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1/7 Majestic Polarbear on ice floe Photo: La Nau de Fotografia / Shutterstock Photo -
2/7 Photo: Spitbergen Travel Photo
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3/7 Photo: Karsten Bidstrup Photo
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4/7 Photo: Andrea Hermle - Guest image Photo
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5/7 Photo: Gian-Rico Willy Photo
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6/7 Photo: Jørn Henriksen Photo
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7/7 Photo: Dominic Barrington Photo
Spitsbergen, the largest island in Svalbard, is the crown of Arctic Norway. Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, one might expect it to be unbearably cold. However, thanks to the Gulf Stream, Spitsbergen and the other islands in the Svalbard archipelago boast a surprisingly mild climate with distinctive seasons. The large variety of plants and wildlife includes seals, thousands of seabirds coming in every summer, the Arctic fox and reindeer and the top predator: the polar bear.
Located on the southern fringe of the frozen Arctic Ocean, Svalbard and Spitsbergen offers expedition landings, hikes, kayaking and other activities in the largest Arctic wildnerness in Europe.
Svalbard has more than 3,000 Polar bears and fewer than 3,000 people. Remote, mysterious, and extreme, Svalbard is the crown of Arctic Norway; a land forged by ice and wind, ocean, and snow that presents us with a spectacular range of unforgettable adventures. With its location right on the edges of the ever frozen Arctic Ocean, the warmer currents of the Gulf Stream meet the cold air and water from the north. This Archipelago holds fascinating histories of the polar heroes of the north, and cultural heritage from the coal mining era as well as the history of exploration, hunting and whaling.
Klondike-like atmosphere: Population and settlements in Svalbard
The population of Svalbard is approximately 2,500. Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in the islands and is also the seat of the governor. It's a colorful modern town with first-class facilities, like excellent hotels and restaurants, regular flight connections to mainland Norway, as well as an impressive range of activities to suit every traveller. The town has a hospital, primary and secondary schools, university, sports center with a swimming pool, library, cultural centre, cinema, bus transport, hotels, a bank and several museums.
The newspaper Svalbardposten is published weekly. Spitsbergen is among the safest places on Earth, with virtually no crime. Barentsburg is the second largest settlement in Svalbard with about 500 inhabitants, almost entirely Russian and Ukrainian. The Russian-owned Arktikugol has been mining coal here since 1932, and during the cold war Barentsburg was a hotbed of activity. Ny-Ålesund is one of the world’s northernmost settlements, inhabited by a permanent population of approximately 30-35 people who work for one of the research stations or the logistics and supply company “Kings Bay AS”, which ‘owns’ and runs the research village. In the summer the activity in Ny-Ålesund is greatly increased with up to 120 researchers, technicians and field assistants.
Climate and seasons in Svalbard
Despite its northerly location (74º to 81º north) Svalbard has a relatively mild climate. Due to the Gulf Stream, Svalbard’s west coast is the world’s most northerly ice-free area. The average summer temperature is 42º F and the coldest winter month of March has an average temperature of minus 7ºF. There is little rain, but the moist air from the sea can cause a light drizzle and fog during the summer.
From April 19th till August 23rd Longyearbyen has Midnight Sun. From October 26th till February 16th it is dark, and from November 14th till January 29th it is what we call the polar nights which means that it is still dark but the sun is lower than 6º below the horizon.
Nature and wildlife
In order to preserve nature and wildlife on Svalbard, 65 % of the Archipelago is protected through national parks, nature reserves and bird sanctuaries. There are only three land mammals on Svalbard: polar bear, Svalbard reindeer and the Arctic fox. In the sea however there are walrus, ringed seals, bearded seals, Greenland seals, hooded seals, white-nose dolphins, narwhales, white whales, killer whales. There is a rich bird life on the island and more than 100 species have been registered. Surprisingly the flora is very diverse for somewhere this far north.
The polar bear is probably the foremost symbol of Svalbard’s wildlife and it is an exhilarating experience to watch them in their natural habitat. The polar bear does not usually attack humans but can be lethal. On all our voyages and activities safety is maintained by experienced guides carrying weapons, and giving warning shots if necessary. The authorities on Svalbard, together with the travel industry advise facts and make recommendations to travellers taking part in organized activities in order to protect both visitors and the polar bear population. If you are going outside Longyearbyen on your own, it is recommended that you take a weapon because of the polar bear danger. On organized trips the guide will always be responsible for safety and will carry a weapon and equipment.
History and Cultural Heritage
Since Willem Barentz’ discovery of Svalbard in 1596, several nationalities have explored, hunted and managed industries in this Arctic Archipelago. The Svalbard treaty dated 1920, signed by 43 member countries, gives Norway sovereignty over Svalbard.
Svalbard’s nature is very vulnerable, especially due to the permafrost. All vegetation is protected and all traces of human activity up until 1945 is regarded as part of the cultural heritage. Read more about our environmental commitment in the Arctic region...
Traveling to Svalbard
With Hurtigruten you can choose among a variety of expedition sailings on MS Fram, or MS Spitsbergen. Typically, you would make your way to Longyearbyen before embarking on a 6-10 day cruise. If you only want to experience Svalbard by foot (or snowmobile), you can choose between multiple land based adventures on the Hurtigruten Svalbard website. We always recommend combining the two for the ultimate Svalbard experience.
Your trip to Svalbard can also be combined with spectacular cruises to Norway and the other Arctic islands, like Greenland and Iceland.
On our cruises, the expedition-style landings will take you close to the Arctic wildlife, the ghost towns of the early whaling stations and remote mining towns, research communities, spectacular fjords and icebergs.
Why travel with Hurtigruten
While the polar bear is the King of the Arctic, Hurtigruten is the undisputed leader when it comes to exploring Svalbard. No one else comes close to our years of experience and deep connection with this region. In fact, we’ve been bringing explorers here for over 120 years.
Whether you choose to discover Svalbard by land or sea, our experienced and knowledgeable team offer programmes tailored to every taste.
Experience the beauty of the High Arctic wilderness with the experts. Hurtigruten pioneered the Sportsman’s Route to Svalbard in 1896, and built the first hotel on the archipelago, near what would become Longyearbyen. Drawing on this experience, we offer a comprehensive selection of land-based adventures every day of the year, as well as unique expedition voyages through the summer months
There's nowhere else quite like Svalbard. Whether you choose a land based adventure or join us for an expedition cruise on one of our ice classed ships, the beauty of Svalbard will create indelible memories. Only Hurtigruten know the most unique small bays and inlets, bringing you closer to the wilderness than anyone else.
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