Gateway to the North Pole - Barneo Ice Camp

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Published on June 22, 2020 5:48:19 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2QlmGdzbU8

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Barneo Ice Camp is a unique Swiss-owned, Russian-operated drift station on the frozen Arctic Ocean near the North Pole. With its integrated ice runway, Barneo caters for the air-borne tourist industry that operates from Longyearbyen in Svalbard (Norway).

The camp has had no visitors for the second year in a row. Last year, troubles with permissions to operate the An-76 aircraft supposed to shuttle between Longyearbyen and Barneo was the reason.

This year, the coronavirus outbreak was to be blamed.

The seasonal camp is set-up in late March every year only through a highly complex and technical series of logistics incorporating Ilyushin-76, Antonov-74 and Mi-8 flights from Moscow, Siberia and Svalbard, parachute and skydiver drops, specialist advisers and observers and temporary camps on the Arctic Ocean. Once the ice runway has been prepared, using tractors parachuted onto the ice, technical AN-74 flights deliver the camp infrastructure and Barneo usually opens its doors to the first passenger flight around April 4.

Camp facilities include heated accommodation tents with comfortable bedding, a large mess tent and kitchen serves regular hot meals, provides 24-hr tea, coffee and snacks and houses a souvenir store with unique Barneo, Arctic and North Pole memorabilia. A trauma surgeon resides at the camp for the season as do specialists in many fields - pilots, mechanics, engineers, weather forecasters and observers, communication experts, guest services, general staff and explorers.

Barneo offers basic facilities suited to those with an adventurous flair. If you are a traveller looking for luxury and convenience then you should probably select a cruise rather than fly-in. Barneo does not offer shower or bathing facilities, wifi or a restaurant with menu or alcohol however does offer power for devices and can offer private accommodation at additional cost.