Is Svalbard a polar region?
Svalbard is the the polar bear’s kingdom. Arctic nature is unforgiving, yet fragile. That’s why more than half of Svalbard consists of protected areas.
Is Svalbard tundra or polar?
Svalbard has permafrost and tundra, with both low, middle and high Arctic vegetation. There have been found 165 species of plants on the archipelago. Only those areas which defrost in the summer have vegetations, which accounts for about 10% of the archipelago.
Is it illegal to not carry a gun in Svalbard?
Again: there is no law that requires anyone to carry a rifle in Svalbard! It is not forbidden to die in Longyearbyen and there is no law asking you to carry a rifle in Svalbard. Not having anything to protect you against polar bears might, however, be a life-threatening mistake.
Can you swim in Svalbard?
Swimming in ice-cold water is both exciting and dangerous experience. The most important thing is safety. All the swimmers go through a necessary medical check, and if the responsible doctor notices something wrong with someone in the water, that swimmer will be immediately taken back into the boat.
Is Svalbard above the Arctic Circle?
Svalbard, (Old Norse: “Cold Coast”) archipelago, part of Norway, located in the Arctic Ocean well north of the Arctic Circle. The islands lie between longitude 10° and 35° E and latitude 74° and 81° N, about 580 miles (930 km) north of Tromsø, Norway.
Why is Svalbard cold?
The climate of Svalbard is principally a result of its latitude, which is between 74° and 81° north. The North Atlantic Current moderates Svalbard’s temperatures, particularly during winter, giving it up to 20 °C (36 °F) higher winter temperature than similar latitudes in continental Russia and Canada.
Is Svalbard close to North Pole?
Svalbard is a Norwegian group of islands located in the Arctic Ocean north of continental Norway, about 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) from the North Pole. It is the northernmost year-round settlement on Earth, with a population of about 2,200.
Is Svalbard in the Arctic Circle?
What happens if you give birth on Svalbard?
Svalbard in Norway can’t handle dead bodies – because of the permafrost.
Is it illegal to be born Svalbard?
You cannot give birth on Svalbard There’s no such thing as the circle of life this far north. Just as you can’t die, you can’t be born on Svalbard either. There is no hospital or maternity ward on the island. When a pregnant woman has two weeks remaining before her due date, she must travel to Tromsø to give birth.
Why are cats not allowed in Svalbard?
The island is populated by many polar bears. Scientists at Norwegian Polar Institute have carried out a counting of polar bears in the Norwegian region. As the eco system is so isolated, cats are banned to protect the rich bird life on the island.
Where is Svalbard located in relation to the North Pole?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Svalbard (/ˈsvɑːlbɑːr/; Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈsʋɑ(ː)lbɑːɾ]; prior to 1925 known by its Dutch name Spitsbergen) is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Situated north of mainland Europe, it is about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole.
When does the dark season start in Svalbard?
We refer to the dark season in Svalbard as the “Polar Night”. This two-and-a-half-month period lasts from mid-November to late January. The sun is at least 6 degrees below the horizon during this period and it’s pitch-dark 24/7.
What kind of climate does Svalbard archipelago have?
Approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers, and the islands feature many mountains and fjords. The archipelago has an Arctic climate, although with significantly higher temperatures than other areas at the same latitude. The flora is adapted to take advantage of the long period of midnight sun to compensate for the polar night.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Svalbard?
The unique thing about Svalbard is that you can experience the Northern Lights around the clock (conditions permitting)! Svalbard is the only permanently settled place on earth where you can experience dayside Northern Lights, which differs in colour and strength from what normally occurs in the evening and at night.