About | Archives | PDF | Site Map | Contact

Erie Haldorsen, 12, and Birgitte Bossart, 12, go for a dip in barely above freezing waters during the summer solstice party Saturday in Longyearbyen. Several hundred locals and tourists swam, ate barbecue and gathered around a 10-meter-wide bonfire to celebrate the "longest day." It's a designation meaning little locally beyond passing the midpoint of a polar day where the sun shines continuously from April 19 to Aug. 23.

Inger-Johanne Mørk, 15, goes swimming at the beach once a year - after getting two months to soak up continuous sunlight and another two months to dry out before it sets.

Visitors dressed in parkas may have shivered in the 10C air watching Mørk submerge in water she estimates was 2C to 4C. But while warming up near a massive bonfire afterward, she said it was no sweat.

"It was a lot more warm this year," she said.

Plenty of her classmates and a few hardy adults braved the waves while others indulged in the comforts of barbecue, portable lounge chairs and music during the midsummer party Saturday at the Svalbard Sailing Club. Organizers claim the annual event is probably Longyearbyen's biggest outdoor party, with children's game booths, dozens of picnic tables and the 15-meter-wide bonfire among the places to gather.

"Apart from the membership fees, it is our main source of revenue. So for once you have a good reason to drink beer," the club's invitation notes.

Glenn Huddle, a 30something Longyearbyen resident, was one of those hoisting a well-deserved beer while dripping wet in his swim trunks by the bonfire. He claims he went 100 meters into the water and, like Mørk, guesses the temperature was "oh, about four" degrees.

Swimsuits were a decided minority when it came to party attire - indeed, it's hard to say a trendy outfit exists at a bash where threads range from bikinis to heavy coats, scarves and hats (and, no, it wasn't just the tourists in heavier gear).

Sailing club members spent the evening grilling and serving 30 kilograms of pork chops, 25 kilograms of hamburgers, 20 kilograms of potato salad and plenty of other food to long lines of partiers – plus at least a few cans of beer. Tunes from the overhead speakers were as diverse as the outfits, ranging from Johnny Cash to techno.

Longyearbyen saw its first sunrise after the four-month polar night on March 8. The continuous sunlight of this year's polar day began April 19, with sunset occurring on Aug. 24 and polar night returning Nov. 14.

More photos:

Partiers in a wide range of dress gather around a massive bonfire. Among the bravest was Glenn Huddle, center, who took time to down a cold beer after a swim before putting the rest of his clothes back on.	Phonthypha Seesatsu, 11, tries to knock over a pyramid of cans during the summer solstice party. Youths spent much of the evening at game booths, in the water and feeding the bonfire.
Several hundred locals and tourists came to what organizers said is Longyearbyen's largest outdoor party. The event raises money for the Svalbard Sailing Club.	A young girl plays in the sand while others take on the challenge of swimming in waters estimated to be 2C to 4C. For many, it is the only outdoor swim they attempt all year.
Svalbard Sailing Club members Vlli Naumann, left, and Peter Leopold grill up 30 kilograms of pork chops, 25 kilograms of hamburgers and a bunch of hot dogs for a line of partygoers that remained long much of the evening.

All contents copyright 2009 by Icepeople or other copyright holders. Icepeople material may be reproduced elsewhere free of charge for noncommercial use. Contact Mark Sabbatini at marksabbatini@yahoo.com for information about anything else of seeming importance.

Home | Local | Diversions | Polar Regions | World | Opinion | Blog | Photos | Video | Games | Resources
About Icepeople | Archives | PDF | Site Map | Contact