Ny Alesund, Svalbard - 8

Ny Ålesund has a population of around 120 people in the summer months, made up of researchers, assistants and technicians, in the winter, the population falls to about 30. The various huts and houses belong to national research stations, currently, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Not all are occupied year-round.

There is a restaurant block where all the research staff go to eat, there is also a hotel. The greatest number of visitors however come from tourist ships for whom a stop-off at Ny Ålesund is a must on a trip around Svalbard. They have a museum to visit and also a gift-shop which in the tradition of such shops sells over-priced (though admittedly pretty good quality) souvenirs.