Svalbard

Quick Facts

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Capital

Longyearbyen

Population

2,760

Government

Territory of Norway

Religions

Christian

Languages

Norwegian, Russian

Calling Code

+47

Nationality

Norwegian

Local name

Svalbard

Currency

Norwegian kroner (NOK)

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Introduction

Set halfway between the northern tip of Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard (which literally means "cold edge" and is also known as Spitsbergen) is predictably cold and not exactly a resort-type destination. With temperatures during winter resting around the 20° Celcius below zero mark, summer (if you can call it that) might be a slightly better option for sane travellers.

The archipelago was used as a base for whaling trips and as a launching place for Arctic expeditions, neither of which activities are particularly common amongst today's travelling community. Instead, travellers to Svalbard come to enjoy the stunning beauty of an Arctic desert, a landscape as harsh as it is mystifying. And for those who just want to get away from big city life, the capital Longyearbyen offers just that: a community of 2000, whose means of transport are snowboards and boats.

Brief History

Geography

Regions/Largest Islands

• Spitsbergen
• Nordaustlandet
• Barentsøya
• Edgeøya
• Prins Karls Forland

Cities/Settlements

Svalbard consists mainly of settlements, with the exception of the capital Longyearbyen (literal translation "Longyear city").

• Longyearbyen (Norwegian) - population of roughly 2000
• Barentsburg (Russian mining settlement) - 500
• Ny-Ålesund (Norwegian international research centre) - 40
• Sveagruva (Norwegian mining settlement) - 250 inhabitants but not permanent.
• Hornsund (Polish research station) - 8

Sights and Activities

Total darkness

Although not many travellers visit Svalbard during wintertime, it is still possible to travel to Longyearbyen and settle yourself down in a nice and warm hotel, witnessing total darkness for several months. Although there are better places to experience the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), you can witness this here as well. December and January are the darkest and coldest months, so if you are in the mood to celebrate Christmas in a very special way, come to Svalbard.
Equally interesting is to experience daylight for 24 hours from May to early August. This is when most travellers visit Svalbard, although it still is relatively quiet.

Northern Cruise

Many people visiting Svalbard will eventually set off on a boat to cruise northwards. If the conditions are right and there isn't too much sea-ice left, it is possible to cross the 80th parallel. People travelling further north are mostly the more adventurous travellers on an expedition to the Northpole, so this is your chance to go as far north as possible in relative comfort without flying!

Polar Bear spotting

Svalbard, together with some parts of Canada (for example near Churchill), is one of the best places on earth to see polarbears. Be careful though and don't go out walking by yourself, always take a guide or do a tour, as these animals can be very agressive towards humans as well. The sight though is very impressive and you will never forget this encouter with one of the biggest bears on the world. Other species to view are reindeers, polar foxes, seals and walruses, as well as many species of arctic birds.

Other sights and activities

• Barentsburg and Pyramiden Two Soviet-era settlements, the former still working, the latter out of order. You can find two Lenin statues here.

Events and Festivals

Festivals

There are several annual festivals held in Svalbard:

• Polar Jazz, end of January. 4-5 day jazz festival.
• Sunfest Week, around March 8th. A celebration of the end of the polar night
• Blues Festival, end of October. A blues-themed way to mark the approach of winter.
• KunstPause Svalbard, around 14 November. An arts festival timed to match the beginning of the polar night.

Most big concerts are held at "Huset", which has been the stage for many of the big Norwegian bands and theatre ensembles over the years. Most of these are not regular but connected to a big local event like the return of the sun on March 8th.

Traditions

You are expected to take off your shoes in most of Svalbard's buildings before entering. This tradition dates back to most settlements being built around coal mines and was a way to keep the coal dust out of the houses. Where required, it is usually quite obvious thanks to the shoe rack covered in dirty boots in prominent position at the entrance. When visiting Svalbard it's therefore a good idea to pack some indoor shoes, warm slippers or socks.

Weather

The climate is Arctic, but somewhat tempered by the warm North Atlantic current. The average temperature ranges from -14 °C during the winter to +6 °C during the summer, with temperatures of between -20 °C and -30 °C being quite common for longer periods during the winter. The wind-chill factor normally makes it feel even colder.

With much of the year being spent in darkness, it's not strange that most travellers to Svalbard prefer the light months of March through September. The most popular time to visit Svalbard is during it's brief summer, from June to August when it's both light and not too cold, however for those interested in winter sports the period between March and May offers both snow and light.

Svalbard features the midnight sun from April 20 to August 23, although the sun itself is often hidden behind dense banks of fog. Conversely, the sun stays under the horizon during the polar night from October 26 to February 15.

Getting there

By Plane

The only way for most travellers to get to Svalbard is via plane and flights are generally expensive if not booked long in advance. There are regular flights to and from Oslo and Tromsø operated by SAS although the number of flights per week are dependent on the season. It is approximately 3 hours flight from Oslo and 1 and a half hour flight from Tromsø. Starting from March 2008, Norwegian will start twice-weekly direct flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen.

There is an airport bus between the airport and Longyearbyen which is timed to coincide with flight arrivals and departures.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

There is a cargo ship service from Tromsø in the summer but this is not a regular mode of transport for most travellers as passengers are usually not allowed on board. In the rare cases where it is allowed, prices are generally as high as flying and the journey takes 2 to 3 days.

In the summer, several sailing boats also make the crossing to Svalbard, some as small as 20 foot.

Getting around

There are no roads connecting the different settlements on Svalbard but there is around 50km of road around Longyearbyen. There are several taxi's in Longyearbyen. In the winter the common form of transportation is snowmobile.

In the summer there is a boat connection between Longyearbyen and Barentsburg several times a week. There is also a flight to Ny-Ålesund but in principle this is reserved for scientists, researchers and workers. During the summer Ny-Ålesund can be reached by boat.

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Red Tape

You do not require a visa (or even a passport) to to visit Svalbard or the Russian settlements or even to work there. However this is purely theoretical as practically the only way to get to Svalbard is via Norway and as Norway considers Svalbard a local destination you will need to pass Norwegian immigration first. Passengers arriving in Norway from Svalbard can also have their passports checked.

Money

The currency of Svalbard is the Norwegian kroner (NOK). Check with a currency conversion site like Oanda for exact rates.

Holidays

Depending on the settlement, Norwegian and Russian public holidays apply respectively.

Work

Study

Since 1993, Svalbard is home to the world's northernmost education institution, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), which is located in Longyearbyen at 78º N. The university offers courses at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level in Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology.

Language

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

You can drink the tap water on Svalbard but surface water should be boiled before consumption as tapeworm eggs might be contained. As there are no pharmacies on Svalbard, travellers should bring their own medication where needed. Some non-prescription drugs can be purchased in Longyearbyen, which also has a small hospital for emergencies.

Safety

Keep Connected

Phone

Svalbard is connected to the phone grid in mainland Norway via fiber optic cable. This ensures a good quality telephone coverage in Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Svea and Ny-Ålesund. The area code for Svalbard is the same as for Norway +47. GSM mobile phones work in Longyearbyen, Svea and Barentsburg. UMTS phones can also be used in Longyearbyen.

Internet

There are several public internet terminals in Longyearbyen and internet connections are top class, thanks to NASA renting bulk capacity of undersea fiber optic cables for extreme condition experiments held in Svalbard.

Post

Main to and from Svalbard follows the regular Norwegian system and prices. There is also a Lokalpost system which is used for intra-Svalbard mail .