Whalers who sailed far north in the 17th and 18th centuries used the islands as a base; subsequently the archipelago was abandoned. Coal mining started at the beginning of the 20th century, and several permanent communities such as Pyramiden or Barentsburg were established. The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 recognizes Norwegian sovereignty, and the Norwegian Svalbard Act of 1925 made Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway. The Svalbard Treaty established Svalbard as a free economic zone and restricts the military use of the archipelago. The Norwegian Store Norske and the Russian remain the only mining companies in place.
Whalers who sailed far north in the 17th and 18th centuries used the islands as a base; subsequently the archipelago was abandoned Coal mining started at the beginning of the 20th century and several permanent communities such as Pyramiden or Barentsburg were established The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 recognizes Norwegian sovereignty and the Norwegian Svalbard Act of 1925 made Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway The Svalbard Treaty established Svalbard as a free economic zone and restricts the military use of the archipelago The Norwegian Store Norske and the Russian remain the only mining companies in place