Crew of the Arctic Sunrise visit the abandoned Russian settlement / coalmine of Pyramiden, on Svalbard. Mediaofficer Henning Reinton takes in the former grandeur of the dining room. Visiting the bizarre and surreal environment can leave one bewildered and upset at the enormous amounts of junk, wreckage and garbage left out in the open to rot and pollute the surrounding pristine environment. The crew were taken on a guided tour of the base and saw what were once homes, a swimming pool, gym and music room and a bar and museum, seemingly abandoned in a hurry. The actual mine is closed but the smell of coal permeates the air. The meltwater from the mountains carry segments of coal, dirt and other debris into the bay. An international crew is currently on a month-long expedition in the icy Arctic. Greenpeace is campaigning for a global sanctuary to be declared around the uninhabited area of the North Pole.07/04/2012
© Bas Beentjes / Greenpeace