Monday 20 October 2025Before the Wire, which starts 26 October 2026Updated 23:59
Daylight 10:20 to 15:02, 4 h 42 min. The sun sets for the winter on 26 October.
Svalbard Wire starts on 26 October 2026. Pages before that date show the history of the island.
This week in history, 26 October
2017
On 26 October 2017 a Russian helicopter crashed in Isfjorden on its way in to Kapp Heer, and all eight on board died. The town of Barentsburg was deeply marked by it.
History Store norske leksikon
From the timeline, War and rebuilding
1941
The Norwegian and Soviet mines were put out of operation in the summer of 1941 and the population was evacuated, the Russians to Arkhangelsk and the Norwegians to Scotland. The Germans kept a small force in Longyearbyen until it was evacuated in July 1942.
History Store norske leksikon
The timeline by era
Svalbard