View source for Pyramiden

{{for|the Greenlandic mountain|Pyramiden (Greenland)}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Pyramiden
|native_name            = {{native name|ru|Пирамида|paren=omit}}
|nickname               =
|settlement_type        = [[Ghost town]]
|motto                  =
|image_skyline          = File:Piramida Svalbard IMG 7344.JPG
|imagesize              = 250
|image_caption          = Pyramiden in 2012
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|pushpin_map            = Svalbard
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|pushpin_map_caption    =
|pushpin_mapsize        = 200
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[Norway]]
|subdivision_type1      = Territory
|subdivision_name1      = [[Svalbard]]
|subdivision_type2      = Island
|subdivision_name2      = [[Spitsbergen]]
|subdivision_type3      =
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|government_type        =
|leader_title           = Administration
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|leader_title1          =  <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
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|established_title      = Founded
|established_date       =
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|population_as_of       = 2016
|population_total       = 6 (During summer)
|postal_code_type       = [[Postal codes in Norway|Postal code]]
|postal_code            = 9179<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.posten.no/en/sending/domestic/svalbard|title=Svalbard and Jan Mayen – pricing and customs rules|publisher=[[Posten Bring]]|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref>
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|coordinates       = {{coord|78|39|22|N|16|19|30|E|region:SJ|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Pyramiden coal mine sign.jpg|thumb|White writing above the abandoned coal mine. It says "Peace to the world!" in Russian ({{interlanguage link|Peace to the world!|lt=Миру мир!|ru|Миру_—_мир!}}). The phrase was commonly used in Soviet state-owned projects.]]
[[File:Pyramiden Svalbard buiobuione.jpg|thumb|Company sign]]
[[File:Pyramiden_case_dei_minatori_buiobuione.jpg|thumb|Abandoned buildings]]
[[File:Pyramiden_palestra_per_i_minatori_buiobuione.jpg|thumb|Gym inside the Pyramiden miners' housing complex]]

'''Pyramiden''' ({{IPA|no|pʏrɑˈmîːdn̩|lang}}; {{lang-rus|Пирами́да|r=Piramída|p=pʲɪrɐˈmʲidə}}; literally 'The Pyramid') is an abandoned [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[coal mining]] settlement on the Norwegian archipelago of [[Svalbard]] which has become a tourist destination. Founded by [[Sweden]] in 1910 and sold to the Soviet Union in 1927, Pyramiden was closed in 1998 and has since remained largely abandoned with most of its infrastructure and buildings still in place, the cold climate preserving much of the infrastructure left behind.

Since 2007, there have been efforts to make it a tourist attraction; the town's hotel was renovated and reopened in 2013. In the summer, there is a population of six caretakers.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXwUnp4Yjsw&t Pyramiden 2016 film]</ref>

== History ==
Pyramiden was founded by Sweden in 1910<ref>{{cite web |last1=Overrein |first1=Øystein |last2=Henriksen |first2=Jørn |last3=Johansen |first3=Bjørn Fossli |last4=Prestvold |first4=Kristin |title=Pyramiden [78° 39.3' N 16° 20' E] |url=http://cruise-handbook.npolar.no/en/isfjorden/pyramiden.html |website=The Cruise Handbook for Svalbard |publisher=Norwegian Polar Institute |access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> and sold to the [[Soviet Union]] in 1927.<ref name=sweocc>[http://popularhistoria.se/artiklar/sveriges-okanda-ockupation/ Sveriges okända ockupation]. Populär Historia, 14 March 2001. {{retrieved|access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref> It lies at the foot of the [[Billefjorden]] on the island of [[Spitsbergen]] and is named after the pyramid-shaped mountain with the same name adjacent to the town.<ref name=nikak/> The nearest settlements are [[Svalbard]]'s capital, [[Longyearbyen]], some {{convert|50|km}} to the south, [[Barentsburg]] approximately {{convert|100|km}} southwest and the small research community of [[Ny-Ålesund]], {{convert|100|km}} to the west. In Soviet times, the population was mostly Ukrainian, consisting of miners from the [[Donbas]] and staff from [[Volyn Oblast|Volyn]].<ref>{{Cite book|first=Maxim [Максим Беспалов] |last=Bespalov  | year=2017 |script-title=uk:Український Шпіцберген |trans-title=Ukrainian Spitsbergen |language=uk |location=Kyïv |publisher=Tempora |pages=162–169 |isbn=978-617-569-316-2 }}</ref><ref name="LB.ua">[https://ukr.lb.ua/society/2016/09/22/345871_ostriv_shpitsbergen_mistse_de.html Остров Шпицберген: место, где не рождаются и не умирают люди]</ref>

Owned by the state-owned Russian mining company [[Arktikugol]], which also owns the settlement of [[Barentsburg]], Pyramiden once had over 1,000 inhabitants. Among its amenities were a cultural centre with a theater, a library, art and music studios; a sports complex; and a cantina open 24&nbsp;hours a day.<ref name="CDickey2015">{{cite web |last1=Dickey |first1=Colin |title=The Cold Rim of the World |url=https://longreads.com/2015/03/18/the-cold-rim-of-the-world/ |website=Longreads |access-date=22 May 2021 |date=March 2015}}</ref> It also had a primary school.<ref name=Umbreit2005>{{cite book|last=Umbreit|first=Andreas |title=Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TExU1p6Cy20C|accessdate=21 May 2021|edition=3rd|year=2005|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|location=Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks|isbn=978-1-84162-092-3}}</ref>{{RP|200}} The northernmost monument to [[Vladimir Lenin]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ham |first=Anthony |date=20 June 2022 |title=The abandoned Soviet mining town in Norway's Arctic |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220620-pyramiden-an-abandoned-soviet-mining-town-in-the-arctic }}</ref> and the northernmost swimming pool were also found here.<ref name=nikak>{{Cite magazine|last=Sokolov-Mitrich |first=Dimitri [Дмитрий Соколов-Митрич] |date=22 October 2009 |script-title=ru:Архипелаг никак |trans-title=The No-Way Archipelago |magazine=Русский Репортёр [Russian Reporter] |issue=40 (119) |language=ru |url=https://expert.ru/russian_reporter/2009/40/shpicbergen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905230840/https://expert.ru/russian_reporter/2009/40/shpicbergen/ |archive-date=5 September 2016 }}</ref>

In 1996, a [[Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801|charter flight for Arktikugol crashed]] on the approach to [[Svalbard Airport]] with the loss of 141 lives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exploring Pyramiden & Barentsburg (Svalbard / Шпицбе́рген) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzGROhnnF0M  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/LzGROhnnF0M| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |access-date=22 May 2021 |format=Video |date=7 December 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Between 1955 and 1998, as much as nine million tonnes of coal were extracted from the mine.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pyramiden Coal Mine, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway |publisher=Mindat |url=https://www.mindat.org/loc-14287.html }}</ref> Mining ceased on 31 March 1998 and the settlement closed that same year. The last permanent resident departed on 10 October, leaving Pyramiden as a [[ghost town]].<ref name=Nuwer2014>{{cite web|last=Nuwer|first=Rachel|author-link=Rachel Nuwer|title=A Soviet Ghost Town in the Arctic Circle, Pyramiden Stands Alone|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/soviet-ghost-town-arctic-circle-pyramiden-stands-alone-180951429/?no-ist|work=Smithsonian Magazine|date=19 May 2014|access-date=27 May 2014}}</ref>

Until 2007, the former settlement remained uninhabited and largely untouched. The buildings' interiors remained largely as they were when the settlement was abandoned.<ref name="BBC2000">{{cite news |last1=Kirby |first1=Alex |title=Pulling out of Pyramiden |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/905956.stm |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2 September 2000}}</ref> In 2012, [[Aleksandr Romanovsky]] became the first person to return to live in Pyramiden. He has since been joined by five others. Romanovsky, a musician and tour guide in the settlement, has called himself the "world's most northern head-banger". Romanovsky has lived for years on his own in this abandoned town.<ref>{{cite web |last=Beazley |first=David |date=10 October 2016 |title=Pyramiden, Population 6: The Soviet ghost town frozen in time |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXwUnp4Yjsw |access-date=22 May 2021 |website=YouTube |format=Video}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beazley |first=David |date=9 May 2016 |title=Pyramiden: population 6. The Soviet ghost town frozen in time high in the Arctic {{!}} Aeon Videos |url=https://aeon.co/videos/pyramiden-population-6-the-soviet-ghost-town-frozen-in-time-high-in-the-arctic |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Aeon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beazley |first=David |date=4 October 2016 |title=Pyramiden: population 6 |url=https://vimeo.com/185525719}}</ref>

On 27 August 2019, the world's northernmost film festival was held in Pyramiden, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of [[Cinema of the Soviet Union|Soviet cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 June 2019 |script-title=ru:Новосибирец оказался на острове за полярным кругом и открыл древний кинотеатр |trans-title=Novosibirsk [Novosibirsk's Stanislav Schubert] found himself on an island beyond the Arctic Circle and reopened an ancient cinema |language=ru |publisher=NGS (Shkulev Media Holding) |url=https://news.ngs.ru/more/66137569/ }} NGS News Report on film festival.</ref>

In 2022, Russia announced new investment plans to support its presence in Pyramiden and [[Barentsburg]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Kenneth |date=17 December 2022 |title=A Battle for the Arctic Is Underway. And the U.S. Is Already Behind. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/17/climate-change-arctic-00071169 |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Politico}}</ref>

== Preservation ==
Pyramiden is accessible by boat or [[snowmobile]] from [[Longyearbyen]], either as part of a guided tour or independently. There is also the [[Pyramiden Heliport]]. There are no restrictions on visiting Pyramiden, but visitors are not allowed to enter any buildings without permission even if they are open. While most buildings are now locked, breaking into the buildings, vandalism and theft of artefacts have become a serious threat to Pyramiden as it contributes to the accelerating deterioration of the buildings.<ref name="Umbreit2005" />{{RP|182}}<ref name="svalbardposten" />

Pyramiden is maintained as a tourist destination by Arctic Travel Company Grumant, a division of [[Arktikugol]]. Tours through many buildings are available upon request at the Pyramiden Hotel. The movie theatre has been restored to fully functioning, and movies may now be booked on request. An archive of over 1000 [[Cinema of the Soviet Union|Soviet films]] is preserved in the storerooms on the site.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://arctic.ru/tourism/20200814/962453.html|title=Northernmost movie theater reopens on Spitsbergen|website=Arctic.ru|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>

Since 2007, Arktikugol has been renovating the hotel and upgrading the infrastructure, including building a new power station with diesel generators, in order to accommodate tourists in the old settlement. Up to 30 workers have been living in the settlement year round to maintain the facilities and guide tourists visiting from Longyearbyen.<ref>[http://ruinmemories.org/2012/08/back-in-pyramiden-svalbard/ Back in Pyramiden, Svalbard] {{webarchive|url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130618024857/http://ruinmemories.org/2012/08/back-in-pyramiden-svalbard/ |date=2013-06-18 }}. Elin Andreassen and Hein B. Bjerck, Ruin Memories. {{retrieved|access-date=2013-04-04}}</ref>

{{Asof|2013}}, the Pyramiden hotel has been reopened and it is possible to stay overnight in Pyramiden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snl.no/Pyramiden|title=Pyramiden|website=[[Store Norske Leksikon]]|language=no|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> The hotel also houses the [[Pyramiden Museum]] as well as a post office and a souvenir shop. There was a small hotel built of old shipping containers near the harbour, but this has closed since the hotel is now renovated and open for guests.<ref name="svalbardposten">[http://svalbardposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=3273 Nytt liv for Pyramiden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075720/http://svalbardposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=3273 |date=29 November 2014 }}. Svalbardposten, 6 April 2013. {{retrieved|access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> There are no plans to renovate and reopen the whole settlement.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last = Andreassen|first = E.|display-authors = etal|date = 2010|title = Persistent Memories: Pyramiden, a Soviet mining town in the high Arctic|location = Trondheim|publisher = Tapir Academic Press|isbn = 9788251924368}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{wikivoyage-inline}}
* {{commonscat-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181103115027/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/top-ghost-towns-around-the-world/ World's Top Ghost Towns]

{{Svalbard}}
{{Historic Mines of Norway}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}


[[Category:Pyramiden| ]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Company towns in Norway]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Svalbard]]
[[Category:Ghost towns in Europe]]
[[Category:Mining communities in Norway]]
[[Category:Russian diaspora in Norway]]
[[Category:Norway–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Svalbard]]