Svalbard Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean
About Svalbard
Svalbard is the northernmost tip of Europe and, a few military bases aside, its settlements are the northernmost permanently-inhabited spots on the planet. Located between the 76° and 81° parallels, they are far more northerly than any part ofAlaskaand all but a few ofCanada's Arctic islands. In fact, they would be permanently locked in by ice if not for the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, and it is this comparative warmth that makes them habitable. The islands cover 62,050 km² (smaller than Iceland, about twice the area of Belgium), the largest of which are Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Austfonna glacier on Nordaustlandet is 8,492 km² and the widest glacier in Europe, slightly ahead ofVatnajökullin Iceland. Austfonna glacier alone covers an area about 3-4 times wider t
Svalbard Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 18 sections including: