Inside a Russian Mining Town in Svalbard, Norway (Surreal)
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- We travelled to the previous unseen Russian coal mining town of Barentsburg, near the North Pole, on the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway...
Barentsburg is high up in the Arctic, in Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago, but with a twist, this mining town of less than 500 people is owned by Russia, and it is nearly exclusively populated by Russians, Ukrainians and people from various countries of the former Soviet Union (USSR).
How is it that there is a Russian / Soviet town in Norway? And what is life like there for the residents living in a country inside a country?
Let's travel to Barentsburg to investigate & explore this rather unique settlement, meet its people and discover more about life in this incredibly unusual place.
To get to Barentsburg we took an hours boat ride from Longyearbyen (the biggest town in Svalbard) which is under Norwegian control, over to Barentsburg (the second-biggest town in Svalbard) which is under Russian control. The two towns may be close physically be they feel like they are worlds apart.
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Hey everyone! Two things, firstly, we would love to know, have you heard of Barentsburg before? 🤔
And secondly (our favourite question), where are you watching from? 😍❤
First great video as always 🙂👍 Yes I have heard about it since Sweden built the first city there what I know, the name of the city was Pyramiden and later sold to Soviet so therefor been little interested of the whole Svalbard. Also my daughter is born far north in Norway so that subject came up from time to time with other people there 🙂
Thank you so much 🥰🙌🏼
How interesting! We heard that the Soviets bought both Pyramiden and Barentsburg, because they were unprofitable, and still were after the purchase (and up until this day) 😮
Lots of love from the both of us ❤️
Done watching am from Philippines
Wow, must be late there ⏰
Love to the Philippines! 🇵🇭 ❤️
Watching from Bangkok with love :)
Thank you for sharing! I would love to see it during the winter and Northern Lights!
You and us both! 😄😍
Once again a fascinating video! You two are travel vloggers extraordinaires. Keep educating the world on the places seldom seen. Thank you and stay safe.
Thank you so much! That means the world! We will try ❤️🥰🙌🏼
Wow! Barentsburg is a lot more beautiful than I imagined it to be. I loved the way the buildings were painted. I hope and wish to reach Svalbard someday. ☮️
Glad we could share it with you! ❤️🙌🏼
Lots and lots of great content in this one! Thank you for continuing to share your magical life journeys, Matt & Julia! ❤
Watching from Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺
PLEEEEEASE tell me yall got a chance to hang out with Cecilia, Kristofer and Grimm! Along with you guys they are some of my favorite youtubers and you are on their island! It’s cool seeing you talk about places they have previously taken us! It’s so cool to hear your take on these places!
Absolutely love Cecilia!! Hopefully they’ve connected
You live extremely interesting lives, so many places where you find yourself, it's remarkable. Matt seems to be very gallant and has an eye for history as well. It's beautiful to watch how you complement each other.
Thank you so much! We really appreciate it the lovely comment! 🥰❤️
@@MattandJulia I forgot to add that I have heard of Svalbard, but under the name "Špicberky" and I am following you from Prague, Czech Republic. I think you mentioned in some video that you also visited us in the past.
How interesting, very similar to “Spitsbergen” but more funky sounding 😌
Ahhh, our favourite city in Europe! We have visited Prague 4/5 times now I think, some of our friends used to live there, we think your city is incredible ❤️😍
@@MattandJulia That's nice, thank you very much for the feedback, Prague is really a magical place where I live my whole life☺️.
Thanks for taking us along - very interesting.
Really glad you enjoyed it! Cheers 🙏🏼❤️
To your questions: No, Ozarks region of USA
🙌🏼 Just checked out the Ozark mountains - wow! 😍
Hi from Scotland, lived in Russia in 1996 volunteering in Social work, love your videos
Thank you! Love to Bonny Scotland 🏴❤️
Excellent vlog. Hats off to you both!
How fascinating - would have loved to hear from Natasha what she is doing there work-wise etc - thanks for taking us along on your adventures
It's like a piece of the Soviet Union got frozen in time.
For sure, in every sense of the phrase 🙃
You have got to see it in the winter…it’s truly a sight to behold. I’ve been there numerous times and it’s possibly my favorite place on Svalbard. And I see you met Wolfgang…he’s a mainstay there and a lot of fun
Barentsburg is not on my bucket list. BUT. So glad you were able to visit there and share your visit. It seems barren and boring at first glance; then you two show the art, the museum, the landscape, tell us the history, show the huskies and bring humanity and kindness into the story. I was amazed to hear there were so many people from Central Asia there. Escaping the extreme heat of their native countries summers? One point Matt: 20 UK pounds for lunch for 2 at a French autoroute cafeteria would be cheap. The food would be better, however, and you could get a glass of good wine, too! (or a beer). Your sharing of places most of us may never visit is heart warming. With fondest memories of visiting Uzbekistan with you, from near Paris, France. Bises! And look forward to all your future videos. Merci mes amies! Merci.
Really glad you enjoyed it Linda! Sending lots of love! ❤️🇫🇷
Svalbard is on my bucket list. It's so beautiful there!
What a lovely video!❤ I love your style!
Thank you so much Cathie 🥰❤️
Thanks for the tour! I have not heard of Barentsburg, but it looks like a fun place to visit. Watching from Portland, Oregon, USA.
Glad you enjoyed it 🥰❤️
Thank you for sharing with us this kind of places !! Watching from Switzerland
Love to beautiful Switzerland! ❤️
Hello dynamic duo! No, I had never heard of Barentsburg, yes
of Pyramid. I am back in Buenos Aires after a week in Uruguay. How interesting that piece of Russia (or almost of the USSR) on that island! I know that Norway is closing the coal mines but Russia will continue to exploit them for several more years, is there any pollution in the air from the use of coal? Everything seems so clean.
When I saw the arctic fox I was reminded of when Christiane Ritter tried to save a fox that had become accustomed to approaching her. The food depended on the animals they could hunt in those days, now they have supermarkets full of what they might need. I look forward to the new chapter from that dream place! Love to both of you!
Hey Alejandro! 👋🏻 How was the trip to Uruguay? 🇺🇾
Yeah, apparently the last Norwegian will close in the next few years 🤷🏻 Actually no, the chimney is quite small so thankfully the air still feels very fresh (although perhaps it would be different if the wind blew across from the chimney).
Us too, and we thought about the other incident with a fox in that book 😄😕
Can’t wait to share the next video, we think, it’s a special one. Lots of love from the both of us! ❤️🥰
Hola Alejandro!!! I'm surprised there were no yurts! Wink wink! Indeed, a dynamic duo. Well said! Hugs from France nuestro amigo! Linda y Pierre
I don't think I could get used to the forever sun. After a week I would be going nuts. But what an absolutely beautiful place.
I think the polar night would be even harder, would love to experience it though! ❤️
Oh my word. That was amazing! What a quant town/village. I do hope they are able to restore many of the buildings and bring life back. I can see why you both love it there so much. Thank you for taking us with you. Can't wait to see where you both go next.
Thank you so much for coming along with us! ❤️🙏🏼
Unbelievable, interesting and educational. I never knew about this town. Living in US.
This is another great video thank you
Thank you Jimmy! Really appreciate it! 🥰😍
So interstimg!! Watching from Auckland, New Zealand 😊
Really glad you enjoyed it! Love to New Zealand! 🇳🇿❤️
Locked in time...what a great place to visit. Thanks from WI usa.
So glad we could share it with you! 🙏🏼❤️
18:30 Cladded like this makes me think of Grenfell 😞
Thank goodness those buildings are so short and therefore comply with the inflammatory properties of this ‘cosmetic’ facelift 🙏
I love that you 2 go to these unusual place that many of us never heard of.
Thank you so much for coming with us! ❤️
Skyscraper??? WOW, that is some creative writing!
Haha, it was very high for something built on permafrost, at the time 😄
Never heard of it before had to look it up. Amazed that you got permission to fly the drone all over intresting
Really glad we could share it with you! ❤️
Very interesting place, I’d ever heard of. I really enjoy the unusual places you share with us. From Cape Town, South Africa. 👍🏻
Thank you for coming along with us! ❤️
Truly amazing as is usual... I had no idea, thank you both !
Thank you so much John, really glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
Best television ever! What a place, what a video. Thank you! Greetings from Denmark 🙏
Thank you for your support, really appreciate it! ❤️
Great video, watching from Chingford in North East London
Thank you very much Paul! 🙏🏼 Love to sunny NE London! ❤️
Such an interesting place. I had heard of it but this is the first I have seen. You do great work. You two are great intrepid travelers.
Thank you so much Kate! ❤️🙏🏼
Never heard of the place. Once again a fab video, taking us places we've never been before. Just getting better and better. ❤❤
Thank you so much for coming! ❤️🙌🏼
No, never heard of such a place. Looks miserable. Thank you for showing us such an interesting place.
From Las Vegas Nevada, USA
Amazing video. You are fantastic.🪻💕🍀
So glad you enjoyed it Gabriella! ❤️🥰
So... a Russian city with Russians and Ukrainans under Norwegian laws in EU.
Peacfully co-exist with polar bears and whoever want to join in a sauna before they go home petting a an arctic fox.
I need a bottle of Vodka now. Thank you for this UNREAL reality. And welcom to Russway - I guess.
(I have been there in 1976) It still is fantastic.
Haha, it’s certainly a paradox of a place ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing with us. I find Svalbard to be fascinating. Barentsburg is intriguing
Thank you so much for coming along with us! ❤️🙏🏼
THANKS FOR SHARING......great video ...watching from South Africa......so cool that everyone there get along so well concidaring what is happening back home JULIA
Really glad we could share it with you! ❤️🙏🏼
Hallo Matt &Julia. Never heard of the place. Live in Norwich England😀
Lots of love to Norwich 🥰❤️
awesome adventure you two....
Brilliant video, these people are so hardy to live so remote.
For sure, it takes a strong will especially during the winter months ❤️
Thank for touring Barentsburg. Very interesting. Great views.
Thank you for coming along! ❤️
Makes me shiver jut to think of being there 😒 highly enjoyable and interesting video though. Keep safe guys, you're an asset to the World 😊👍❤️❤️
Thank you so much Nigel, really appreciate it! ❤️🙏🏼
Watching your vlogs from Lahore-Pakistan 🇵🇰. Love it!
Have you met Cecilia blomdahl she lives on Svalbard and has a RUclips channel?✌️❤️🇬🇧
No we haven’t met her, but she has a great channel 🥰
Very interesting and thanks for sharing with us
Thank you so much for being with us! 🙏🏼
Matt and Julia, i never knew anything about this city. It like it frozen in time. Never the less it's a teachin video to me. I was laughing when Matt was complaining about the cost of just going out to ge a bite to eat here in the good old USA my wife and I go out to eat breakfast we pay 35.00 to 40.00 so the cost of leaving here is very high. But I love to see your videos. Please take care, thanks 😊 Usa Id.
Haha, I know and I would expect it in the USA, and certain parts of Europe, but it just ‘caught me off guard’ a little bit 😄
Thank you so much ❤️🙏🏼
Brilliant thank you ♥♥
Thank you ❤️🙌🏼
All these places I’ve never even imagined. The views are amazing but oh it looks so bleak. Probably looks very pretty in winter with the colourful buildings. It’s heartwarming to know the locals are restoring slowly. Makes my small outback Australian town look like a metropolis hehe. 👋🏻👋🏻 cu next week 🥰
The sun doesn't rise during the winter months (oct-feb), so it's night for almost five months at a time. I think the colorful buildings will look much nicer when the sun is up.
Thank you Miriam 🥰 I think it is most beautiful around March-April when the snow is on the ground and the sun has risen ❤️🙏🏼
👍you two do a great job love your videos it is so interesting to see how people live and work in all these far off places around the world. keep it up ill always be here watching from california
Thank you so much! Love to California! ❤️🙏🏼
Thank you for sharing such unique experiences with us! Yeah, I also love and really miss the Russian-style canteen where you can find quick and affordable comfort food. Apparently, affordability is not the case here, lol 😂🥰
Haha, for sureeee! When you hear “Stolovaya”, you definitely don’t think £20 for two bits of chicken and some pasta 😮😅❤️
Oh not so far from Gatwick !
Julia, are you a fan of the music of Dmitri Hvorostovsky, a Russian from Krasnoyarsk who was almost certainly the greatest baritone in the world. When he died (far too young) of cancer in 2017, he left a treasure trove of recordings and videotapes of his performances. Although he was best known outside of Russia for his work in opera, I prefer his recordings of Russian folk songs and song of war (specifically, his recordings of "Cranes" and of "The Nightingale"). Russian music reaches deep into my soul, and I am so grateful that the work of this great artist remains for us to savor.
Excellent insight yet again, so interesting.
Thank you so much ❤️🥰
OMG the doggo's🥰🥰🥰
They were the sweetest! 😍
At @8:15 you travel in Russia and you bring no Rubles along!?!?!? Oy! Anyway, thank you for the visit to Barentsburg. It is pretty there. Very enjoyable journey.
I mean, it isn’t really Russia, but if we knew in advance that they would have accepted Rubles and it would have been cheaper, then we would have brought some 😄❤️
@@MattandJulia Fortunately that shop associate was flexible / accommodating. Researching Svalbard a bit more, I find that is the location of the seed archive / library. I had heard of it, just had no idea it was located so remotely. So did you fly up via SAS airlines, then take a boat around to Barentsburg?
Barentsburg is like a beautiful painting. How the town looks against the blue sky considering how remote it is. What time of the day did you go to sleep ? How did feel for you guys.
Sending much love❤️❤️ from Harriet, Jim and Yuki ,currently at Bethany Beach , Delaware
It is was incredibly difficult to sleep when we arrived at first but it became easier after a few days. We were probably going to sleep around midnight (on average) 😊
Sending you guys lots of love from both of us ❤️❤️❤️
The canteen price is very comparable to US prices. 🤷♀️
Oh yeah, I’m sure, and to Norway more generally, however, it isn’t at all comparable to ‘Russian canteens’ 😄
great video thank you
So glad you enjoyed it!❤️🙏🏼
Another amazing experience!!
Thank you Linda! ❤️
Gosh, I love your videos!
Thank you so much!!! ❤️🙏🏼
Greetings to Svalbard from the *Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station* .
Not only was this interesting I also thought it beautifully presented.
Thank you so much, that means the world!! ❤️🙏🏼
This place kinda looks Abandoned but also nice, also I love cold weather so this is actually a nice Town
Glad we could share it with you!
It’s a pleasant surprise to see you visiting the Russian town, it’s less featured in vlogs, I thought it got deserted after sanctions.
Glad we could share it! ❤️🙏🏼
The one thing I love about Russians is the colour of the buildings...😊😘
Haha, this isn’t very common tbf 😅
Really find these type of vlogs so interesting, thanks for showing us! I do feel always so sad when I see scenes like the one with the fish, watching through the screen how the fish is struggling. Images like that stick with me and they never (not specifically on this channel, just anywhere) come with a warning. I might be a soft vegan but it just saddens me to see it, not only knowing about it but knowing a camera is filming the poor creature... However I do find your videos very interesting always, so I do thank you for that
We are really glad you enjoyed the video and found it interesting despite the fish scene 😘❤️
I'm wondering what is so valuable that they mine it here? I always pictured Russia having all the mineral wealth they would ever need so what is this mystery? It has to be very expensive to operate this little town and ship it from there.
For sure. The town actually runs at a loss, and always has done, but Russia (& previously the USSR) is in Svalbard and will most likely stay there for its strategic importance 🙂
@@MattandJulia so the mineral will remain a secret?
It is coal
I imagine the mining company subsidises the prices for local workers,as they should really for their sacrifices.
Very nice
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙌🏼
So two questions the first is where do you go to get transportation to barensburg from Longyearbyen? And how often are those boat rides? Likewise for coming back to Longyearbyen from barensburg? And since this town is Russian occupied do you need a Russian Visa? I would like to visit here the following summer! Thanks in advanced, great content 🙌🏼
Very nice
Thank you! 🙌🏼
@@MattandJulia 🙏🤗🇮🇳 maam you live from russia right 🤗🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🙏
wow! how on earth do you get there? do you need a passport? russian visa?
No, just a quick boat ride from Longyearbyen, which can be booked there.
No visa required, Barentsburg is officially Norway, and Svalbard is special in that it is a visa-free territory for everyone 🥰
@@MattandJulia thanks! Definitely going there next summer!
Very interesting ❤
❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼
Are you going to visit Brazil some day?
Absolutely! ⚽️💃🏼🇧🇷❤️
From California I wonder are you going to meet Cecilia Blomdahl ? I watch both your channels. ❤❤❤
Love to California! ❤️ Unfortunately not this trip, but maybe next time 🥰
I paid 50.00 in Barrow Alaska for 2 Burriitos and two cokes. The local prices weremuch lower and they had two sode by side restaurants.
Wow, crazy! But I guess the local economies need it 🙏🏼
It has a strange poetic feel about it. And for once, I am glad they are not trying to erase the past. Show it, learn from it and don´t try to delete it...
For sure, history, however one feels about it, should never be forgotten ❤️
What a place!
❤️❤️❤️
Nice 👍! But how do they get their electricity?
Through the factory powered by the coal mine😘
Hello! I have been to Barentsburg once. I remember that the mobile network was russian so it would have costed a lot for me to use it. I’m watching from Stockholm, Sweden.
It is Norwegian nowadays, however, you can still only get Russian TV. Love to Stockholm! ❤️🙏🏼
Passeport contrôle and visa needed to go there from Norway?
Watching from France
Thanks for that great video
Merci beaucoup! ❤️
Sort of, it is still officially Norway. But, when you fly to Svalbard from Oslo or Tromso, you will go through passport control.
This is because, although it is technically a domestic flight, Svalbard is not part of the ‘Schengen area’ (and the rest of Norway is).
But once you land in Longyearbyen, there no more checks for Barentsburg. You just a short boat ride from Longyearbyen.
@@MattandJulia so I don’t t need a Russian visa 👍
No you don’t 😊
best welcome thousand like and wonderful love......... Russia..... O.Sadharan. Russia modelling best..... O.Sadharan wonderful scenery....... 🇧🇩🇧🇩💜💜💜💜💜♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💙💙💙💙💙💖💖💖💖❤️❤️❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘
Pyramiden was originally a Swedish mining site/town that was sold to Russia. You should go there
Check back for the next video 😌😉
The hotel looks quite nice for being in the edge of nowhere
Indeed, it was built in the Soviet times but recently renovated 😊
It needs a bingo hall !
Everywhere needs a bingo hall! ❤️🙌🏼
I am a longtime @Matt and Julia (RUclips) follower from Portland, Oregon USA. Through at least one RUclips video about Barentsburg on the channel of Cecilia, a Swede living in Longyearbyen, I am somewhat familiar with that town. Your scenes of Barentsburg show what appears to be (from the symbol above it) a Russian Orthodox Church. I assume it must be from pre- or post-Soviet times. Did you visit that building? Could you tell (or show) us anything about it? Thank you.
The church is a post-Soviet addition yeah, they have a settlement priest and still have services there 😘❤️
Thank you, this was very interesting. I didn´t know it exist, and I´m living in Sweden.
Love to beautiful Sweden 😍🇸🇪
@@MattandJulia thank you
You don’t carry a gun for polar bear’s when walking outdoors
Matt and Julia I’ve been watching the channel for quite some time and I just want to ask how does Matt and BRIT know how to speak Russian so well I mean you guys are a young couple and I know you guys haven’t been together that long so how does he speak it so well so fast? Or is he just a genius? Just thought I’d ask cause I really want to know
And just 1 more thing I’ve been married to the same woman for over 33yrs now and I’m 53 the thing I want you guys to know is this I’m not getting on you 2 but seriously you guys working together and spending all time together is good but then again it’s not you 2 will need a break from each other so think about that cause too much is not healthy I know trust me do separate things!
We have been together 11 years now so I have had plenty of practice time 😌 (although pretty sure I’m a genius too! 😉)
And we actually went on separate trips earlier this year to allow each other some alone time 🙏🏼
Any polar bear concerns or steps to protect yourself?
If you leave the settlement you need an armed guard, but within the settlement you can move freely (although there is still a chance polar bears may come in to town)
У меня друг здесь работал неколько лет назад дизайнером. Там был всеми любимый белый мм
медведь. Передайте ему привет если еще жив
Ого, как интересно)
What no polar bears in your video.😱😂
Hahaha, they were shy (thankfully!) 😌
29:18 Мне показалось, или у Юлии акцент появился. :)
😄😄😄❤️
Hello Matte and Julia more subtitles please. From Greece.
Hi to Greece! 😊You mean for our Russian to English? Or for when we are talking in English? ❤️
@@MattandJulia I mean Greek subtitles because I don't understand English. Thank you.
We will try to sort some 🙏🏼❤️
@@MattandJulia Thank you very much!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤you frnd.
❤️❤️❤️
We should all live in peace and friendship with Russia, and normal people like "Countryside Acres" in Nishny Novgorod, a large Christian Farmer Family from Manitoulin Island-Ontario demonstrate how it's done. So your video is also very important to build bridges between warring Parties, and start Renconciliations. We are all humans and should behave accordingly, just listen and learn from likemindet explorers like you two. Subscribed and liked, Greetings from the Central Georgian Bay - Ontario.