More Photo Galleries
2WW veteran. Photo: Atle Staalesen
More than 700 local school kids were on site and performed songs. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Northern Fleet Commander Aleksandr Moiseev. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Yunarmya representatives first time abroad. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Dancing in Sámi, Russian and Norwegian fold costumes for distinguished guests. Photo: Atle Staalesen
The local musicians. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Foreign ministers greet Norwegian, Russian footballers. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Sergey Lavrov arrives for bilateral talks. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Sergey Lavrov, Ine Eriksen Søreide and Erna Solberg. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Sergey Lavrov, Ine Eriksen Søreide and King Harald of Norway. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Click on gallery to see more photos. Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Click on gallery to see more photos. Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Click on gallery to see more photos. Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Click on gallery to see more photos. Photo: Northern Fleet press service
Click on gallery to see more photos. Photo: Northern Fleet press service
A "person" rescued from sea. Click on the photo for more gallery images. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The scenario for the Norwegian, Russian Exercise Barents 2019 is an explosion on tanker in the maritime border areas between the Varanger Peninsula and the Fishermen peninsula. Planes and ships are searching the area for 28 missing 'persons' in the sea. Here, a Russian military Iluchin-38, normally used in anti-submarine operations. On sea, the Northern Fleet's ship "Altay" and FSB border guard ship "Zapolariye". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The annual exercise was this year led by the Russian side. Captain on bridge on Russia's Marine Rescue Service North Branch show the maritime area for search. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Captain on bridge of the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland" in radio contact with the Norwegian resources for the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Crew members on "KV Sortland" on watch for 'persons' missing at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Russian Search- and Rescue (SAR) and oil spill recovery ship "Murman" with a military Iluchin-38. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The Norwegian anti-submarine and surveillance aircraft P-3 Orion "Viking" flying over the search area. Like Russian aircraft were allowed to fly over Norwegian maritime area, the Norwegian aircraft were granted permission to cross the border to Russian airspace in the search area during the exercise. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A Russian Northern Fleet Ka-27 search- and rescue helicopter in the skies over the three Russian vessels "Murman Ryba" (left), Northern Fleet's "Altay" and FSB Border Guard's "Zapolariye". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
One of the "missing persons" found in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coast Guard RIB on the water ready to pick up people from the water. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian coast guard RIB was put on the water in full speed towards the person who could be difficult to see in the high waves. In the cold water Barents Sea, every minute counts when saving lives. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Full speed towards the person in the sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
It can be hard to lift a man out of the water. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing the missing "person" safely on bord the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
On watch for more people missing at sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Air Force's Sea King Search- and Rescue helicopter flying over Russian SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Sea King SAR helicopter arrives to pick up people and bring the to hospitals on the mainland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Sea King SAR helicopter lifting people off the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Sea King SAR helicopter lifting people off the Coast Guard vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bent-Ove Jamtli is Director of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway (JRCC). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Happy after successful rescue mission. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian Coast Guard vessel "KV Sortland" sailing side-by-side with the Russian SAR vessel "Murmansk" in the Barents Sea search area. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian Northern Fleet SAR helicopter Ka-27 lift off people from "Murman" rescue vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian military naval Ka-27 rescue helicopter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian and Russian military and civilian search- and rescue resources work side-by-side together during Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing up on of the "persons" from the sea to the SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bringing up on of the "persons" from the sea to the SAR vessel "Murman". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Murman" is a Murmansk based rescue vessel. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Oil spill preparedness was the second phase of Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Russian navy and civilian officers on bridge during Exercise Barents 2019. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Norwegian inner Coast Guard vessel "Farm" with the Russian Northern Fleet's "Altai" and a Mi-8 rescue helicopter flying the search area. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Thanks' to Putin for counterfeits in stores." Photo: Vkontakte
"Thanks to Putin for greedy taxes." Photo: Vkontakte
"Thanks" to Putin for life in debt Photo: Vkontakte
"Thanks" to Putin for the collapse of science and education. Photo: Vkontakte
"Thanks" to Putin for selling national wealth. Photo: Vkontakte
"Thanks to Putin for counterfeit products in the shops", "Thanks to Putin for the promise to promise." Photo: Vkontakte
Orthodox church procession outside the kremilin walls. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Terminal building at Solovki airport. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Orthodox church procession. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Church at Sikirnaya hill on Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Sikrinaya church at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Orthdox xross in the sea at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In the Kremlin at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
A group of tourists visit the Kremlin at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Relaxing on the embarkment of the holy lake at Solovki with the Kremlin. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bathing in the holy lake at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The village at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The old dock for smaller boats at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The botanical garden at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Peter the Great chapel at Hare Island, Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Botanical garden. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Orthodox procession outside the main entrance to the Kremlin at Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Bus driver with the fish catch of the day. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Church bells. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Port of Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Botanical garden Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Solovki airport, Arkhangelsk airlines An-24. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Press service, Northern Fleet
Photo: Press service, Northern Fleet
Photo: Press service, Northern Fleet
Photo: Press service, Northern Fleet
Photo: Press service, Northern Fleet
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Norwegian Coastal Administration
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Jakob Østheim / Norwegian Defense
Photo: Marius Villanger / Norwegian Defense
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Photo: KV Bergen / Norwegian Coast Guard
Heros of the Great Patriotic war (World War II). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Final match in the sport hall was long ago. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Visitors can today step inside the buildings in Pyramiden. Like this sport hall. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden is situated 50 kilometers north of Longyearbyen. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
".... our northern," reads half of the photo-collection poster left on the wall in the palace of culture. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The red tower of this town sign sculpture is made of old water-pipes from the coal mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The grand piano is an original "Red October" (Красный октябрь). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Imagine a Saturday evening when the palace of culture was packed with coal miners listening to classical music. Or maybe there was an Arctic version of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet on stage? Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Soviet fairy tale illustration on the wooden fence outside the school. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The blocks of flats are well preserved by the Arctic climate. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Likely a door to heaven for the coal miners. The sign reads "Beer Bar", but the last pint was emptied 20 years ago. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
No more water in the world's northernmost swimming pool. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
One lonely ice-skate left in the window. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The mechanical workshop for the coal mine. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The entrances to the coal mine are up in the mountain above the town. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
... and yes, it is also the world's northernmost bust of Lenin. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Yes, lots of children lived in Pyramiden, a well functioning family society. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Where people once lived, birds have now taken over. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Svalbard is famous for its bird-watching sites. Although this "bird-cliff" is somehow special. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Why the town was named Pyramiden? Well, take a look at the nearest mountain. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Comrade Lenin has a great panorama view over the town with the Nordenskiold glacier in the background. The town is still state-owned and maintained by the Russian mining company Arktikugol Trust. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
From the shafts, the coal was transported to port via this structure. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Coal loading crane in the port of Pyramiden. Operated by the Russians, but Svalbard is Norwegian land. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Nice playground under the Arctic sun, but image how it was to be a child here during polar night. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
USSR-Norwegian friendly connections. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Hammer and Sickle, the symbol of the Soviet Union. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden even had its own cowshed. Nothing's like a fresh glas of milk after a long night in the coal mine at 79 degrees north. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
With a bit of luck you may meet an Arctic fox in between the abandoned buildings in Pyramiden. A bit curious, and not too afraid of humans if you keep a distance. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The hospital. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Children's reading book over a dusty version of the transcripts from the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1986), the first congress presided over by Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Outdoor sport stadion named after Yury Gagarin, the first man in space. Football field in summer, ice-skating rink during winter. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In times of climate changes, Pyramiden coal power plant provided both heat and electricity. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998, but the houses are still in rather good shape and are maintained by Arktikugol Trust (Арктикуголь means Arctic coal). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"Kuzbass" is another important coal region for Russia. Pyramiden heliport in the background. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Seems like this building is sad not to house people anymore. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Soviet-style Arctic art made of mosaic on the wall in the cantina. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Really large cooking pots in the cantina. For the coal miners. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Twelve-past-we-left-the-town. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Some plants are thirstier than others. For this one, it is too late. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The party is over. For good. Priviet (hello) vodka. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The main (and only) avenue in Pyramiden is named after the 60th anniversary of the October revolution. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
"No smoking". Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Map of the world on top of the world. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden coal harbor. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Long time ago, in Pyramiden, a green indoor plant decorated the cantina. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The world's northernmost Palace of Culture. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Once upon a time the world's northernmost kindergarten (rigth) and school (2-storey building). Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Part of the port facility in Pyramiden. The Nordenskiöld glacier across the fjord. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Pyramiden is located in Billefjorden, an appendix fjord in the innermost part of Isfjorden. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
