Svalbard From the timeline, The present transition
2020
Svea Nord closes
The last mine at Sveagruva, Svea Nord, was closed on 4 March 2020. A large clean-up has since returned Sveagruva to a near natural state.
History Store norske leksikon
Tuesday 27 January 2026Before the Wire, which starts 26 October 2026Updated 23:59
Polar night, day 93 of 111. The sun returns 15 February.
Svalbard Wire starts on 26 October 2026. Pages before that date show the history of the island.
The timeline by era
- 1596Discovery and whaling, 3 entries
- 1715Hunting and expeditions, 4 entries
- 1905The coal town, 6 entries
- 1920The Svalbard Treaty, 4 entries
- 1941War and rebuilding, 4 entries
- 1975The modern town, 3 entries
- 2015The present transition, 6 entries