Sveagruva

Janet flew off on Wednesday to the "closed" mining settlement of Sveagruva. The only way to get there is via the mining company's daily flight. On a 17-seat prop-driven plane. I spoke with Janet, she said it was an amazingly beautiful 15 minute trip.

Sveagruva is an old-fashioned company town. The mining company, Store Norske, owns everything -- the dorms, the kitchens, airport, and of course, the mines.

Miners fly in to work 14-day shifts, then head back to Norway (or Longyearbyen) for a 14-day break. The mine itself is about 3.5 km deep (a little over two miles!)

[note -- these aren't Janet's pictures. We'll have to wait until she posts some.]