Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it lies about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitude. The largest island is Spitsbergen, followed in size …
Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it lies about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitude. The largest island is Spitsbergen, followed in size by Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. The largest settlement is Longyearbyen on the west coast of Spitsbergen.
Highest elevation: 1,718 m (5,636 ft)
Sovereign state: Norway
Svalbard Treaty: 9 February 1920
Svalbard Act: 17 July 1925
Official languages: Norwegian
Ethnic groups (2021): 61.1% Norwegian · 38.9% other
Government: Devolved locally-administered unincorporated area within a constitutional monarchy
AdTrust National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition's 30+ years of Arctic expedition experience. Sail around Svalbard with expert naturalists. See wild polar bears in their native habitat
Site visitors: Over 10K in the past month
Destinations: Greenland, Kara Sea, Newfoundland, Arctic Svalbard, Northern Isles
Save
Share
More