The archipelago is the northernmost part of the kingdom of norway. There are three museums svalbardmuseum, north pole expedition museum, mine museum in gruve 3, university, public library, school with swimming and sports hall, kindergarten as well as supermarket, several shops, galleries and a range of hotels, restaurants and a large and still growing number of tour operators. Svalbard or spitsbergen is known for its pointed mountains and wide scenery of lush tundra. Tourism, science and administration are now the most important economical activities.
The film, which was directed by ola solum, includes beautiful depictions of the regions white icebergs and desolate mountain ranges. Outline of the physical geography and geology of svalbard. Svalbard is an archipelago 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. It was run by the norwegian stateownd snsk, where they claim to have run a profitable mining business in the years following 2000. Join us for a trip to our russian neighbors in barentsburg and cross snowcovered mountains and wide valleys. Spitzbergen svalbard german spitsbergen by rolf stange the new german version. Spitzbergen airport check out tripadvisor members 2,579 candid photos and videos of spitsbergen.
Northern lights and pink sky over snowcovered mountains in svalbard. This svalbard trilogy has been called an artistic peak for him. The spitsbergen landscape is characterized by rugged mountains, with steep flanks, as well as large, glacially eroded fjord systems. We guarantee not more then 6 snowmobiles which will give you as guest the best possible.
Spitsbergen books and more spitsbergensvalbard guidebook. In longyearbyen, midnight sun lasts from 20 april until 23 august. Constituting the westernmost bulk of the archipelago, it borders the arctic ocean, the norwegian sea, and the greenland sea. The norwegian film orions belt 1985 orions belte was the original title is set in svalbard, based on jon michelets 1977 novel of the same name.
Svalbard synonyms, svalbard pronunciation, svalbard translation, english dictionary definition of svalbard. Svalbard is under norwegian administration and souvereignty, but citizens of all signatary. Svalbard is a tax free zone so a number of shops in longyearbyen display various items for sale at prices well below mainland norways. Svalbard is a norwegian archipelago in the arctic ocean.
Spitsbergen covers an area of 37,673 km 2 14,546 sq mi, making it the largest island in norway and the 36thlargest in the world. But earlier in the war, britain and canada had retaken from the germans the svalbard archipelago, including its largest island, spitzbergen. Svalbard was also featured in the 2007 film adaptation of the golden compass, as the kingdom of the ice bears. Check out tripadvisor members 2,579 candid photos and videos of spitsbergen. Life in svalbard leben in spitzbergen episode 1 longyearbyen. Spitsbergen, the largest island in the svalbard archipelago situated in the arctic ocean. Jagged peaks of spitzbergen tv movie 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Nordvesthjornet and raudfjorden the cruise handbook for svalbard. Svalbard is an external, unincorporated territorium of the kingdom of norway. 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. 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 landscapes in svalbard are strongly sculpted by glaciers and rivers. Information about svalbard in the dictionary, synonyms and antonyms.
We stop at villa fredheim which has an important place in the history of svalbard and serve you a warm field lunch along with hot beverages. An introduction to the light winter season, from midfebruary to midmay. An introduction to the light winter season, from mid. The target for this tour is to take you on a scenic discovery. Sea ice loss in the arctic ocean has up to now been strongest during summer. An small overview from a cruise araound svalbard onboard the small german cruise vessel columbus. Proper usage and audio pronunciation of the word svalbard. Nature and history, regions and places of an arctic archipelago. The svalbard islands, norway arctic wilderness, wildlife.
Speysied wildlife bird watching trip reports spitzbergen. Magdalenefjord in northwestern spitsbergen is a very scenic, historically interesting fjord. They described the land as being rugged for the most part, and steep, mostly mountains and jagged peaks, from which we gave it the name of spitsbergen. 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. The photographers use endless rolls of film, camcorders seem to. Spitzbergen airport picture of spitsbergen, svalbard. Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the svalbard archipelago. The surroundings offer both impressive mountains, fjord and wildlife. All three slovenian expeditions 2005, 2006, and 2007 led by slovenian filmmaker gregor kresal had to face major logistical. We spent 12 days together with 24 people on the wonderful sv noorderlicht, sailing the spitzbergen coast.
Coal mining has historically been the dominant economic activity, and the spitzbergen treaty of 9 february 1920 gives the 45 countries that so far have ratified the treaty equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to norwegian regulation. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a. Svalbard definition of svalbard by the free dictionary. Approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers, and the islands feature many mountains and fjords. Pdf loss of sea ice during winter north of svalbard. The name spitsbergen, meaning pointed mountains from the dutch spits pointed, bergen mountains, was at. This remote location means svalbard retains the pristine natural wonders that the polar north is famed for. Visitors come to see its whaling and fishing villages to see polar bears, reindeer, and marine mammals and to marvel at the glacial landscape which includes some stunning wate. It looks like we dont have any akas for this title yet. Spitsbergen trips, spitsbergen tours, spitsbergen holidays. Combining a great variety of flora and fauna with stunning remote landscapes, a visit to spitsbergen is a must for wilderness and wildlife enthusiasts.
The largest island is spitsbergen, followed by nordaustlandet and edgeoya. The name, given by dutch explorer willem barents in 1596, means jagged peaks. Find out where svalbard is located, the best entry points for an arctic safari. Amazing photography the norwegian arctic as you have never.
The worlds northernmost city jennifer dombrowski april 4, 2012 jennifer dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter and bases herself in prata di pordenone, italy. All three slovenian expeditions 2005, 2006, and 2007 led by slovenian filmmaker gregor kresal had to face major logistical difficulties. Accommodation in cheap guesthouses costs on the order of 500 krnight and sit. It was a truly wonderful experience that highlighted the beautiful sights, the amazing. The population of the archipelagos of svalbard according to official estimates. Aerial arctic lofoten, jan mayen and svalbard from the air. Geography svalbard is an archipelago in the arctic ocean, located about midway between norway and the north pole. For more photo tours, visit my website at photocourses. A norwegian archipelago comprising spitsbergen and. Explore svalbard holidays and discover the best time and places to visit.
A video summary of the two svalbard photo tours i ran with luminous landscape in july 2014. Another stop on the route will be the frozen eskerwaterfall which is a very cool phenomen happening in the winter. In contrast, the sea ice concentration north of svalbard has experienced a larger decline during winter since 1979. It is regularly visited also by larger cruise ships, as the peninsula gravneset grave point has a nice beach, relatively well sheltered and thus good for easy landings in most conditions except strong easterly winds, surrounded by a spectacular panorama of pointed mountains and glaciers. The captain of the polestar by arthur conan doyle is set off amsterdam island at the north west of svalbard.
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. Coal mining, tourism, and international research are svalbard s major industries. The 1985 norwegian film orions belt takes place on svalbard. 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. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the akas submission guide. In 2007, there were 484 people working in the mining sector, 211 people working in the tourism sector and 111. Svea nord was the most productive mine ever in the mining history of spitsbergen. The svalbard islands are located in the arctic ocean, halfway between norway and the north pole.