In early 1900 was Barentsburg a place for temporary accommodation for whalers and hunters. Today the main Russian settlement on Spitsbergen and centre of operation for the Trust Arcticugol mining company. Since 1989 also accessible for international tourists. The coal company own everything and the only hotel with view over Grønfjord. The facilities are a touch of another culture and give an idea of the difference of Russian and Norwegian settlement in Spitsbergen.
