Svalbard This week in history, 4 March
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
Friday 6 March 2026Before the Wire, which starts 26 October 2026Updated 23:59
Daylight 07:44 to 16:37, 8 h 53 min. Midnight sun from 19 April.
Svalbard Wire starts on 26 October 2026. Pages before that date show the history of the island.
From the timeline, Hunting and expeditions
1795
First Norwegian wintering
The first Norwegian wintering hunting expedition to Svalbard is held to have taken place in 1795 and 1796. Hunting only got properly under way about twenty-five years later.
History Store norske leksikon
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