Far north of mainland Norway lies Svalbard, a rugged chain of Arctic islands. Its main town, Longyearbyen, is one of the northernmost settlements on Earth. It's also the subject of some wild rumors online, including claims that you can't be born there, or that dying there is against the law.
Here's what's actually true. It is not illegal to die in Longyearbyen. That popular claim is misleading. The town simply doesn't allow burials, and people who are terminally ill are usually required to move to the mainland. The town has only a small hospital clinic and no nursing care services, so residents rely on mainland Norway for much of their medical care.
The Bodies That Wouldn't Decay
The no-burial rule has a surprising origin. In 1918, eleven people in town were killed by the Spanish flu, and a graveyard was set up. The burial ground was used until 1950, with 44 people buried there.
Then came an unsettling discovery. Because the ground is permafrost, frozen year-round, the bodies were not decomposing. Scientists worried they might still preserve microorganisms, and today some are concerned the bodies of the 1918 flu victims could still harbor the virus. Since then, bodies have been sent to the mainland for burial. Ashes can be buried locally, with government permission.
Other Rules You Won't Find Elsewhere
Health care works differently, too. The local clinic, Longyearbyen Hospital, is run by the University Hospital of North Norway, and there are no care or nursing services or welfare payments in town. Norwegian residents keep their pension and medical rights through their hometowns on the mainland.
Because it's so remote, Longyearbyen has laws found in few other places. Bringing in most live mammals and birds is prohibited. There's also a limit on how much alcohol each person can buy per month.
And then there are the polar bears. Anyone heading outside the settlement is recommended to carry a rifle for protection. It's not a joke. The bears are a real part of life there.
A Town Built on Coal
Longyearbyen was founded by an American, John Munro Longyear, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining there in 1906. It was called Longyear City until 1926. A Norwegian company took over the mines in 1916.
The town's history wasn't gentle. In 1943, during World War II, German warships, including the battleship Tirpitz, bombarded it. Only four buildings survived, including the hospital and the power station. The town was rebuilt after the war.
Today, about 2,400 to 2,800 people live there. Coal mining has wound down, and tourism and research have grown. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure backup of the world's crop seeds, is located on the same island.
Anyone Can Move There, With a Catch
Svalbard has another unusual rule: no one needs a visa or residence permit to live there. Under the Svalbard Treaty, people of many nationalities can live and work there indefinitely.
There is a catch, though. Residents must be able to support themselves, and the Governor of Svalbard can turn away people without a source of income.
So no, Svalbard isn't a place where life's milestones are against the law. It's a remote Arctic town where the frozen ground, the long distance to the mainland, and a few roaming polar bears shape everyday rules in ways the rest of us rarely think about.
