Svalbard
The Northernmost point of Europe.
Why is Svalbard special?
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Located on top of the world, it contains endless areas of unspoilt, raw Arctic wilderness. Longyearbyen is the main town of Svalbard and it’s the world's northernmost permanent settlement, located at 78 degrees north, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole (1,050 km away). The 2,300 residents here are used to extremes. When the sun sets on the 5th of October each year, the town will not see it again for 155 days until the 8th of March next year. For most of this time, the town is covered in complete darkness.
Svalbard is perhaps one of the most accessible inaccessible places in the world — despite its remote location, there are daily flights to and from Svalbard throughout the year. And it’s one of the few visa-free zones in the world, therefore there are more than 50 different nationalities — just 57% are Norwegians; there are many Thai, Swedish, Russian, and more.
Wilderness
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole — Svalbard is often referred to as Europe’s last wilderness, offering Arctic nature at its rawest. The island features untouched glaciers and craggy mountains and is famous for its polar bears, reindeer, whales, seals, walruses, and Arctic foxes.
Life with Polar Bears
There are 3000 polar bears in the archipelago – which is more than the region's human population! When living in Longyearbyen, it’s the law that people must be armed, just in case.
However, other than firing warning shots, weapons can only be used in situations where human life is at risk. Relatively few serious confrontations, 11 in total, occurred in the field. Until now, only five fatal attacks on humans by bears had been recorded in the last 50 years. The most recent one, was in the summer of 2020, when a Dutch tourist was camping and got attacked by a polar bear during the night.
Curious and unpredictable animals
Most confrontations between people and bears result from the polar bear’s inherent curiosity, which derives from its adaptation to life in a very barren and inhospitable environment with scant access to food. All potential food sources must be checked out. Add in the bear’s extreme patience and total unpredictability, and it’s clear that people have to be vigilant. It’s practically impossible to determine in advance whether a bear will continue strolling along the beach or turn and run at you at great speed, so be prepared for both.
How to reach Svalbard?
The most common route to reach Svalbard is to fly via Oslo to Longyearbyen. Flying time is 3 hours. If you are already in Northern Norway, there are also direct flights from Tromsø. Longyearbyen airport is the northernmost airport that receives regularly scheduled flights. There’s no boat service to Svalbard, just expedition cruises.
WHERE TO STAY IN Longyearbyen?
Mary-Ann's Polarrigg
Mary-Ann's Polarrigg is a chill lodge with a funky vibe in central Longyearbyen. The on-site restaurant serves Arctic-inspired dishes and complimentary breakfast.
Seasons & Best time to visit Svalbard
Each season has its unique charms and characteristics! It really comes down to what interests you have and what you want to experience in Svalbard. If you want to enjoy the winter and northern lights, but still have few hours of light, I recommend going between March and April. If you have an adventurous spirit, in the summer (from May until September), the island offers many tours and activities.
Climate
Svalbard has an arctic climate with cold winters and cool summers. Average summer temperatures range from 3 to 7 °C (37.4 to 44.6 °F), and winter temperatures are from −13 to −20 °C (8.6 to −4.0 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) in July 2020.
Polar night season
In October, it starts to get already dark in the afternoon and there is noticeably less daylight as each day passes. This two-and-a-half-month period of complete darkness it’s called Polar Nights — it lasts from mid-November to late January. The sun is at least 6 degrees below the horizon during this period and it’s pitch-dark 24/7. The darkness is the same around the clock, so it does not give you any hints about what time it is.
Northern lights
The only light sources outside the settlement are the moon, the stars and the Northern Lights. Svalbard is so unique, that it’s the only permanently settled place on earth where you can experience dayside Northern Lights, which differ in colour and strength from what normally occurs in the evening and at night.
The best period to see northern lights in Svalbard is from late September until mid-March, from 6:00 PM to midnight, and between 4:00 AM - 8:00 AM
The blue hour
In the weeks before and after the Polar Night, they have what is called the “blue hour”. This provides Svalbard with unique light conditions during the daytime, and the beautiful blue tone is something you must experience to fully appreciate. This period of the year is a favourite among photographers, because they get to capture the unique blue light by day and the magical Northern Lights in the evening and at night.
Midnight sun season
The midnight sun means complete daylight for 24 hours — from the 17th of May and won’t drop below the horizon again until late August. During this magical time of the year, the midnight sun affects the biological clock of humans and animals, and it’s easy to lose track of time.
The archipelago is invaded by birds which migrate here in vast numbers to nest. The waters surrounding the archipelago are very nutritious and offer a plentiful supply of food. An abundance of walruses, seals and whales enter the fjords of Svalbard. If you are interested in experiencing Arctic animal life, summer is preferable because of the greater diversity.
Activities
In the Winter, the most popular activities include snowmobiles, dog sledging and northern lights hunting safaris.
During the Polar Summer, you have a wider choice of activities like boat trips, kayaking and various hiking excursions. In addition, mining and sightseeing tours by bus are offered all through the year, like dog sledging adventures.
Hiking in Svalbard
In the town of Longyearbyen, you can walk around on your own. But, If you want to get out of Longyearbyen, and explore the arctic wilderness, you should NOT do any trekking without a local guide. You will have to be familiar with local regulations, particularly those that deal with the environment and safety precautions.
Camping in Svalbard
Camping in Svalbard it’s at your own risk. Many serious polar bear incidents in Svalbard occur when camping out. Avoid camping in areas where encounters with polar bears are likely, such as along the shoreline. Set up camp up from the beach, preferably with a good view in all directions. Do not camp ahead of a glacier terminus, and avoid areas where polar bears have recently been seen or there are fresh tracks.
All campsites should be encircled by tripwires or other polar bear warning systems. When in the camp, it is important to keep a gun nearby. Flare guns, other deterrents and extra cartridges must be stored so they are easy to find if a polar bear turns up.
Interesting facts..
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Deep inside a mountain, lies the Global Seed Vault — a long term seed storage facility, built to stand the test of time and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters. The Seed Vault represents the world’s largest collection of crop diversity.
A temperature of -18º C is required for optimal storage of the seeds. Currently, the Vault holds more than 1,000,000 samples, originating from almost every country in the world. Ranging from unique varieties of major African and Asian food staples such as maize, rice, wheat, cowpea, and sorghum to European and South American varieties of eggplant, lettuce, barley, and potato. In fact, the Vault already holds the most diverse collection of food crop seeds in the world.