Aerial arctic lofoten, jan mayen and svalbard from the air. Spitzbergen ist eine zu norwegen gehorende inselgruppe im nordatlantik wie im arktischen ozean. All settlements in svalbard are located on the main island of spitsbergen or vest spitsbergen. Done as part of a hike to an ice cave in larsbreen glacier. The svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole. Violent storms and temperatures in the region of minus 40 degree celsius are not uncommon in the polar circle. Amazing photography the norwegian arctic as you have never. 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. Svalbard definition of svalbard by the free dictionary. Snowmobile to elveneset hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. All three slovenian expeditions 2005, 2006, and 2007 led by slovenian filmmaker gregor kresal had to face major logistical difficulties.
Gsm mobile phones work in longyearbyen, svea and barentsburg. 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. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and other islands in the arctic ocean north of the mainland. 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. 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. Adult ivory gulls congregate at a food source such as this whale carcass. Svalbard is a group of remote islands in the norwegian high arctic, far north of mainland europe. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the archipelago. Today it is longyearbyen, meaning longyear city in norwegian. 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.
Svalbard high arctic archipelago 78 to 80 north 3 to july 2007. Spitsbergen, the largest island in the svalbard archipelago situated in the arctic ocean. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an. 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. This ensures a good quality telephone coverage in longyearbyen, barentsburg, sveagruva and nyalesund. 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. Information and translations of spitzbergen in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
Veteran bbc presenter kate humble has joined us as specialist leader on two of our svalbard polar bear explorer expeditions thus far. The islands in this archipelago extend from 74 n to 81 n and 10 e to 35 e, midway between the north. On the archipelagos island of spitsbergen there are two towns. 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. Please remember, if you are bitten by the polar bug, its harmless even though it will remain in your body for a long time. It is locatit aboot 400 miles north o mainland europe, midwey atween mainland norawa an the nor powl. 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. With a little luck you may come across a seal or two. 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. Vest spitsbergen or vestspitsbergen, urban east norwegian. When spitsbergen was first discovered by the dutch explorer william barents, it was named so for its jagged peaks. 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.
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. 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. Apr 25, 2017 the svalbard islands are remote islands in the arctic ocean and are part of the overseas territory of norway. 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. Despite its arctic location svalbard is easy to reach but still one can enjoy total wilderness. 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. The whole investigation aspects and tools, mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. Svalbard, an archipelago located in the arctic ocean, is the kingdom of norways northernmost part.
Apr 04, 2012 an american, john longyear, started the arctic coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. Find out where svalbard is located, the best entry points for an arctic safari, what country. Svalbard is the arctic north as you always dreamed it existed. Snowmobilesafari to barentsburg hurtigruten svalbard.
This remote location means svalbard retains the pristine natural wonders that the polar north is famed for. All nationalities require a full passport valid for 6 months. Remote, mysterious and extreme, the norwegian island of spitsbergen is the. Grab a bite to eat from the menu of pub standards including sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta and burgers. Northern lights hunting with snowcat hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. Snowmobile safari to the east coasthurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. 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. Dark and icegripped for eight months of the year, svalbards landscape consists of jagged peaks supported by immense. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry. The svalbard islands, norway arctic wilderness, wildlife. Ice cave tour with snowcat hurtigruten svalbard, spitsbergen. The steep walls of the largest island of svalbard spitsbergen call for a completely different climbing approach from. 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.
Bjorndalen is a place which offers you several characteristics from svalbard in one. Awesome arctic experience though, was a blast and fun hike. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and. The landscape is characterised by the plateaushaped mountains which are so typical for central and eastern svalbard. 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. The basement the largescale features of the svalbard geology are relatively simple.
Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly, and svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors annually. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a. Adult ivory gull on sperm whale carcass same dead whale as 2006 at bourbonhamma. Nature and history, regions and places of an arctic archipelago. The svalbard islands the svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole.
Spitzbergen svalbard german spitsbergen by rolf stange the new german version. 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. Svalbard polar bear explorer natural world safaris. Svalbard spitsbergen polar bears and seabirds may 2020. Spitsbergen books and more spitsbergensvalbard guidebook. 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.
November 29th is polar night in svalbard, so pitch black. Recommended book for further, welldigestable really. Situated north of mainland europe, it is about midway between continental norway and the north pole. The islands are directly north of and since 1920 an integrated part of norway. Our ski expeditions and tours in svalbard are taking place in may and june.
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. 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. Svalbard map and map of svalbard spitsbergen size history.
Svalbard synonyms, svalbard pronunciation, svalbard translation, english dictionary definition of svalbard. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time. Svalbardspitsbergen practical information pioneer expeditions. 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 is connected to the phone grid in mainland norway via fiber optic cable. But of course your guides in svalbard know what to do and will give you more information in the briefings. Life in svalbard leben in spitzbergen episode 1 longyearbyen. 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. 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. An american, john longyear, started the arctic coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. I welcome you to longyearbyen and svalbard and hope you have wonderful, memorable and profound experiences as a guest in our small, local community. Svalbard is a fantastic place for ski touring and expeditions in all levels. Entry visas are not required for entry into greenland or spitsbergen.
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