Pyramiden was a Soviet Mining settlement in Svalbard, Norway, 79 degrees north of the Equator. That's high, high up in the artic circle. Norway has absolute soveriegnty over the group of islands, but other signatory countries to the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 are allowed to use them for commerical activities. Sweden began mining operations at Pyramiden (named for the Pyramid shaped mountain that dominates the skyline) in 1910 and then sold them to mining companies from the Soviet Union in 1927. In the late 1940s it was developed into a full scale mining settlement by Trust Arktikugol, a giant Russian Mining company. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Pyramiden was a grand embodiment of Soviet social ambitions, with a family-centric population of over 1,000, a library with over 50,00 books, and a large sports and cultural centre, including a cinema/theatre that showed movies every night of the week. It was also self-reliant and from 1958, food was free of charge and in abundance, thanks to regular shipments from the mainland and its own production of milk, meat, eggs and vegetables (grown in a greenhouse). In addition to this, between 1955 and 1998 Pyramiden shipped over 9 million tonnes of coal. In 1998, the mining operations were deemed economically unsustainable and the settlement was abandoned, with the inhabitants being told to pack their things and prepare to leave within a few hours. Everything that wasn't absolutely necessary to take was left behind.

Now, Polar Bears, Reindeer and thousands of Seagulls are the only residents, along with a transient population of 5 or so humans (that must carry a gun at all times due to the Polar Bears), who are slowly upgrading facilities at Pyramiden to accomodate tourists. The entire library of 50,000 books remains untouched, and what is probably the northernmost grand piano in the world (a Red Oktober) sits in the cultural centre, decaying and unplayed.

You can read more about Pyramiden at the Norwegian Polar Institute homepage here.

 

Today the world has a new country, so everyone, meet South Sudan. South Sudan, this is everyone.

After a referendum earlier this year voted overwhelmingly in favour of separation from Sudan after decades of internal struggle and civil war that has claimed the lives of millions, today was the first day for the world's youngest (though still one of the most poorest and unstable) nations. Congratulations, South Sudan. You made it.

You can read more about South Sudan and its history here in this profile at The New York Times (nytimes.com).

I'm going to be heading out on the southern roads again with Aron in August, and will be posting some dates up soon, so keep an eye on the gig guide. In the meantime, I'm heading back to New York City soon, and will be playing a couple of solo shows there in a couple of weeks. Check the gig guide for details.