!!!Svalbard %%image_right [{GoogleMap location='Svalbard' type='embedded' zoom='bounds' width='450' height='350'}] %% [{Image src='sv-lgflag.gif' class='image_left' height='150' width='226'}] First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory. %%menu-geo %%cols-r * %%icon-geo,geo %% [Geography|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Geography] * %%icon-geo,maps %% [Maps|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Maps] * %%icon-geo,culture %% [Culture|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Culture] ---- * %%icon-geo,special %% [Special Information|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Special_Information] * %%icon-geo,picture %% [Pictures|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Pictures] * %%icon-geo,community %% [Community Contributions|Geography/Territories_Oceans_and_Islands/Svalbard/Community_Contributions] %% %% [{Metadata Suchbegriff='Spitzbergen'}]