Svalbard

Overview

An Arctic archipelago under Norwegian rule: glaciers, polar bears, walruses and whales, the midnight sun and the polar night, explored from Longyearbyen.

Svalbard is a group of Arctic islands north of Norway, under Norwegian rule since 1920. About 60% of the land is covered by glaciers and most of it is protected in national parks and nature reserves. Fewer than 3,000 people live here, nearly all in Longyearbyen, the main Norwegian settlement, and the Russian mining town of Barentsburg. There is virtually no infrastructure outside the settlements.

Visitors come for raw Arctic nature: polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, whales and seabirds. The midnight sun lasts from late April to late August and the polar night from late October to mid-February. Because of polar bears and the harsh environment, most trips outside the settlements are made with professional guides. Flights come from mainland Norway; the currency is the Norwegian krone.

• Longyearbyen: The main settlement, with museums and the world's northernmost church.
• Wildlife: Polar bears, walruses, whales and seabirds, best seen on guided boat trips.
• Pyramiden and Barentsburg: Soviet-era mining settlements, one abandoned and one still working.
• Midnight sun and polar night: Daylight from late April to late August, darkness from late October to February.
• Glacier cruises: Boat trips to glaciers and fjords in summer.