Svalbard where is it

Russian overwintering trapping started in the early 18th century and lasted until the midth century. More than 70 trapping stations from this era are known. The most famous of them was Ivan Starostin, who spent 39 winters in Svalbard, including 15 in a row. The Pomor trapping was primarily based on walrus products such as tusks, blubber oil and hides. They also traded in furs and down. Additionally, they hunted reindeer, seals and birds and gathered eggs, not least for their own consumption.

They constructed buildings ranging from small cabins to large stations, many of which were operated year-round. The thick winter furs of Arctic foxes and polar bears were attractive, and provided a major incentive to overwinter. Traces of various handicrafts have been found at many stations, which indicates that the Russians spent their spare processing raw materials and turning them into valuable trading commodities.

The Norwegian intensified their activities when the Russians reduced theirs, around , since they were basically interested in the same products.

By the late 19th century, it had become quite usual to overwinter in Svalbard. The hunters had a cyclic schedule based on the various seasons.

They trapped Arctic foxes and polar bears in the wintertime when the quality of the fur was best. Springtime was devoted to sealing, along with preparation of the furs for sale in the summer. Hunting birds and collecting down and eggs were summer activities, while in the autumn they hunted ptarmigan and reindeer. The trappers covered large distances and used a network of stations and huts.

Although much of the catch was for their own consumption, the hunters needed to sell furs, down and reindeer meat to purchase the necessary provisions from the mainland.

They needed raisins, flour, salt, kerosene, tools, weapons and ammunition, among other things. Occasionally, they also needed a new stove or a boat, and perhaps a little luxury.

Gradually the effectiveness of the equipment raised productivity beyond what the population of the species could ensure. One example of this was the self-shooting polar bear trap. Such traps consisted of a sawn-off rifle or shotgun placed in a crate.

The trigger was attached by a string to a small piece of blubber, which acted as the bait. When the polar bear poked in its head and touched this bait, it was shot in the head at close range. One of the most famous polar bear huntsmen in Svalbard was Henry Rudi. His main station was Fredheim in the valley of Sassendalen. Many people lost large sums of money investing in flamboyant and unstable industrial adventures. The period was marked by the purchase and transport of equipment, the hiring of crews and stocking of provisions, while buildings and plants also had to be constructed.

The mining in Svalbard, which started around , was based on fresh research and favourable prices for raw materials in the newly industrialised Europe. Although the coal reserves generated the most interest, there has also been short-lived mining of phosphorus, gold, zinc, lead, copper, gypsum and marble.

Mining is the only commercial activity that has survived for more than a century. Two mines are currently operated in Svalbard; Mine 7, which is near Longyearbyen, and the Russian mine in Barentsburg.

The archipelago is one of the only places on earth where rocks from practically every geological period may be found within a limited area. During the period from to , the palaeontologist Dr. One of the most sensational discoveries in Svalbard in recent years is the fossil of a metre-long reptile. It is by far the longest, and best preserved, Ichthyosauria fossil ever detected in Svalbard. More than 60 million years ago, Svalbard was on the seabed. This all changes when Svalbard crashed with Greenland.

Consequently, you will find the unique pointed mountains on the western side of Svalbard. The rock species that are more than 60 million years old are ancient seabed deposits that have risen into what are now mountains.

The fossils include everything from single-celled organisms to giant dinosaurs. Ordinary people can gather amazing plant fossils near the Longyearbreen glacier. Many activity providers in Longyearbyen offer fossil hunting trips, and there are no limitations on how many fossils you can take back to the mainland.

More than half of Svalbard is covered by glaciers. The largest glaciers are called ice caps, and are found mainly on the eastern side of Svalbard. The largest ice cap is Austfonna on the island of Nordaustlandet. Glaciers can act as huge climate archives. Over time, more and more snow falls on the glacier. As fresh snow falls on top, the snow is stored deeper and deeper in the glacier.

When drilling in a glacier, the ice cores form a timeline, whereby the bottom is the oldest and the top youngest. In central parts of Spitsbergen, the glaciers are much smaller than further east because the climate is drier and there is less snow in the winter.

Out on the coast, however, there are warm glaciers that are not frozen to the ground and can move considerable distances in a short period of time. Many of the glaciers in Svalbard are so-called surging glaciers, i. Surging glaciers are only found in Svalbard, on the islands of Arctic Canada and in Alaska. Little is known about what causes such surges and how long passes between each active phase, but it appears the resting phase in Svalbard varies between 30 and years.

There are no hospitals for pregnant women, and if someone dies, the local government requires the body to be flown or shipped to mainland Norway. It has stored more than , seeds from across the globe since as a backup in case of a global cataclysm that causes all crops to fail.

But, as temperatures rise, even the vault might not be completely safe. In , its entrance tunnel was flooded after part of the permafrost melted.

Longyearbyen was not designed with rainwater in mind and mudslides and avalanches have recently become a threat. The average temperature in Svalbard has risen by 4C since , five times quicker than in the rest of the planet — making it the fastest-warming place in the world.

Dine on locally sourced delicacies like Svalbard grouse, Svalbard reindeer, Atlantic cod and Arctic char, accompanied with herbs and mushrooms from the tundra. There are many glaciers near Longyearbyen. Experience a one-day cruise and take in the majestic ice wall of the glacier from the sea. Remember to keep your distance — the ice is calving, so big chunks of ice occasionally fall into the water, creating giant waves! You can also walk on the glacier with a guide, or explore magical ice caves that take you back to the ice age!

This is because …. We must respect their reign over this territory. Arctic nature is unforgiving, yet fragile. Explore the varied, pristine landscape of Svalbard on foot, skis, or snowmobile …. Many operators offer daytrips. One green option is to try Hurtigruten's silent, hybrid-driven catamaran. Journey by boat or a snowmobile to the city of Pyramiden — a living museum that takes you back to the days of the Soviet Union. In its heyday, 1, people lived here.

Most of the inhabitants moved away when the coal mine closed. Today, you can stay at the Pyramiden hotel. The mining town of Barentsburg is located West of Longyearbyen. The roughly residents make this the second biggest settlement on Svalbard. Get a firsthand experience of what it's like to be a coal miner in Gruve 3 , or mine 3, where you can try crawling through narrow shafts pictured , if you like. The hotel features a sauna with panoramic views, where you can enjoy the stunning landscape while staying nice and warm!

The vault contains one thousand square meters of seeds from every country in the world. The dark season lasts from October to February, and the northern lights make your experience extra intense. During summer, the midnight sun lights up the sky from April to August.

Plan your trip now. If you know how to walk, you know Get close to nature on a dog sledding trip and travel at high speed across the Norwegian wilderness. If you really want to get up close and personal with the stunning Norwegian fjord and coastal landscape, kayaks or canoes are Swap your shoes for ski boots and enjoy cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowkiting and ski touring.

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