Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago belonging to Norway, located roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Its main island is Spitsbergen, where most of the population lives. It is one of the world’s most unique, remote, and fascinating places, both geographically and culturally. Svalbard's landscape is dominated by vast glaciers, rugged mountains, frozen tundra, and dramatic fjords, with nearly 60% of the land covered in ice. Seasonal contrasts define life here: the Polar Night, from mid-November to mid-February, brings 24 hours of darkness, while the Midnight Sun, from May to August, offers continuous daylight.

Despite its remoteness, Svalbard teems with wildlife. Polar bears are iconic, though they are not as commonly seen on land as the Arctic foxes and the distinctive Svalbard reindeer. The region is also home to walruses, bearded and harp seals, numerous whale species, and vast seabird colonies that flourish during the summer months. Strict environmental regulations help protect these species and their fragile Arctic habitats, and travellers are required to follow safety guidelines at all times, especially when venturing outside the settlements.

The main settlement, Longyearbyen, is one of the world’s northernmost communities and home to a diverse population of around 2,500 residents from more than 50 nationalities. It offers surprisingly vibrant cultural life with cafés, museums, galleries, and gourmet restaurants. Other communities include the Russian mining town of Barentsburg and the international research base at Ny-Ålesund. Notably, Svalbard has no indigenous population; instead, it is a place of transient workers, scientists, explorers, and adventurers.

Historically reliant on coal mining, Svalbard’s economy has shifted toward tourism, scientific research, and satellite-based environmental monitoring. During winter visitors can enjoy dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice cave exploration and northern lights excursions (day and night), and during summer there are boat and fjord cruises, visits to abandoned mining sites, kayaking and glacier hikes. With its pristine wilderness and extreme conditions, Svalbard offers an unparalleled sense of remoteness, stillness, and natural power.

Nuggets of information:

• An Arctic desert,  Svalbard is considered one of Earth’s last great wildernesses.
• With around 3,000 polar bears and just about 2,500 residents, polar bears outnumber the human population.
• Northern lights can also be seen during the day - during polar nights.
• One can neither be born nor die on Svalbard.
• Carrying a gun is a must, when leaving the settlement.
• Seven of Norway's 47 national parks are on Svalbard.
• Svalbard is a completely visa free zone.
• Less than 10% of the archipelago's landmass has any vegetation.
• It houses the world's only global seed vault, a secure backup storage facility for protecting valuable seed samples from natural disasters, climate change, conflict, and accidental loss.
• It is customary to take your shoes off when entering buildings.
• Longyearbyen airport is built on permafrost.
• Cats are forbidden on the islands, in order to protect the local fauna and safeguard the local birdlife.
• Svalbard is pretty much cashless. There is no bank branch or a working ATM in Longyearbyen.

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