Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen

The remarkable islands of the Svalbard archipelago are part of Norway, lying far to the north of the mainland and high above the Arctic Circle. They total an area of some 62,000 sq km (about the same size as Ireland), mostly in the form of three larger islands – Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya – plus a number of smaller islands and outcrops. The larger landmasses rise to form a group of wild and rugged mountains, with much of their highland areas covered in ice and snow. 

Meaning 'jagged peaks', the name Spitsbergen was given to the archipelago's largest island by Dutch explorer Willem Barents, who discovered it while searching for the Northern Sea Route in 1596. Combining a great variety of flora and fauna with stunning remote landscapes, a visit to Spitsbergen is a must for wilderness and wildlife enthusiasts.