Svalbard is a group of islands that belongs to norway located between the arctic ocean, barents sea, greenland sea, and the norwegian sea. Adult ivory gulls congregate at a food source such as this whale carcass. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an. All nationalities require a full passport valid for 6 months.
Svalbard is connected to the phone grid in mainland norway via fiber optic cable. Most striking, at least in comparison with other parts of svalbard, is the dense landuse, but this does not mean that nature does not have anything to offer here. Violent storms and temperatures in the region of minus 40 degree celsius are not uncommon in the polar circle. This remote location means svalbard retains the pristine natural wonders that the polar north is famed for. Grab a bite to eat from the menu of pub standards including sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta and burgers. Entry visas are not required for entry into greenland or spitsbergen. The basement the largescale features of the svalbard geology are relatively simple. The svalbard islands the svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole. Northern lights hunting with snowcat hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. With a little luck you may come across a seal or two.
Dark and icegripped for eight months of the year, svalbards landscape consists of jagged peaks supported by immense. Svalbard spitsbergen polar bears and seabirds may 2020. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and other islands in the arctic ocean north of the mainland. All three slovenian expeditions 2005, 2006, and 2007 led by slovenian filmmaker gregor kresal had to face major logistical difficulties. The arctic group of islands known as svalbard, or spitzbergen in english spitzbergen being the name of the largest island was nomans land but became norwegian in the early 1920s through the svalbard treaty.
An 11day wildlife expedition to the high arctic, including a 10day voyage around the island of spitsbergen in search of breeding seabirds, polar bears, walrus and spectacular scenery. On the archipelagos island of spitsbergen there are two towns. Svalbard synonyms, svalbard pronunciation, svalbard translation, english dictionary definition of svalbard. Find out where svalbard is located, the best entry points for an arctic safari, what country.
Life in svalbard leben in spitzbergen episode 1 longyearbyen. Kayaking is the perfect way to have a more immersive svalbard experience, and one of the most popular fjords lies just north of longyearbyen, adventfjorden. All settlements in svalbard are located on the main island of spitsbergen or vest spitsbergen. The svalbard archipelago lies completely within the arctic circle, and the sun is above the horizon for 24 hours a day from late april to late august. Recommended book for further, welldigestable really. The oldest formations, the socalled basement, including precambrian, cambrian and ordovician rocks, occur as a belt along the westcoast of spitsbergen, in a large area between wijdefjorden and hinlopenstretet in the north, as well as in the northern part of nordaustlandet and in the southern part. Our ski expeditions and tours in svalbard are taking place in may and june. Apr 25, 2017 the svalbard islands are remote islands in the arctic ocean and are part of the overseas territory of norway. Despite its arctic location svalbard is easy to reach but still one can enjoy total wilderness.
Svalbard, an archipelago located in the arctic ocean, is the kingdom of norways northernmost part. Vest spitsbergen or vestspitsbergen, urban east norwegian. The whole investigation aspects and tools, mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. Spitsbergen, the largest island in the svalbard archipelago situated in the arctic ocean. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry. Svalbard is a fantastic place for ski touring and expeditions in all levels. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and. The name spitsbergen derives from the dutch for jagged peaks after the islands were discovered by explorer willem barentzs in 1596, whilst finding a route to the far east. There is nothing quite like the eerie silence of the arctic as you paddle alongside some stunning, icetipped mountain peaks. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the archipelago. Ice cave tour with snowcat hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. Snowmobile to elveneset hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen.
Whilst the other islands of svalbard are nature reserves and therefore inaccessible without gaining special permission, spitsbergen, which broadly includes its group of surrounding islands barentsoya, edgeoya, nordaustlandet and prins karls forland, is where the modest. Nature and history, regions and places of an arctic archipelago. In summertime i work as a guide in the arctic, but what does it mean to live here in longyearbyen in svalbard spitzbergen how does it look like and what does it feel like to be here. You arrive in the worlds northernmost town, historic longyearbyen previously known as long year city, deep within the arctic circle, and we have time to explore this small city of about 2000 human inhabitants.
Situated north of mainland europe, it is about midway between continental norway and the north pole. The bradt guide to svalbard, including spitsbergen, franz josef land and jan mayen, is a unique, standalone guidebook to this evocative arctic archipelago, a place that is plunged into darkness for four months each year and where there are 4,000 snow scooters for a population of just 2,500. Please remember, if you are bitten by the polar bug, its harmless even though it will remain in your body for a long time. Spitzbergen ist eine zu norwegen gehorende inselgruppe im nordatlantik wie im arktischen ozean. Svalbard archipelago lies beyond the arctic circle, nearer to the north pole than it is to mainland scandinavia, making it one of the most remote places on earth. But of course your guides in svalbard know what to do and will give you more information in the briefings. Svalbard map and map of svalbard spitsbergen size history. The islands are directly north of and since 1920 an integrated part of norway. This ensures a good quality telephone coverage in longyearbyen, barentsburg, sveagruva and nyalesund.
Spitsbergen itself covers approximately 39,044 sq km 15,075 sq miles, and the name spitsbergen was also formerly applied to the entire archipelago of svalbard and occasionally still is. Information and translations of spitzbergen in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Svalbard is a group of remote islands in the norwegian high arctic, far north of mainland europe. Aerial arctic lofoten, jan mayen and svalbard from the air. Done as part of a hike to an ice cave in larsbreen glacier. An american, john longyear, started the arctic coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. Spitsbergen books and more spitsbergensvalbard guidebook. The svalbard islands, norway arctic wilderness, wildlife.
Svalbard polar bear explorer natural world safaris. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snowdrowned peaks and glaciers, of vast ice fields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of. The svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole. Veteran bbc presenter kate humble has joined us as specialist leader on two of our svalbard polar bear explorer expeditions thus far. Today it is longyearbyen, meaning longyear city in norwegian.
Svalbard sometimes referred to as spitzbergen, the largest of the islands in the svalbard archipelago, sits well inside the arctic circle, just south of 80 degrees north. The landscape is characterised by the plateaushaped mountains which are so typical for central and eastern svalbard. Snowmobilesafari to barentsburg hurtigruten svalbard. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snowdrowned peaks and glaciers, of vast ice fields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of summer carry a deeper kind of magic. Svalbard definition of svalbard by the free dictionary. Svalbardspitsbergen practical information pioneer expeditions. Kates passion for wildlife and the natural world has seen her feature in a cavalcade of muchloved television programmes like springwatch and animal park, while she also involves herself in charity work for a number of conservation organisations, from the. We would like to make a four day trek or twotwo day treks, however, we find it difficult to find any information on trekking on svalbard, if you want to do it on your own. Dark and icegripped for eight months of the year, svalbards landscape consists of jagged peaks supported by immense buttresses of rock that plunge into the ocean. Snowmobile safari to the east coasthurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. Svalbard high arctic archipelago 78 to 80 north 3 to july 2007.
The best time to see polar bears in svalbard is usually in the summer months, as the ice encompassing the archipelago melts enough for us to navigate the icy waters. You can view route information for airlines that fly to longyearbyen, compare the prices of both low cost and traditional airlines which fly to longyearbyen and book your flights by clicking the links below skyscanner allows you to find the cheapest. Aug 16, 2015 in summertime i work as a guide in the arctic, but what does it mean to live here in longyearbyen in svalbard spitzbergen how does it look like and what does it feel like to be here that is. Bjorndalen is a place which offers you several characteristics from svalbard in one.
Adult ivory gull on sperm whale carcass same dead whale as 2006 at bourbonhamma. Svalbar featuring a modern interior with leather couches and a pool table, this bar specializes in cocktails but serves an interesting range of imported beers alongside the new local lager made in the northernmost brewery in the world. The settlements on svalbard were established as company towns, and at their height in the 1950s, the norwegian stateowned coal company supported nearly 1,000 jobs. Apr 04, 2012 an american, john longyear, started the arctic coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. Awesome arctic experience though, was a blast and fun hike. Here youll find detailed information about particular places spitsbergenfotos, flora, fauna, weatherreport and cultural heritage. The steep walls of the largest island of svalbard spitsbergen call for a completely different climbing approach from. Amazing photography the norwegian arctic as you have never. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a.
Gsm mobile phones work in longyearbyen, svea and barentsburg. The islands in this archipelago extend from 74 n to 81 n and 10 e to 35 e, midway between the north. Remote, mysterious and extreme, the norwegian island of spitsbergen is the. Spitzbergen svalbard german spitsbergen by rolf stange the new german version. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an the nor powl. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time. Svalbard is the arctic north as you always dreamed it existed. Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly, and svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors annually. November 29th is polar night in svalbard, so pitch black.
2 194 180 1276 1201 307 671 1207 362 550 1236 426 731 517 807 259 1439 1047 251 1159 1148 1256 1510 510 36 949 185 49 880 952 253 1287 715 464 759 76 829 662 213 221 710 1328 1238 15 683