Pyramiden
A coal-mining town founded by Sweden in 1910 and bought by the Soviet Union in 1927. It had a palace of culture, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, greenhouses, and what is said to be the world's northernmost statue of Lenin, and in the 1980s about a thousand people lived here. Mining ended in March 1998, and by October of the same year no permanent residents remained. The cold, dry climate has slowed the decay of the buildings, and much of the equipment is still in place. A hotel now operates here, and a small staff stays during the summer. Polar bears roam the area, so if you visit, go with a tour.
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