Longyearbyen
Though it has no indigenous people, the Svalbard archipelago plays host to geologic surveyors, polar explorers and other scientific explorations throughout the year, and can play host to a population of up to 3,000 during its peak season. The town of Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen's western coastline, serves as the administrative center for the islands, and is home to Svalbard's airport, operating since 1975.

The western coast of Spitsbergen is heavily indented by fjords, with Longyearbyen located along the southern shore of the Isfjorden, a large inlet that cuts close to the center of the island. Centuries of folding and faulting have given the area a mountainous topography, with peaks rising dramatically from the flat snowy plains.