Svalbard, also known as Spitsbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering Polar bears, Svalbard reindeers and Arctic foxes. Approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers, and the islands feature many mountains and fjords. The Northern Lights are visible during winter (24 hours of darkness), and summer brings the “midnight sun” (24 hours of daylight). The islands were first used as a base by the whalers who sailed far north in the 17th and 18th centuries, after which they were abandoned. Coal mining started at the beginning of the 20th century, and several permanent communities were established.
Research and tourism have become important supplementary industries, with the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault playing critical roles in the economy. Apart from Longyearbyen, other settlements include the Russian mining community of Barentsburg, the research station of Ny-Ålesund, and others. No roads connect the settlements; snowmobiles, aircraft and boats are used for inter-settlement transport. Svalbard Airport, Longyear, serves as the main gateway.
The following videos have been edited from video-clips taken with a compact camera. Speech and texts are in Norwegian language.