ARCTIC -

NORWAY - Svalbard

Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic ocean constituting the northernmost part of Norway. Located north of mainland Europe, it is about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

The islands were first taken into use as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries, after which they were abandoned.

The flora takes advantage of the long period of midnight sun to compensate for the polar night. Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer and marine mammals.