!!!Svalbard (Spitsbergen)

by Dmitry Moiseenko and Mike Reyfman,
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

26 February 2016

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Undoubtedly, Svalbard (formerly known as Spitsbergen) is one of the most
unusual places on the Earth. This vast polar archipelago, located in the
Arctic Ocean, is the northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway and the
demilitarized area at the same time.

[{Image src='01_Austfonna Glacier.jpg' caption='Austfonna Glacier' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

In 1920 the Svalbard Treaty between Norway, the USA, Denmark, France,
Italy, Japan and other major countries was signed; it defined the
international legal status of the archipelago. This document recognises
the sovereignty of Norway over this formerly free arctic territory, but
the countries-signatories are given the right to the exploitation of its
natural resources and its territorial waters. The Soviet Union entered
the Svalbard Treaty in 1935.

[{Image src='02_Longyearbyen.jpg' caption='Longyearbyen' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

Although there are more than 50 parties in the Treaty, only Russia is
making use of the right to carry on household activities. As a result,
the second largest town of the archipelago — Barentsburg, located on
Western Spitsbergen Island — belongs to Russia. Two more Russian
settlements, namely the villages of Pyramiden and Grumant, were
abandoned in the end of the 20th century. Official languages of the
archipelago are Norwegian and Russian. Despite the fact that the
archipelago is controlled by Norway, Russian citizens need no visa to
visit this territory.

[{Image src='03_Bird cliff Alkefjellet.jpg' caption='Bird cliff Alkefjellet' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

The archipelago features a severe Arctic climate, although in the
western part it is softened by the Gulf Stream. Nevertheless, the
average temperature of the hottest month of the year, July, is only
+4.4C°, and the first snowfalls can occur in August. In such conditions
only low and cold-tolerant vegetation can survive: the dwarf birch, the
polar willow, different kinds of mosses and lichens. Certain species of
red seaweed exist on glaciers, turning them into pinkish tones. The
unique feature of Svalbard is the small number of microbes, dust and
bacteria — it's too cold for them here.

[{Image src='04_Near the Austfonna Glacier.jpg' caption='Near the Austfonna Glacier' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='370'}]

The islands of the archipelago are the home for polar bears, arctic
foxes, the smallest of reindeers — Svalbard reindeers, as well as
whales, Greenland and bearded seals, walruses and beluga whales. The
only species of birds inhabiting the archipelago all year round is the
willow ptarmigan. But depending on the season, one can come across 90
other species of birds.

[{Image src='05_Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway.jpg' caption='Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='839'}]

There are three nature reserves and three wildernesses created on the
territory of Svalbard: they occupy practically half of the area of the
archipelago. One more "treasure" of these lands is its natural
resources. Coal production began here in the 20th century; this resulted
in the creation of multiple mines and settlements. But nowadays some
part of the recourses has already been drained, and several settlements
have been abandoned. But thanks to the mentioned absence of microbes and
bacteria, homes left by people a long time ago still look like new
buildings.

[{Image src='06_Alkefjellet cliff.jpg' caption='Alkefjellet cliff' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='365'}]

Scientists studying different fields live in Barentsburg: geologists,
geoscientists, archaeologists, biologists, glaciologists, geographers.
Such scientific institutions as the operating meteorological station of
the Russian Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Agency and the
northernmost Cosmic Ray Laboratory are situated here. Norwegian
Longyearbyen, the largest settlement and the administrative centre of
Svalbard, is the northernmost town in the world with the population of
more than one thousand people. Actually, the northernmost civil airport
is also here.

[{Image src='07_Expedition ship MS Origo.jpg' caption='Expedition ship M/S Origo' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='541'}]

One more interesting feature of the archipelago is the Svalbard Global
Seed Vault — a seed bank created in 2006. An unremarkable entrance on
the surface leads to the facility located 120 meters down the sandstone
terrain. Permafrost and lacked tectonic activity allow the samples of
agricultural plants to survive any possible cataclysm and save the
humankind from starving, in case of need.

[{Image src='08_Iceberg broken off from Austfonna Glacier, Nordaustlandet Island.jpg' caption='Iceberg broken off from Austfonna Glacier, Nordaustlandet Island' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

In the 1920s Svalbard became the main Polar Air Base: it was the
starting point for expeditions of the famous Norwegian traveller Roald
Amundsen and other explorers. Nowadays you can reach Svalbard not only
by air, but by sea as well. Thousands of tourists come here in high
season to enjoy the beauties of local nature. But nevertheless, you can
witness crystal clear glaciers, coasts cut by fjords, mountain ranges,
the boundless ocean, polar animals and birds without leaving your home:
you can do it with the help of AirPano panoramas.

[{Image src='09_Polar bear, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway.jpg' caption='Polar bear, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

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[17 Panoramas of Svalbard (Spitsbergen)|Geography/Europe/Norway/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Svalbard_(Spitsbergen)]










[{SET customtitle='Svalbard (Spitsbergen) (AP)'}]

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