How to Distinguish
- The country domain is .sj.
- License plates appear on a black background with faint orange characters.
- Buildings use cold-climate architecture and color palettes.
- Boats are a common mode of transport.
Because of the severe tundra climate—similar to Greenland—homes are rarely built directly on the ground. Gaps often separate the house from the permafrost surface . Only short, needle-like grasses grow; trees struggle to survive.
License plates feature orange characters on a black background.
Narrow down state/region
- Barentsburg is almost entirely Russian, so Russian signage is common.
- Pyramiden has virtually no permanent residents but is being redeveloped for tourism.
In 1932 the Dutch sold the coal rights to the Soviet Union, and a Russian state firm has managed the town ever since. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reports say Ukrainians left (参考文献 Баренцбург). The town feels dark overall with aging buildings .
