NORWAY - Svalbard Spitsbergen island - PAGE 1
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, constituting the northernmost part of Norway Located north of mainland Europe, it is about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Spitsbergen island is the more famous island of the archipelago. Longyearbyen is the capital and has an airport.
The islands were first taken into use as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries, after which they were abandoned.
The flora takes advantage of the long period of midnight sun to compensate for the polar night. Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer and marine mammals.
BEST TIME To VISIT SVALBARD
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to ARCTIC
From June to August
glacier
glacier and icebergs
Reindeers
Arctic Landscape
Kittiwakes on ice
Arctic Landscape - Icecap
Arctic Landscape
Arctic Landscape with a boat
Arctic Landscape
Arctic Landscape
Arctic Landscape
Arctic Landscape
Terns taking off
Kittiwakes
Walruses
Walruses
walruses
walruses
Arctic Landscape - reflection
Arctic Landscape
Reindeer
polar bear
reindeers
polar bear
walrus
polar bear
Long tail Skua
Vessel and arctic landscape
walrus
polar bear
Arctic landscape
Humpback whale diving
walruses
long tailed skua
Svalbard was an eldorado for mining and many traces are visible
walruses
Humpback whales
Guides have mandatory rifle in case as polar bears are very dangerous
Arctic flora
walrus
Kittiwakes are nesting on cliffs in summer
polar bears on pack ice
Arctic landscape
Reindeer and mountains
Arctic fox with its summer coat
walruses
reindeer
Arctic landscape - glacier
Summer cabins for locals
Arctic landscape
Longyearbyen - street view and a polar bear puppet
Longyearbyen - distances from many cities
Stuffed Polar bear standing in a hotel - Its size is realy impressive
Stuffed Polar bear in a hotel in Longyearbyen
Tourists visit Svalbard for polar bears and wildlife
Stuffed Polar bear at the airport
Polar bears are dangerous and guides have always a rifle in case
Kittiwakes
tourists cruising on a zodiac and an iceberg
water is getting out of the rock
Cliff with a waterfall
waterfall
Waterfall on rocks containing iron
Kittiwake
Tern ready to dive and fish
kittiwake taking up
Guillemot
Guillemot
Guillemot
Guillemot
Polar Bear
Polar Bear searching for food - in summer, they can be sticked on islands where it's difficult to find food
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Arctic Flora
Arctic Flora
Arctic Flora
Arctic Flora
Tern
Tern
Tern
skua
the red color is linked to the sexual maturity for males walrus - this one probably fight and loose a tusk
walrus
walrus
walrus
reindeer skulls and antlers
Arctic landscape
Whaling was common in Svalbard in the past and whales bones are still there
cliff during a misty day
kittiwakes on ice
cruising on a zodiac
landscape - cliff
waterfall
Polar bear on snow
Kittiwakes on ice
skua flying
Kittiwake on pack ice
Frontier between the ocean and the ice pack
Ice Pack
Ice Pack
Ice Pack
Ice Pack
Ice Pack
birds are nesting on cliffs
Karl XII island
Arctic birds are mostly nesting on cliffs
Walruses (males) with a reddish skin
Walrus
Walruses
Walruses - one is scratching itself with its flipper
Walrus
Walrus sleeping
Walrus
Walrus
Walrus - the reddish skin means this male is sexually mature
Polar bear foot print
Polar bear foot print
Polar bear foot print
Reindeer - Males and females have antlers
Reindeer
Reindeer
Reindeer
Reindeer
Reindeer
Bowhead whale
Bowhead Whale
Longyearbyen is the capital of Svalbard
large male reindeer grazing
Reindeers grazing, probably females which have also antlers
Reindeers
reindeers
Longyearbyen - street art
Longyearbyen - houses
Longyearbyen - buildings
Longyearbyen - church and houses
Longyearbyen - building
Longyearbyen - building
shops with a polar bear puppet
Polar Bear welcoming tourists at the airport
city center
Longyearbyen is the capital of Svalbard - building
Longyearbyen - houses
Longyearbyen - Memorial for Svalbard miners
Longyearbyen - buildings and a café
Longyearbyen - road from airport
Longyearbyen - buildings
Ny Alesund - harbour
Ny-Alesund is a research town
Ny Alesund - ancient Post Office
Between 1925 and 1928, four attempts were made to reach the North Pole by air from Ny-Alesund. One involved flying boats led by Roald Amundsen.
Ny Alesund - red house
Ny Alesund - read house
Between 1925 and 1928, four attempts were made to reach the North Pole by air from Ny-Alesund. One involved flying boats led by Roald Amundsen.