Billefjorden is the central fjord of the three branching from innermost
Isfjorden to the northeast. It is 30km long and 5-8km wide. Billefjorden lies between
Dickson Land to the northwest and
Bünsow Land in the southeast. Located on its northwestern shore is the former
Russian mining community of
Pyramiden (abandoned in 1998). To the northeast is
Nordenskiöldbreen.
The fjord is named after the Dutch whaler Cornelius Claeszoon Bille, who is mentioned as being active in 1675 by the Dutchman Cornelius Gisbert Zorgdrager. Originally another bay (now known as Adventfjorden) had been labeled as Klass Billen Bay, but Dunér and Nordenskiöld moved it to its present location.
References
- Conway, W. M. 1906. No Man’s Land: A History of Spitsbergen from Its Discovery in 1596 to the Beginning of the Scientific Exploration of the Country. Cambridge: At the University Press.
- Norwegian Polar Institute Place Names of Svalbard Database