in the mines of sweden. The ppl from norway that worked in the mines at Svalbard had less taxes than at home, they only needed to pay 5%. 1919 when the mining in Svea gruva started, there were 70 workers in the mine. People that tried to earn extra money for their loved ones at home. My grandfather had 9 brothers and one sister so I guess their father did what he could to provide.
I found this town while searching google earth for interesting places. In streetview mode, you can see the brightly colored buildings. Beautiful and sort of creepy. Perfect town for introverts, I think.
I've been to Longyearbyen last October - it's an amazing place. The streets are incredibly quiet (well, except for the cars), the mountains are raw and untouched, and the people are very friendly. I'm planning to visit again and maybe move there for a few months someday, it's definitely worth it.
....it looks and sounds like a prelude to a grisly Murder yet to be discovered in the frozen tundra, like in the British series Fortitude, or in the Icelandic series Trapped (Ófærð) 😆
I’m glad to have been there, by boat. A wild barren and beautiful place, with a quaint Nordic town. One of the places I certainly intend to return, at all costs, when I’m older.
This is just amazing to look at. I’m here right now, which feels quite surreal, given the fact that it’s almost 1:1 like you described it in the video. Your video inspired me to go here. And my Tourguides was actually your tourguide. There is also going to be a Yes theory video coming soon. I met them yesterday in pyramida.
Hi Derek! Congratulations for your nomination. Your production quality is increasing and I love the fact that your videos are so diverse and you popuarize science in one of the best ways I know of . Keep up the good work !
Another fun fact; if there happens to be a power failure or outage, Svalbard and Norway have made a rule that every planes of some norwegian air company, is obligated to fly there and pick up all the residence.
Nah, the worst species, we're killing of other species for as pointless things as fur coats. Producing millions of tons of plastic every year that winds up in our oceans. And we're spraying out lots of CH4 and CO2 from coal burning factories, cars, planes and boats, that pollute the atmossphere so temperatures Are rising and in the end will burn our lands until we die and are remembered as the most stupid species that have ever existed on planet earth
Thanks for sharing. I'm naturally drawn to this landscape, currently live in Alaska. I truly love the north, the cold, remote lands. There is a different kind of peace found there, a peace that cannot be explained but only experienced first hand.
This video is stunning. This video has that quality I've not seen. I have not seen such content before. Your choice of song matches the video perfectly. It's like they have a bond. A perfect match. You put so much effort into your videos. You listen to your subscribers. Thank you, Veritasium. For everything.
Sorry, former as a geologist and former inhabitant, I cannot help but bring a tiny correction: only Pyramiden's mine exploited coal that is of Carboniferous age. All main coal deposits (Longyearbyen, Barentsbourg, Svea) are much much younger, of Palaeogene age (66 to 56 My). Interestingly, it was not that far off its current latitude, yet lush forests with broad leaves tree grew in a temperate climate... Anyway, thank you infinitely to bring to us these beautiful glimpses of what was once my beloved home.
WAIT are you talking about Alert Nunavut because I’m Canadian and out of curiosity like 3 minutes ago I was looking for the northeast habitable place and Alert Nunavut was the highest I could find even above Slavbard, I was just curious if you don’t mind answering how did you get there they said you need military planes
@@tideio as far as I know Alert is a military base. You can only go if you have business there or in the military and sent there. Gries Fiord is the highest town that you can go to when ever you want.
Derek, I love this video. The drone cinematography was picturesque and provided a beautiful visual to accompany your narration. I give major props to whoever edited this video along with whoever chose the soundtrack. The music was elegant yet simple and seemed unbelievably perfect to match the scenes. I feel like this video lacked the scientific "wow factor" that I normally experience with your other videos, but nonetheless this was still a masterpiece. P.S. Were you flying the drone the whole time without wearing gloves!?
+ICACISTHEBEST thanks! I did everything in the video including editing. I had some thin gloves on sometimes but anything thicker made it hard to operate
Hey Thanks! I've had really bad anxiety for the past few days, and this has reallt helped to calm me down! Just what I needed, beautiful landscapes and beautiful cinematography :-)
By popular demand: this video without my narration: ruclips.net/video/DLUb14UsgJ8/видео.html
+Veritasium My mother actually went to the Global Seed Bank because she works in a danish government agency and I learnt something about seed preservation and different seed species ;)
+Veritasium - I won't 'thumb's down' on this comment because I don't want this disappointment to be misinterpreted. That's because I agree that the video would be pleasurable watching it with only the music to accompany. But, I also enjoyed the narrative, because I enjoyed getting the background info of what I was witnessing. Couldn't you have two versions uploaded?
+Veritasium
Awesome! Both versions worth it.
What time of the year did you shoot this? The dim snowy landscape with that soft light on the mountains looks mesmerizing.
Can You answer me where does the wind comes from. Nobody answered my questions before, so I would be happy if You could answer this question, where does the wind comes from?
+Dean Hartland thank you.
I'm sorry for the confusion, I didn't mean "what direction wind come from".
I mean "pruduced the wind?"
can You answer me, what exactly pruduced the wind.
that what I asked. Veritasium
Sitting at home in England, recovering from a heart attack and watching this lovely, soothing video.
As an international airline pilot I’ve occasionally had to list Svalbard as an emergency alternate airport when planning polar flights. I’ve never seen it until now. Excellent aerial drone footage. Thanks for sharing.
You have a cool job
Hey. You’re a pilot. Obviously flying over the North Pole/arctic ocean (ice shelf). So? You can confirm that the earth is not flat like some idiots are trying to claim. They’re saying that there’s nothing North of the North Pole. But obviously you would have flown past that to the other side of our round globe. Correct?
@@JohnSmith-rk6jy
I can assure you……..the world is quite ROUND.
@@savagecub that’s what I keep telling these idiots. “Are you telling me that “whoever” has bribed every single pilot on the planet to keep their mouths shut on their little secret and are all ‘in on it’”? Weirdos.
@@JohnSmith-rk6jy
Most anti vaccine people tend to be in this group as well.
You could date somebody for 4 months and it would be still be considered a 1 night stand.
Good point.
👏
*+Paulshizzle*
I'm just trying to figure out what sort of people go and lay the concrete pads or piles for the prefabricated buildings to go onto? Then there's the connections and electrical bits&pieces etc.,. I know human kind has always found a way to live in seemingly the most difficult places but wow. The arctic circle is something entirely different. Though not completely different to Antarctica and the South Pole communities. The latter having its own small nuclear power generation.
The sheer austere beauty of the region is astonishing.
PS: I can think of worse things than to be stuck in bed with a warm and sexy individual for one dark night.
Bucket o fish!
This comment wins the internet
It looks nice but as anyone who lives in a place that freezes over more than 6 months out of the year can tell you - that ambient music is really what makes it look so romantic.
I have asthma and cold places terrifies me but this video is so beautiful and indeed romantic hahah
Don't forget about looking out for the polar bears if you decide to leave
the town limits.
Agreed that the ambient music really sells this video. Nonetheless, I'm sold. 😁
yet, the "Svalbard bug" affecting tourists, or any visitors is a real thing: a longing to go back.
mNbigger lives aint shite
I went to Svalbard 3,5 years ago. I haven't felt cold since.
Liar .
Well you're a meanie :(
+John Nash Meanie
+Chris Knott wtf is meanie ?
Two years here man, which town? I was in LongYearByen
I dont think i'd ever get bored of just staring at the mountains/hills there. There's just something so peaceful about it
I believe you are when you there
Time to test that
You say that because you don't have to.
I was in Himalayas for few weeks, it's true. something magical, peaceful bound in the mountains. I would like to go visit this place now. Places like this, where you can connect more with nature, you can speak with nature and where you can explore other side of you.
@@rajkumarraj6056 Very jealous. I always get nostalgic when I go skiing
Norwegians who live there are only paying a small fraction of taxes compared to those on mainland Norway. It definitely helps to "ease" the cold climate. Btw, the coal up there was discovered by John Longyear from the state of Michigan more than 100 years ago. The name of the city - Longyearbyen, is an amalgamation of his name and the Norwegian word for the city = byen (i.e. The City of Longyear)
Thanks you information.
But goods are also more expensive there.
Higher cost of living.
And don't have to spend money on Air conditioner and wasting electricity on Air Conditioner in the summer is a plus along with low taxes
@@PreciousAlpschindlerwell in other parts of Norway people hardly have to do that either 🙄
4 years after seeing this video we finally made it to Svalbard last week and it was one of the most breathtaking journeys we ever did. Spent 3 days on a dogsled with temperatues down to -35°C :) cant beat the light in the north. Beautiful!
Waoh! Amazing!! Hope you love the town
that is so cool im happy for u
What a loser lmao
I actually live here lol, a bit weird watching this
You must be hyped
Halla hvem er du
Jeg bor også i Longyearbyen
Which house is yours
Hey! What do you get up to in your days mainly? =)
i don't know if it's just the music, but this pleases my soul greatly.
Music, video and voice.
No it doesn't..
BlackEagle352 and his voice also 😊
It's called Nordic music...
This guy has the coolest job in the world
They all do haha
James Bone Did.. you.. just...
Still, can be driven and circle around the town :-)
quite literally..
I'm hoping that watching snow scenes in 30 degrees of heat will cool me down!
He said millions of years ago it was tropical. I wish he showed some footage of that, I'm sure it was a beautiful place.
Hollup…
lmao
Lol.
Couldn’t contact the eternal cameraman
loool
Don't make it sound so sad >:I We have REALLY cheap beer and pretty decent internet access up there!
wait, do you actually live there? that sounds super cool
I don't think it sounds sad, it sounds poetic! :D
I wouldn't think someone would have RUclips there
How good is the wifi
undo.kat HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HURHURHUR
I would have liked to have seen some interviews with residents
ya that would have been very nice
You can ask me some questions if you’d like, I live here
@@6torthor What is ur job? and what kind of jobs are common there? Do u know every face in the town? how long have u been there? what do u and the residents do when the sun light shuts down for 4 months? how do u describe the general character of the people?
@@yosanmelese2094 I'm currently in high school, but the jobs up here are like any typical town's jobs in addition to jobs related to tourism such as expedition guides, dog sleding company jobs, etc. It really is a small world up here, most people know each other though there's currently around 2250 residents (according to SSB, 8. April 2019). I've lived here for 3 years and starting my fourth year. When the sun goes down is generally when the snow starts to come (though it snows even in the summer sometimes) so that's snow scooter season, when the sky starts turning dark blue not too long from the start of the next year there's an annual jazz festival, and other small town events. The general character of the people, I would say Norwegian with strong international influence.
@@6torthor very cool I'm just fascinated with this place. Being from Las Vegas couldn't be any different of two places. How does one fly or arrive at the city. Thank-you for taking the time to respond Svalbard
I've been there. At summer the first days will have you disoriented. You could end up doing what I did, going to town for an ice cream in this beautiful weather only to realize it's 3 a.m and everyone is asleep. It's surreal how bright and fresh and alive the night looks. The opposite of course goes for the winters, when everything is dark for months on end. Around April, the sun starts coming back and personally I feel like that's the most beautiful part of the year in Svalbard.
When you get there you get there you're struck by a lingering feeling that you're at edge of civilization. Which you are.
Barentzburg, the russian village on Svalbard is also worth visiting if anyone of you decide to go there. It's part of the soviet era and is very much an untouched fossil of soviet life. It's very interesting to see, especially since from every corner of the village you can see the words "Mir o mir" in russian on the mountain just like the Hollywood sign. Mir means both world and peace in russian and "Mir o mir" means world peace. Which stands there as a reminder of the ideals and the dreams of the communists. Gives you an alternate look at the age old enemy of the West.
@erik so... for around 4 months (oct to jan) , it is completely dark at all times!? The sun does not come up at all!? How do people live in such darkness for 4 months!?
abhay mathur
Well, if you have had almost 5 months of 24 hour daylight than you’d be longing for night.
hahahhaha! True...... Sounds like a difficult life though...
Curious....what took you there? How do you deal with that level of cold everyday? Running water/showers/indoor plumbing? What clothes do you have to bear being out in that type of weather? Internet?! lol
What the hell is there to do there?! Seems like I would go nuts!
The Internet on Svaldbard is probably better than yours, this is due to scientific research and telecommunications antennas located on Svaldbard
The bell's ringing perfectly captures the silent singing beauty of this frozen place.
The music choice is perfect for the beautiful, yet eerie vibe this town gives off.
This was so beautifully put together. A truly sensational production with brilliant editing.
NUMBEROCK Math Songs even though you're right about this costing a good amount of money, ayy lmao is right because there doesn't really appear to be any major editing here apart from transitions between clips and one arrow being drawn in the clip.
The actual that was taken is what makes this footage beautiful though. I think I've watched this video at least 40 times (not exaggerating here).
Don't judge artistic work by it's raw cost. The production was truly amazing.
I got so bored so fast. Had to watch at 1.5 speed to keep my sanity
Except for that voice
this is place is just too perfect to me ..... very few people, cold and snowy everyday and the sun never touches the
ground ..... I love it
That's why Norway is the chosen country
i bet you're fun at parties
parties? what do u think am I an extrovert?
not you im talking to max
Omar Almalouhi I'm an introvert but I still like parties lol
Reminds me of Skarsvag Norway. There is a live cam for it so you get the endless daylight, endless night there over the months and it's billed as the northernmost fishing village in the world. At my age the cold is a bit much for me but I do love these isolated places in the world.
Not even gonna lie, svalbard seems pretty chill
a little too chill I would say!!
Nice lol
Heck no, only caucasians can dwell there. Lol
I guess it's because speed and ease of construction has to take priority over form in that environment and everything has to be shipped in, but the buildings are all so ugly - it puts me in mind of a prison camp or something
It’s the music
I don't know why but looking at those landscapes. The horizon. It feels amazing, I know it must be difficult living there but it's so compelling to be there, a mystical land which looks so special and unreal.
Reminds me of when I first saw the Rocky Mountains.
It's not that difficult to live that far north. I met a lot of really dumb people in Alaska. They survive just fine.
that you feel just because it is a novelty, otherwise it is as good
I'd love to have residents interviewed to understand why people live in places like this.
Its a hard, rewarding life. Some people don't care for the comforts that most other places on the globe have to offer. Me? I thrive in the winter in N.E. Wisconsin. When everybody else is miserable, I am happy. My favorite thing to do is winter camping.
@@aspiceronni4462
Winter sucks.
It sounds better than Chicago, Detroit or Baltimore.
@Generic JC Denton pic Not gonna argue that one bit. I overheat easily. Thats why I live winter. Lol.
There is a RUclipsr called Cecilia Blomdahl who lives in Longyearbyen, and she makes videos about things like what it is like to live there, why she chooses to, how she earns a living etc.
It's been 8 years since I left Svalbard, not a day goes by that I don't miss it.
What made you leave?
Damn can you tell us what a normal day looked like?
RIP Dude
That's the "Svalbard bug".
Even within the calmness of the video, it’s incredible how humanity has set permanent establishments in places as scary as this.
Looking at the scenery at 3:48, I can understand what led those people to do that.
it gives me hope, that if we can do this, we can create environments for when the climate reaches higher temps such as 160 F. death valley has already hit 130 F as of july 2021.
@@ethanstump yeah it was 134 back in 1936....even Al Gore only claims about 3-4 degrees in the next century and that seems highly dubious.
@@ethanstump Mars, we are going to mars.
We are special like that
We were not made for swimming but we tried to conquer the sea, we can't fly but we find a way to fly we will never stop exploring and searching
Definitely on my bucket list of places to visit. I don't care what people say. Those far far far north places are so dang Incredible.
Fair warning - not nearly as many trolls out there as people would have you believe. On the other hand, one of the lowest populations of rough sleepers of anywhere I've been.
Ikr? I always want to visit the coldest and northernmost places. Less people, closer to nature, and just mysterious and majestic, gives a sense of peace and awe
same, sadly is very expensive, but an unforgettable experience
Technically: the Canadian town of Alert is more north than Svalbard.
But you need to be an indigenous resident or a scientist or government official to go there. No tourists are allowed.
And southern Chile is also nice
The video should named: "I just bought a drone and I want to use it"
+Álvaro Cascon And because I got so much footage and i wanna use it all, I'll talk like a robot...
haha so true
+Álvaro Cascon lol yeah, but some pretty badass footage though
+Álvaro Cascon To the top!
cmon at least its a cool veritasium video! :D
Svalbard sounds like a Skyrim town, and that's pretty cool in my book.
Skyrim and all about it is trash, sorry.
Perhaps you dig yourself a grave.
yackfou2412 you first, you and all your negativity.
@@yackfou2412 Nobody cares what you think about Skyrim. I can't stand Five Nights At Freddys. Doesn't mean I wake up every day thinking "man, I'm going to be an asshole to people who like FNAF today."
Yeah, I bet the next time a guard in Whiterun walks up to you to talk about his knee, you can tell him you came from Svalbard and he will just think it's a small town near winterhold that he never heard about 🤣
@@yackfou2412 no one agrees with you about this.
That was Very,Very well put together man, That music, and the very little bits of information you fed to us, was a perfect balance and I loved the work, Thanks man
P.S
Congrats seeing you on Documentaries mate, You earned It !
+3
+4
+5
+6
+7
Now THIS is what I call quality production! Bravo, man!
absolutely. was a good watch.
pure zen. Kinda drove me nuts
it looks kinda surreal with that smooth mountain background
Ikr
Ja det synes jeg også
+Banankaffe chill spurgt
Thats why the place is so magic
I've had the pleasure of visitong Svalbard in the winter. It's spectacular. The little museum is worth a visit, as is the ridiculously good whiskey bar.
i bet the alcoholism rate in svalbard is close to 100%
I'm glad that this place isn't in Plague inc.
You would need frost resistance IIIIIIIIIIIIII to take on Svalbard :P
By the gods, like Greenland weren't obnoxious enough
Probably a bigger pain in the arse than new Zealand and canada >.
+akantorman1 Yah, they also sucked
Svalbard can't sustain it self, so it doesn't matter
This video is beautifully shot, and I think it would be amazing to just watch with just the music and without the voiceover.
JoshLovesDolphins
Your comment is unrelated and frankly has no effect on me at all
He tells a lot of cool things about the place. I enjoyed the slow voiceover
piggyskate
I enjoyed the voiceover as well but I just think it could be a really soothing video with just the music
+A to Rhombus Than mute the video and play some music...
David
I meant the music in the video m8
Those mountains are so beautiful, like a frozen moonscape.
@Cultöerectus I love moonscapes. Let's go to Svalbard together.
When I was a pilot in the Air Force we would often fly to Thule, Greenland. ThuIe is very similar, in its remoteness yet beauty, to Svalbard As one would well imagine however, these are EXTREMELY rough places in the dead of winter.
Now when I fly the Polar Routes "up over the top" we use Svalbard as an emergency alternate. I much prefer to view it this way in the comfort of home instead of visiting it whilst making an emergency landing in the dead of winter.
***Having all those polar bears, would make any emergency landing, a major survival challenge, if you plane didn't have adequate weapons made for that remote landing***
@@davisoregon1 They have a small terminal and passenger handling capabilities, but a 777 can have more than 250 passengers so dropping in there in the harshest winter conditions requires serious consideration. It would indeed be a rather bracing moment, however, to see a Polar bear putting in an appearance to investigate our arrival.
Were you part of operation chrome dome?
@@damonthomas8955 No, I flew C-141s and we used to go up there on regular supply runs. The C-130s (ski equipped if I remember correctly) used to go even further north to Alert, Canada.
Sonderstromfjord, Greenland ( now Kangerlussuaq) further south was actually more interesting than Thule because of the terrain.
Qaanaaq
The lack of vegetation would be difficult to adjust to.
maybe, maybe not.
Imported goods
You can still have indoor vegetation.
@@prakharmishra3000 They may have meant being able to look out your window and see/hear birds and squirrels and such in the trees outside. It's relaxing for a lot of people.
You never adjust to it really
This video inspired me to get a hot drink.
This video turned my hot coffee into iced
My beer is frozen
This video froze my nuts off.
"The Long Polar Night>"
Lololololol
This video is so calming and soothing. I deal alot with anxiety and i always love to watch this to calm my nerves.
+Baron Wright You and me both..
It gave me anxiety lmfao
Yall need to take some magnesium supplements to help get rid of that anxiety
Eating a handful of pumpkin seeds each day will do.
blood mapedit - are sunflower seeds no good..? 🌻
Took a quick stop in Longyear this year on my way up to Ny-Alesund for work and let me tell you, it is so much more breathtaking and beautiful in person. Climbing to the top of one of the mountains and taking in the treeless view was an experience I will never forget.
I usually am not a big fan of the cold, but I've been watching videos on norway, iceland, greenland and svalbard. There is something so awe inspiring about these places. I'd love to visit some day
I really want to escape to a place like this once in a while. I get tired, stressed, and fed up living in the city, working, and working, and working....
This isn't what life is supposed to be, we should all be take some time out of our lives to just live the moment, and explore the beauty of this world.
Tell that to those who get to keep and enjoy the fruits of your work. I bet they'll be less than enthused about the whole "leave and keep getting paid" idea. Unless of course you mean "leave and no longer get paid" - in which case most people won't be.
It’s all an escape from working life until you have to pay for groceries and you need money somehow
I live in beautiful northern New Mexico mountains and still have to remind myself to stop thinking about work and go outside to sit still among the trees. There’s something so cleansing about being in nature; it feels like home, unlike the cities, and the computer, and everything about modern life, and I think deep down, some primordial piece of us knows that.
I've found it helpful to simply go tent or hammock camping locally or somewhat locally about a week per month. It gets you in nature, away from most people, and still close enough to commute to work!
Wouldn't the Maldives be a better place to chill off?
This vibe is so sentimental and melancholy... AND IT ISN’T EVEN SAD! :(
It feels more like "at rest" or "at ease" than sad
it's perfect
Music was sad tho
@@paulryan2128 No
I live In the arctic (Narvik, Norway) and the polar night is not as bad as it sounds, skiing under the northen lights and good Christmas vibes
Just come back from Svalbard with 5 of my friends, one of the most epic trips i have ever been on, this any many other videos inspired my trip, so in part i have this video to thank.
"Anyone leaving town must have a gun, and someone who knows how to use it" *overlays with him walking off by himself
I think he was standing next to a sign that marked the outer limits of the town, and was thus just inside the "city limits."
You can be alone, as long as YOU have the gun, Idiot!
He must be the one who knows how to use the gun 🤦🏾♂️
He was at the outskirt of the town, the sign said "Applies to all of Svalbard." They do not use handguns, they use rifles, it's impossible to kill a polar bear that's rushing right at you with a goddamn handgun. Svalbard is a beautiful place and honestly not that difficult to live in, it's very similar to mainland Norway.
He chose to shoot with his camera
I worked my way on a ship from Tromso in 1992 staying 2 weeks. I camped rough about 8km from town, Good memories. I spent 13 nights on the ship.
I miss living in Alaska. The army took me all over the Country. I wanted to retire back in Alaska but life has other plans. Living like this is a different world of it own. It’s beautiful and peaceful. This place looks like heaven on earth.
Very very nice. Tnx. Who is the music artist?
Not to mention the aurora that probably shows up every week there..
@@maxnjax7294hello
No bugs!
oh hell yeah
Not true we have 280 species of insects
@@charlykatbat4468 It's harder for insects to survive and adapt to the extreme cold so they exist but they are invisible
@@patrickbateman1540 have you been here in summer? There's areas where you get swarmed by insects, not to mention all the flies at the dogyards
@Batuhan Batuhan well if you ignore the black clouds you find in some areas. I call that a swarm
I keep coming back to this video. I'm enchanted by this town.
Soundtrack is fitting. :)
+Jubach
Yeah, if you are contemplating suicide.
+Nilguiri LOLOL
+Jubach reminds me of Paris, Texas
+Nilguiri That's a terrible thing to say on such an inspiring video.
camlehn
Please! Spare me. _yawn!_
A friend told me about Svalbard last week, I'd never heard of the place.
Now here I am, laid in bed on saturday morning watching this beautifully produced video, dreaming of planning a trip one day
Probably never gonna happen. Keep dreaming.
@@drst8681 That's the spirit Dr Miserable twat.
I bet your fun at parties
@@drst8681Really? Why?
Can't believe this video is 3 years old feels like I watched it yesterday.
time flies!
That’s just 3 (polar) nights ago
Bruh
Cant believe this comment is 2 yrs old. Feels like i read it yesterday!
4 months of continuous darkness. I would die of depression within a month !
Its a deep secret why people decide to live in this kind of climate…
Same here. I would go nuts in that kind of environment!
I would thrive. I'm a vampire.
It’s alright living like that.
I’d die in a single night!
If somehow i found out that i only have one day left to live i would go there, buy 5 pounds of weed and just sit outside and stare the mountains sparking blunts one after another.
Bruh
+Constantine 5 pounds is a lot to smoke in one day :P But I belive in you, you can do it.
+Karl My Suitcase Bruh, trust me bruh.
+Constantine Why wait til then?
+Constantine clever plan - especially considering one "day" lasts almost a year up there :)
Such a calm, beautiful, relaxing place. I imagine people are very friendly and welcoming there. I feel like I can knock at any door and ask for stay, and they'll happily let me in - treating me with local foods and drinks. My next dream destination is definitely Svalbard.
The kind of beauty that eventually becomes painful
@@markoajduk7096 sounds amazing to me tbh.
@@markoajduk7096,
You don’t get it. By equinox, they get 12h day just like anywhere else. Only that the sun stays low, even at midday. Then they get a four-month long polar day over summer, mirroring the polar night in winter.
The Reaper Wrong, there’s more daylight here than darkness in a year
The Reaper The sun is below the horizon for about 2 and a half months here (we call it mørketiden) where it’s total darkness, then the sun first comes up in town for a few minutes in late February
In total it’s about 4 month darkness and 8 months light though ‘darkness’ and ‘light’ in between the months of not mørketiden varies
from chilblains on your feet lol
Weather report: A toasty summer day of 3C!!
nah it usually is up in 10c
I bet everyone is down the beach that day! Good luck getting somewhere to park your snowmobile...
Boobs FTW! Haha i hate it when I can't find a parking space. It's even worse when you do find one, but then a polar bear takes the spot :(
Lol
Of all the places I've visited, Longyearbyen, Pyramiden and Barentsburg in Svalbard are the places I cherish. A place where you can see nature in its pristine best, humankind's ingenuity to survive in this climate!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH. As an almost 80-year-old English lady living in Germany, this has been a real eye-opener. Thank you once more.
3:29 someone owns a benz, i guess he lives in the nicest igloo in town.
BLADesCOre e
Those are pretty normal in Norway
Father Reason whoa calm your salty tîts
Someone owns a Nissan GT-R R35 there.
The coal miners make a fair amount and the taxes are very low to none so you can buy cars up there for much cheaper than in Norway.
People that live there and make good money sometimes buy expensive cars and take them down to norway by boat during summer to avoid paying the expensive car taxes
So it's a European TOWNCAR in a European 'country' with only 50km of roads total that is buried in snow like 100% of the time. Give me one good reason why you would pick a benzo over a light 4WD, pimpin doesn't count.
The Earth is a real paradise, where something is there for everyone. Its just we don't realize the importance and preserve it. Amazing video. Thanks for posting. I am sure to visit this town in my lifetime.
I am just as sure that I will never visit there.
How the hell do you preserve the earth ..sheesh
So awesome city!!
City?
Ever since I’ve started watching Cecilia’s videos I have made it my life’s goal to live in Longyearbyen or one of the other places on Svalbard. It’s spoke to my soul immediately n so intensely I’ve never felt anything like it
When you found a city in Civ on ice because there is Coal and 2 Fish nearby.
Love this comment!
really? Because the report (the video) just told you that the coal mines are gone and what's left is teaching, research and tourism.
did you noticed they also have a university?
@@JustMe-rq4qj You never played Civ, have you?
@@AyratHungryStudent leave the boner killer alone , nothing left to say
@@JustMe-rq4qj i cant believe u actually commented something this dumb
I’ve always been a night owl, I’m ok with limited social interaction, the snowscapes and town lights are beautiful, seems like a nice place to be
Perfect place to be indeed 🥰
@Tad Barrett you can go if you want
@@abhilashapati4677 Says somebody who doesn't live there.
I would prefer greenland, might even move in there at some point in my life, who knows right ? ...
Seems great until you realize there's thousands of polar bears on Svalbard. They're so dangerous that you have to be proficient using a shotgun, its also illegal to lock your cars there in case someone has to get in to hide from the polar bears.
My grandfathers father worked in a mine at Svalbard when he was young. It feels like I have a connection to this place, its a part of my heritage.
wow that's so amazing! its been a year...are you still here?
Wow.. That's incredible. You ought to visit the place someday then. And hopefully so will I 🤞
@@adventureawaits3860 Yes I would love to visit. He worked in 'Svea gruva' at Spetsbergen around 1923, (gruva is mine in swedish).
Svea gruva had a fire 1925 and they closed the mine for some years until norway opened it again around 1935 if I remember correct.
The swedish workers earned 10 times more at Svalbard than at home in the mines of sweden. The ppl from norway that worked in the mines at Svalbard had less taxes than at home, they only needed to pay 5%.
1919 when the mining in Svea gruva started, there were 70 workers in the mine. People that tried to earn extra money for their loved ones at home.
My grandfather had 9 brothers and one sister so I guess their father did what he could to provide.
@@newtoniantime8804 Wooooow this blows my mind...you totally have to visit the place someday
I found this town while searching google earth for interesting places. In streetview mode, you can see the brightly colored buildings. Beautiful and sort of creepy. Perfect town for introverts, I think.
I've been to Longyearbyen last October - it's an amazing place. The streets are incredibly quiet (well, except for the cars), the mountains are raw and untouched, and the people are very friendly. I'm planning to visit again and maybe move there for a few months someday, it's definitely worth it.
6:58 I love this shot for some reason, gives me a cozy feeling
Same but for me I like it how colorful and snowline it is
....it looks and sounds like a prelude to a grisly Murder yet to be discovered in the frozen tundra, like in the British series Fortitude, or in the Icelandic series Trapped (Ófærð) 😆
Because of the yellow lights maybe.... They have the tendency to trigger feelings of warmth and safety
It's like coming back to the village after a long daywalk in the cold and wilderness during Christmas time. I totally feel the same♥️
🙏❤️☯️🌎🎉🙏
I’m glad to have been there, by boat. A wild barren and beautiful place, with a quaint Nordic town.
One of the places I certainly intend to return, at all costs, when I’m older.
@Christie Jensen indeeeeed! I second it!
@Christie Jensen I have been there too I live in Norway
No you haven’t
@@Ijustinsultedyou yes i have. I live in Tromsø its only like a hour flight to Svalbard
This is just amazing to look at. I’m here right now, which feels quite surreal, given the fact that it’s almost 1:1 like you described it in the video. Your video inspired me to go here. And my Tourguides was actually your tourguide. There is also going to be a Yes theory video coming soon. I met them yesterday in pyramida.
The production value on this video is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Great work Derek!
Hi Derek! Congratulations for your nomination. Your production quality is increasing and I love the fact that your videos are so diverse and you popuarize science in one of the best ways I know of . Keep up the good work !
+Jérémy Diallo thank you!
Another fun fact; if there happens to be a power failure or outage, Svalbard and Norway have made a rule that every planes of some norwegian air company, is obligated to fly there and pick up all the residence.
Svalbard is part of Norway
You, Sir, don't know how to write.
Norwegians are pretty much better at English than native English speakers
its so great . humans , if co-operate , are really the best species to have ever called earth their home .
Nah, the worst species, we're killing of other species for as pointless things as fur coats. Producing millions of tons of plastic every year that winds up in our oceans. And we're spraying out lots of CH4 and CO2 from coal burning factories, cars, planes and boats, that pollute the atmossphere so temperatures Are rising and in the end will burn our lands until we die and are remembered as the most stupid species that have ever existed on planet earth
cant believe I watched this video 6 years ago and marveled at this place and today im actually there and will be here for the rest of the year
I visited Svalbard for a week during October last year. To say that the place is mind blowing is an understatement!
The music is so wonderful. It fits so well with the gorgeous video
Taken as a whole, this is poetry. The low-key narration is perfection.
Thanks for sharing. I'm naturally drawn to this landscape, currently live in Alaska. I truly love the north, the cold, remote lands. There is a different kind of peace found there, a peace that cannot be explained but only experienced first hand.
No.
@@ronnysharma6767 Yes.
@@achap6376 NO NO NO
@@ronnysharma6767 OOOOOOOOO YEAH!!!!!
This video is stunning. This video has that quality I've not seen. I have not seen such content before. Your choice of song matches the video perfectly. It's like they have a bond. A perfect match. You put so much effort into your videos. You listen to your subscribers. Thank you, Veritasium. For everything.
Veritasium, going all Neistatian with your Drone-shots? :D
+Freakschwimmer tbh Casey is pretty far away from flying drones so cleanly.
touche :D
+Freakschwimmer WOt Casey? XD Watching some veritasium and seeing some neistat... this casey moment
+coasterfanartur he does if you havent watched his recent videos haha
+Freakschwimmer
i know right
This will definitely be in my bucket list of places to visit. I love the serene beauty, it's so purifying to spend a few days here.
Sorry, former as a geologist and former inhabitant, I cannot help but bring a tiny correction:
only Pyramiden's mine exploited coal that is of Carboniferous age. All main coal deposits (Longyearbyen, Barentsbourg, Svea) are much much younger, of Palaeogene age (66 to 56 My). Interestingly, it was not that far off its current latitude, yet lush forests with broad leaves tree grew in a temperate climate...
Anyway, thank you infinitely to bring to us these beautiful glimpses of what was once my beloved home.
Really relaxing hearing you talk with the beautiful background and the music.
I've spent 6 months in Alert. Felt like another planet.
I wanted so badly to go up there and see the eclipse but, of course, I could not.
@@rubiks6 why couldn't you?
I just spent 2 weeks in Grise Fiord. It was beautiful and strange at the same time.
WAIT are you talking about Alert Nunavut because I’m Canadian and out of curiosity like 3 minutes ago I was looking for the northeast habitable place and Alert Nunavut was the highest I could find even above Slavbard, I was just curious if you don’t mind answering how did you get there they said you need military planes
@@tideio as far as I know Alert is a military base. You can only go if you have business there or in the military and sent there. Gries Fiord is the highest town that you can go to when ever you want.
Have been there several times, this is one of my favourite place on earth ❤🇳🇴
It looks heavenly. Pure white snow in almost every place look there. So beautiful
I can only imagine how many batteries and recharges it took to get these drone shots.
Just back from this place. This is the best travel vlog I’ve seen of Svalbard. Thank you
Stunning video, Derek. Good work.
What a beautiful film. Narrated masterfully with stunning aerials, this film will set your mind at ease and make you long for Svalbard.
There was a problem while playing... Gosh RUclips sort it out now!
same:(
+hasifaiman you have 4k video on probably
That has been happening too much for me
Oh my god. This is the most beautiful video i've ever seen. Thank you!
I was there 21 years ago for cold weather training. Felt like a vacation. Loved it
No you wasn’t
Derek, I love this video. The drone cinematography was picturesque and provided a beautiful visual to accompany your narration. I give major props to whoever edited this video along with whoever chose the soundtrack. The music was elegant yet simple and seemed unbelievably perfect to match the scenes. I feel like this video lacked the scientific "wow factor" that I normally experience with your other videos, but nonetheless this was still a masterpiece. P.S. Were you flying the drone the whole time without wearing gloves!?
+ICACISTHEBEST thanks! I did everything in the video including editing. I had some thin gloves on sometimes but anything thicker made it hard to operate
+Veritasium Amazing footage indeed!
+Veritasium Can we get a version of this video without the narration? That would be incredibly cool
😀👏 Greate Thanks
😀👏 Greate Thanks
This is the most relaxing documentary video I've seen this year. Sometimes I just watch it to calm down, listen to music and soothing voice.
...it's only been 1 day since you've seen it
+Edward890
I've seen it on the same day as it was released and come back to watch it again from time to time, just commented now.
Hey Thanks! I've had really bad anxiety for the past few days, and this has reallt helped to calm me down! Just what I needed, beautiful landscapes and beautiful cinematography :-)
Wow, those mountains are beautiful and they drive home the fact that you are so remote and close to the pole. Very other-worldly.