Svalbard is a group of remote islands in the norwegian high arctic, far north of mainland europe. Dark and icegripped for eight months of the year, svalbards landscape consists of jagged peaks supported by immense. The basement the largescale features of the svalbard geology are relatively simple. 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. Amazing photography the norwegian arctic as you have never. Spitzbergen svalbard german spitsbergen by rolf stange the new german version. Life in svalbard leben in spitzbergen episode 1 longyearbyen. All nationalities require a full passport valid for 6 months.
Snowmobile to elveneset hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. 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. Adult ivory gull on sperm whale carcass same dead whale as 2006 at bourbonhamma. This ensures a good quality telephone coverage in longyearbyen, barentsburg, sveagruva and nyalesund. Grab a bite to eat from the menu of pub standards including sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta and burgers. Today it is longyearbyen, meaning longyear city in norwegian. Svalbard, an archipelago located in the arctic ocean, is the kingdom of norways northernmost part.
Information and translations of spitzbergen in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Svalbard is connected to the phone grid in mainland norway via fiber optic cable. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and. The svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole. 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. Ice cave tour with snowcat 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. Find out where svalbard is located, the best entry points for an arctic safari, what country. 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. 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. Snowmobilesafari to barentsburg hurtigruten svalbard. Remote, mysterious and extreme, the norwegian island of spitsbergen is the.
There is nothing quite like the eerie silence of the arctic as you paddle alongside some stunning, icetipped mountain peaks. Svalbard is a group of islands that belongs to norway located between the arctic ocean, barents sea, greenland sea, and the norwegian sea. Snowmobile safari to the east coasthurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. The landscape is characterised by the plateaushaped mountains which are so typical for central and eastern svalbard. Please remember, if you are bitten by the polar bug, its harmless even though it will remain in your body for a long time. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a. With a little luck you may come across a seal or two. 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. Aerial arctic lofoten, jan mayen and svalbard from the air. Nature and history, regions and places of an arctic archipelago. Recommended book for further, welldigestable really. 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. Situated north of mainland europe, it is about midway between continental norway and the north pole. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time.
Despite its arctic location svalbard is easy to reach but still one can enjoy total wilderness. Here youll find detailed information about particular places spitsbergenfotos, flora, fauna, weatherreport and cultural heritage. Svalbard map and map of svalbard spitsbergen size history. 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. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry. When spitsbergen was first discovered by the dutch explorer william barents, it was named so for its jagged peaks. Svalbardspitsbergen practical information pioneer expeditions. Spitsbergen, the largest island in the svalbard archipelago situated in the arctic ocean. Veteran bbc presenter kate humble has joined us as specialist leader on two of our svalbard polar bear explorer expeditions thus far. All settlements in svalbard are located on the main island of spitsbergen or vest spitsbergen. 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.
Vest spitsbergen or vestspitsbergen, urban east norwegian. 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. 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. The whole investigation aspects and tools, mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. Awesome arctic experience though, was a blast and fun hike. 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. Svalbard high arctic archipelago 78 to 80 north 3 to july 2007. 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.
Northern lights hunting with snowcat hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. Svalbard polar bear explorer natural world safaris. The steep walls of the largest island of svalbard spitsbergen call for a completely different climbing approach from. Svalbard synonyms, svalbard pronunciation, svalbard translation, english dictionary definition of svalbard. 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.
A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and other islands in the arctic ocean north of the mainland. But of course your guides in svalbard know what to do and will give you more information in the briefings. Svalbard is the arctic north as you always dreamed it existed. 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. 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. All three slovenian expeditions 2005, 2006, and 2007 led by slovenian filmmaker gregor kresal had to face major logistical difficulties. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the archipelago.
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. Svalbard is a fantastic place for ski touring and expeditions in all levels. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an the nor powl. 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. Done as part of a hike to an ice cave in larsbreen glacier. Spitzbergen ist eine zu norwegen gehorende inselgruppe im nordatlantik wie im arktischen ozean. 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. Apr 04, 2012 an american, john longyear, started the arctic coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly, and svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors annually. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an.
Violent storms and temperatures in the region of minus 40 degree celsius are not uncommon in the polar circle. 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. The svalbard islands the svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole. 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. Svalbard spitsbergen polar bears and seabirds may 2020. The islands in this archipelago extend from 74 n to 81 n and 10 e to 35 e, midway between the north. 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. Bjorndalen is a place which offers you several characteristics from svalbard in one. November 29th is polar night in svalbard, so pitch black. Adult ivory gulls congregate at a food source such as this whale carcass.
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