---
title: "Longyearbyen: A town beyond the Arctic Circle where you can't bury the dead and must carry a weapon"
description: "Longyearbyen is the world's northernmost settlement, where strange laws apply: burying the dead is forbidden due to virus risks, keeping cats is banned, and going outside without a weapon is dangerous due to bears. ❄️🐻🚫"
date: 2026-07-14T13:35:22.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/longyearbyen-burial-ban-and-weapons-en
tags: [longyearbyen, spitsbergen, norway, arctic, svalbard]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Longyearbyen: A town beyond the Arctic Circle where you can't bury the dead and must carry a weapon

![Panorama of Longyearbyen: colorful houses against snowy mountains and sea](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/14/longyirbyuen-zapret-na-zakhoronenie-i-oruzhie/longyirbyuen-zapret-na-zakhoronenie-i-oruzhie-1.webp)

Deep beyond the Arctic Circle, in the harsh conditions of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, lies a unique settlement — Longyearbyen. It is the world's northernmost permanent settlement, where life unfolds under the shadow of glaciers and permafrost. Getting here is no easy feat: a flight from Oslo takes about three hours, while from Tromsø it takes just 90 minutes.

### Life in Permafrost Conditions

According to the 2026 census, the town is home to approximately 2,512 people. Despite covering only 10.4 square kilometers, it boasts all the infrastructure needed for comfortable living: a kindergarten, school, church, post office, restaurant, and even a museum. However, there is only one grocery store in the settlement, forcing both locals and tourists to rely solely on it.

Street navigation in Longyearbyen also has its peculiarities: streets are not given names, only numbers. This is just one of many unique features that visitors to this remote corner of the planet encounter.

### Prohibitions and Strict Rules

Visiting Longyearbyen requires familiarizing oneself with a number of specific rules dictated by its geographical location and climate. The town enforces strict limits on alcohol purchases per person per month. Furthermore, cats are officially banned in the settlement — a measure designed to protect the local bird population.

The most famous, and perhaps strangest, rule is the prohibition on burying the dead. The widespread belief that dying in Longyearbyen is illegal is a myth. In reality, it is forbidden to bury people there. This rule was introduced in 1950 after it was discovered that the remains of victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic, buried there earlier, had not decomposed due to the extremely low temperatures. Scientists feared that active strains of deadly viruses could remain in the bodies. Consequently, terminally ill residents usually relocate to the mainland.

### Dangers of Wildlife

The landscapes surrounding the town are impressive: the valley on the shore of Adventfjorden is surrounded by mountains and glaciers. However, the beauty of nature here is deceptive and dangerous. Reindeer, whales, and, most importantly, polar bears regularly appear among the town's visitors. Due to the constant threat of predator attacks, local residents are required to carry weapons as soon as they leave the settlement.

### Arctic Scientific Hub

Despite the harsh climate and sub-zero temperatures prevailing here year-round, Longyearbyen has become an important scientific and educational hub. The town is home to the University Centre in Svalbard — the world's northernmost educational institution, located at 78 degrees latitude. Students here study disciplines closely related to the environment, such as Arctic biology and geophysics.

The region's economy also relies heavily on tourism. In 2016, the town was visited by 115,000 tourists, 35,000 of whom arrived on cruise ships. Interestingly, the town's name is not related to its isolation or long polar nights, but rather to the name of its founder — John Munro Longyear.