Svalbard
A Fascinating Land of Evolving Histories
Svalbard was never inhabited by Indigenous people. Legendary Dutch explorer William Barentz was the first person to reach here in 1596 – and Dutch and English whalers came soon after, seeking their fortunes among the islands’ rich wildlife. Russian Pomors, Norwegians, Dutch, English, and Basque whalers, hunters, and trappers all had free rein until the establishment of Norwegian sovereignty in 1920 with the signature of the Svalbard Treaty.
Today, vast tracts of Svalbard are protected as Nature Reserves and National Parks, and all wildlife here is protected by law.
Area of Svalbard
- 61,022 km²
Population of Svalbard
- 2,939 people (2020)
Why Travel to Svalbard
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc id est interdum, ultrices purus eget, rhoncus augue. Aliquam blandit ullamcorper pharetra.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
Suspendisse potenti
Sed id quam at odio ultrices consequat
Duis finibus non est vel condimentum
In laoreet a enim ac lacinia
Map of Svalbard
A Fascinating Archipelago
The 20 major islands and the many small islets that comprise the archipelago of Svalbard total around 62,700km2 – slightly smaller than the Republic of Ireland. Spitsbergen (often used synonymously with Svalbard) and Nordaustlandet are the largest islands and, collectively, almost 60 % of the archipelago is covered by glaciers and around 10 % by tundra, with the rest consisting of cliffs, mountains, and bare rock. Geological evidence shows us that Svalbard was not always a cold, icebound realm. The oldest rocks on Svalbard were lifted out of the sea by tectonic collisions around 450 million years ago.
Wildlife That Occupy Land, Sea, and Sky
Despite Svalbard’s remote location and freezing conditions, a few land mammals call this archipelago home, such as the Arctic fox, a keen hunter, and the diminutive Svalbard reindeer. Svalbard is known for its large polar bear population, estimated at around 3,000. These animals spend most of their time hunting on the sea ice, but they are also frequently seen along the coasts.
Svalbard is also an excellent spot for birdwatchers, and Svalbard’s waters are teeming with marine life, with walruses, seals, and whales commonly seen. In the summer months, large colonies of birds like the little auk and Brünnich’s guillemot nest on cliffs. The Arctic tern, known for its incredible migration from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back, also breeds here.
Svalbard Reindeer Quick Overview Scientific Name Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Population Estimated at 10,000-22,000 in Svalbard Regions Arctic...
Polar Bear Quick Overview Scientific Name Ursus maritimus Population Estimated at 22,000-31,000 globally (IUCN) Regions Arctic, Europe, North...
Walrus Quick Overview Scientific Name Odobenus rosmarus Population Estimated at 225,000 globally, of which about 20,000 live in the Northern...
Northern Gannet Quick Overview Scientific Name Morus bassanus Population Estimated at 1,500,000-1,800,000 individuals globally Regions Arctic and...
Common Eider Quick Overview Scientific Name Somateria mollissima Population Estimated at close to 2 million globally Regions Arctic and North...
Black Guillemot Quick Overview Scientific Name Cepphus grylle Population Estimated at close to 400,000–700,000 individuals globally Regions North...
The Atlantic puffin or the “clown of the sea,” is a recognisable seabird in the North Atlantic. Famous for its beak and diving, it is essential in...
The Arctic Skua, also known as the 'parasitic jaeger', has adapted to some of the planet’s most challenging environments with its streamlined shape,...
Have you ever heard of a fox that can change colors? And it is roughly the size of a house cat? We're talking about the Arctic fox, one of nature's...
Imagine going on one of our voyages and spotting a penguin that could be as tall as your child. We're talking about the emperor penguin, the tallest...
You might recognize this penguin from the famous Sony Pictures Animation movie 'Surfs Up'. Even though in real life they do not surf, with its vivid...
With over 22 different species worldwide, and considered one of the largest living flying seabirds by its wingspan (which can be larger the size of...
The Climate of Svalbard
The climate on Svalbard is dominated by its high Arctic latitude. While the last gasp of the Gulf Stream keeps the islands warmer than other areas at a similar latitude, this is strictly relative! Longyearbyen experiences average annual high temperatures around 46°F (8°C), and minimum temperatures around 5°F (-15°C).
The extreme northerly latitude of Svalbard means the islands experience midnight sun from April to August, and polar night from November to February. This extreme annual variation means that in Spring and Autumn, sunrise and sunset times vary by up to 40 minutes per day!
| AVERAGE HIGH | AVERAGE LOW | PRECIPITATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°F (-13°C) | 1°F (-17°C) | 0.79 in (20 mm) |
| February | 7°F (-14°C) | 0°F (-18°C) | 0.59 in (15 mm) |
| March | 10°F (-12°C) | 3°F (-16°C) | 0.63 in (16 mm) |
| April | 18°F (-8°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 0.55 in (14 mm) |
| May | 28°F (-2°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.47 in (12 mm) |
| June | 37°F (3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 0.51 in (13 mm) |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 0.63 in (16 mm) |
| August | 41°F (5°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 0.87 in (22 mm) |
| September | 34°F (1°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.02 in (26 mm) |
| October | 23°F (-5°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.91 in (23 mm) |
| November | 16°F (-9°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 0.87 in (22 mm) |
| December | 12°F (-11°C) | 5°F (-15°C) | 0.79 in (20 mm) |
Popular Expeditions to Svalbard
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum sed dui purus. In tempor felis nec justo congue consectetur. Pellentesque imperdiet venenatis justo ut scelerisque. Suspendisse ex nulla, vulputate ut dapibus in, dignissim in sem.
