The longest night

In the North of the world, only 1000 km from the pole, lies the small town of Longyearbyen. Settled by pioneers, adventurers, miners, scientists, it is plunged into complete darkness for 4 months. This is where human beings live the longest in the dark. This is also where global warming is most important.

Who are these women and men of the extreme, who have made the choice to live in the heart of the longest night. How do their bodies and minds adapt to extreme conditions, to darkness? Are they our bulwark against climate change? The next step in human evolution? How far will the night take us?

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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A school at night. It’s noon, and the bell will ring soon. Longyearbyen is the most northerly inhabited city in the world. It is located at 78° North. Here children grow up at polar rhythm, immersed in darkness for 4 months. November 2016, 12 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Wiggo left Oslo 10 years ago to settle in Longyearbyen. Tired of traffic jams, heavy consumption and pollution, he chose this isolated place, where he became a taxi driver. In the front line in facing global warming, he watches helplessly as the ice melts. November 2016, 10 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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While the polar night has fallen for a month on Longyearbyen, the snow is not coming. The city has even experienced torrential rainfall episodes, and was therefore surprised by precipitation (+400% in October 2016, according to the IMN). A first in its history. Will the people of the Arctic Circle be forced to get used to a climate revolution? In the meantime, withiut snow, night is darker than ever. November 2016, 5pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Here, children grow up in complete freedom. They learn from an early age to live in a natural and wild environment. During polar night, They like to meet after school, at the youth centre to play pool, pinball and overcome monotony. 5.30 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Lighted by a headlamp, Orjan’s silhouette plunges into the labyrinth of the glacier. The darkness is total, whereas at this time of year, there is always snow to reflect the light. In this region where the rate of warming is the fastest in the world, the inhabitants must accept to see their routine disrupted. Faced with the inevitable influx of tourists, the young guide of 27 has given himself the task of explaining to each visitor how to understand the Arctic, and how to protect it. November 2016, 10.30 am.

© Axelle de Russé - Snowstorm on Longyeaybyen. November 2018, 2 pm.
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Snowstorm on Longyeaybyen. November 2018, 2 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Only the Northern Lights illuminate the darkness of the polar night. Februa-ry 209, 11pm.
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Only the Northern Lights illuminate the darkness of the polar night. Februa-ry 209, 11pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Two young students from the Longyearbyen University of Science enjoy this swimming pool after school. February 2019, 7 pm.
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Two young students from the Longyearbyen University of Science enjoy this swimming pool after school. February 2019, 7 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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November 2018. Longyearbyen is a mining colony. Today, only one mine is still in operation. But old mining buildings surround the city. December 2018, 9.30 am

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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In recent years, there has been a real estate crisis in Svalbard. More and more people want to settle there. Some to flee society, others to take advantage of global warming and its business opportunities, such as the increase in tourism. Faced with a lack of space, the inhabitants store their belongings in containers on leaving the city. November 2018, 4 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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No activity stops during the polar winter, especially not the choir, welcomed here in the village church for the year’s show. December 2018, 5 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Longyearbyen was built after the discovery of coal at the beginning of the 20th century. Nine mines have been in operation, but only one is still in use, mine number 7. It is the last coal mine in Norway. November 2018, 2 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Longyearbyen was built after the discovery of coal at the beginning of the 20th century. Nine mines have been in operation, but only one is still in use, mine number 7. It is the last coal mine in Norway. November 2018, 2 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Once a year, the Red Cross organizes an accident simulation (avalanche, plane crash...) with the inhabitants, the police, the fire brigade. Large-scale simulations, where all the city’s forces are deployed. November 2018, 6 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
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Once a year, the Red Cross organizes an accident simulation (avalanche, plane crash...) with the inhabitants, the police, the fire brigade. Large-scale simulations, where all the city’s forces are deployed. November 2018, 5.30 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Image from the The longest night photography project
i

Once a year, the Red Cross organizes an accident simulation (avalanche, plane crash...) with the inhabitants, the police, the fire brigade. Large-scale simulations, where all the city’s forces are deployed. November 2018, 5.30 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - The Longyearbyen Valley. December 2018, 10 pm.
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The Longyearbyen Valley. December 2018, 10 pm.

© Axelle de Russé - Tourism activities do not stop during the polar night. Even in the dark, sled dogs know their path. December 2018, 10 am.
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Tourism activities do not stop during the polar night. Even in the dark, sled dogs know their path. December 2018, 10 am.

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