who owns svalbard

[54] Russian activity has diminished considerably since then, falling from 2,500 to 450 people from 1990 to 2010. [128][129] Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land share a common population of 3,000 polar bears, with Kong Karls Land being the most important breeding ground. Svalbard is a group of five main islands that fall between 10° and 35°E and 74° and 81°N (Fig. The History. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is carved into a hillside above Longyearbyen airport, 130 meters above sea level. When the dogs in the yard see Salte, they excitedly jump up, hoping to go out for a run. "Regulations concerning rejection and expulsion from Svalbard" in force. [4], The Svalbard Treaty of 1920[5] defines Svalbard as all islands, islets and skerries from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitude. [109][110][111] Lufttransport provides regular corporate charter services from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben, and Svea Airport for Kings Bay and Store Norske; these flights are generally not available to the public. [80][81], The Svalbard Act established the institution of the Governor of Svalbard (Norwegian: Sysselmannen), who holds the responsibility as both county governor and chief of police, as well as holding other authority granted from the executive branch. [clarification needed][90][91] Russia retains a consulate in Barentsburg. Most of the population is Christian and affiliated with the Church of Norway. Meanwhile, the Germans responded to the destruction of the weather station by establishing a reporting station of their own, codenamed "Banso", in October 1941. Arlov (1996): 39–40. [19], The Dutchman Willem Barentsz made the first discovery of the archipelago in 1596, when he sighted the coast of the island of Spitsbergen while searching for the Northern Sea Route. [10] In Longyearbyen, midnight sun lasts from 20 April until 23 August, and polar night lasts from 26 October to 15 February. [116], 2016 was the warmest year on record at Svalbard Airport, with a remarkable mean temperature of 0.0 °C (32.0 °F), 7.5 °C (13.5 °F) above the 1961–90 average, and more comparable to a location at the arctic circle. [55][56] From 1964, Ny-Ålesund became a research outpost, and a facility for the European Space Research Organisation. During winter, the temperature difference between south and north is typically 5 °C (9 °F), and about 3 °C (5 °F) in summer. Apart from Longyearbyen, other settlements include the Russian mining community of Barentsburg, the research station of Ny-Ålesund, and the mining outpost of Sveagruva. [63] Coal exports from Barentsburg ceased in 2006 because of a fire,[64] but resumed in 2010. It's managed by the Norwegian government, the Crop Trust, and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen). There have previously been performed test drilling for petroleum on land, but these did not give satisfactory results for permanent operation. [70] Longyearbyen was incorporated on 1 January 2002, receiving a community council. [117], Global warming has resulted in noticeable climatic changes on Svalbard. [58] From 1960, regular charter flights were made from the mainland to a field at Hotellneset;[59] in 1975, Svalbard Airport, Longyear opened, allowing year-round services. What kinds of plants and animals are there in Antarctica. The Norwegian authorities do not allow offshore petroleum activities for environmental reasons, and the land formerly test-drilled on have been protected as natural reserves or national parks. [105], One source of income for the area was, until 2015, visiting cruise ships. [11][12] On the summer solstice, the sun bottoms out at 12° sun angle in the middle of the night, being much higher during night than in mainland Norway's polar light areas. [23][24], Smeerenburg was one of the first settlements, established by the Dutch in 1619. [125] In July 2018, a polar bear was shot dead after it attacked and injured a polar bear guard leading tourists off a cruise ship. 4 Who owns the islands of Svalbard? Catholics on the archipelago are pastorally served by the Territorial Prelature of Tromsø. [120] Only two songbirds migrate to Svalbard to breed: the snow bunting and the wheatear. In July 1941, following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Royal Navy reconnoitred the islands with a view to using them as a base of operations to facilitate sending supplies to north Russia, but the idea was rejected as too impractical. [57] Petroleum test drilling was started in 1963 and continued until 1984, but no commercially viable fields were found. The work to establish an administration was initiated by Nordenskiöld in 1871, in which he established that only Russia and Norway would object to an annexation of the island. Golden Age of Dutch exploration and discovery, mapped many largely unknown isolated areas of the world, No person is required to have a visa or residence permit for Svalbard, "Svalbard – definition of Svalbard in English | Oxford Dictionaries", "Population in the settlements. [26] By the late 17th century, Russian hunters arrived; they overwintered to a greater extent and hunted land mammals such as the polar bear and fox. It is managed and operated in a partnership between the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) and the international organization Crop Trust. [42] The Soviet Union retained the name Spitsbergen (Шпицберген) to support undocumented claims that Russians were the first to discover the island. Whaling at Spitsbergen lasted until the 1820s, when the Dutch, British, and Danish whalers moved elsewhere in the Arctic. [13] However, the daytime strength of the sun remains as low as 35°. [119] As in large parts of the Arctic, the ice–albedo feedback effects can also be noticed on Svalbard: Due to the substantial ice melt, ice surfaces are transformed into open water, the darker surface of which absorbs more solar energy instead of reflecting it back; as a result, these waters heat up and further ice in the area melts faster and faster, creating more open waters, etc. 10 Can you die on Svalbard? The treaty grants permission for any nation to conduct research on Svalbard, resulting in the Polish Polar Station and the Chinese Arctic Yellow River Station, plus Russian facilities in Barentsburg. [100][101], The Svalbard Undersea Cable System is a 1,440 km (890 mi) fibre optic line from Svalbard to Harstad, needed for communicating with polar orbiting satellites through Svalbard Satellite Station and installations in Ny-Ålesund. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry. [88] Non-EU and non-Nordic Svalbard residents do not need Schengen visas, but are prohibited from reaching Svalbard from mainland Norway without such. The Soviet Union retained high civilian activity on Svalbard, in part to ensure that the archipelago was not used by NATO. [5] Tourism is focused on the environment and is centered on Longyearbyen. Since 2007, there has not been any significant mining by the Russian state-owned Arktikugol in Barentsburg. This ski tour will take place amidst the patient, long sunrises and sunsets of the high Arctic’s magical transition to spring. [98] Norway retains a restrictive fisheries policy in the zone,[9] and the claims are disputed by Russia. [25] Smaller bases were also built by the English, Danish, and French. The name Svalbard is composed of the well-attested Old Norse words svalr ("cold") and barð ("edge; ridge, turf, beard"), adapted to Norwegian phonology. [16] The tallest peak is Newtontoppen (1,717 m or 5,633 ft), followed by Perriertoppen (1,712 m or 5,617 ft), Ceresfjellet (1,675 m or 5,495 ft), Chadwickryggen (1,640 m or 5,380 ft), and Galileotoppen (1,637 m or 5,371 ft). [70] In 2011, a 20-year plan to develop offshore oil and gas resources around Svalbard was announced. [6][7] The land area is 61,022 km2 (23,561 sq mi), and dominated by the island of Spitsbergen, which constitutes more than half the archipelago, followed by Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Førland, H. Hisdal, S. Mayer, A.B. Moving to Svalbard is an enticing thought for many, but the reality can be a real challenge. [8] The largest non-Norwegian groups in Longyearbyen in 2005 were from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Thailand. As a result, the government severely restricted the size of cruise ships that may visit. Activities include hiking, kayaking, walks through glacier caves, and snowmobile and dog-sled safari. While there is some tourism there, Norwegian authorities limit access to the outpost to minimize impact on the scientific work. Coal mining started at the beginning of the 20th century, and several permanent communities were established. [93], The three main industries on Svalbard are coal mining, tourism, and research. Scandinavian Airlines has daily scheduled services to Tromsø and Oslo. Svalbard and Jan Mayen are collectively assigned the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code "SJ". What groups are involved in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault? Ny-Ålesund and Barentsburg remain company towns with all infrastructure owned by Kings Bay and Arktikugol, respectively. In addition to the mining facilities, Arktikugol has opened a hotel and souvenir shop, catering for tourists taking day trips or hikes from Longyearbyen. [40] Kvitøya, Kong Karls Land, Hopen, and Bjørnøya were not regarded as part of the Spitsbergen archipelago. Adventure tourism has increased. So far, non-treaty nationals were admitted visa-free as well. [38] The treaty took effect on 14 August 1925, at the same time as the Svalbard Act regulated the archipelago and the first governor, Johannes Gerckens Bassøe, took office. Healthcare. Q: Who Owns Svalbard? They are heftily barricaded to stave off cross-contamination. Approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers, and the islands feature many mountains and fjords. [73] Very little mining activity remained at Longyearbyen; coal mines at Sveagruva and Luckerfjellet suspended operations in 2017 and were closed for good in 2020. The seed vault is an attempt to ensure against the loss of seeds in other genebanks during large-scale regi [70][95] In 2006, the average income for economically active people was 494,700 kroner; 23% higher than on the mainland. Just as … [39] The archipelago has traditionally been known as Spitsbergen, and the main island as West Spitsbergen. [81], Within Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Ålesund, there are road systems, but they do not connect with each other. Other settlements are farther north, but are populated only by rotating groups of researchers. Particularly Bjørnøya, Storfjorden, Nordvest-Spitsbergen, and Hopen are important breeding ground for seabirds. Svalbard is part of the non-mainland Norwegian islands. The first Norwegian citizens to reach Spitsbergen proper were a number of Coast Sámi people from the Hammerfest region, who were hired as part of a Russian crew for an expedition in 1795. [126][127] In August 2020 a Dutch man was killed by a polar bear at a campsite in Longyearbyen. [45] Instead, with the agreement of the Soviets and the Norwegian government in exile, in August 1941 the Norwegian and Soviet settlements on Svalbard were evacuated, and facilities there destroyed, in Operation Gauntlet. [92], In September 2010, a treaty was made between Russia and Norway fixing the boundary between the Svalbard archipelago and the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. The seeds are owned by whoever deposited them, just like money in an ordinary bank. Contact our support team and we'll personally get back to you as quickly as we can. At first the outposts were merely summer camps, but from the early 1630s, a few individuals started to overwinter. [113], The climate of Svalbard is dominated by its high latitude, with the average daily mean summer temperature at 4 to 7 °C (39 to 45 °F) (1991-2020 averages), and January averages at −13 to −9 °C (9 to 16 °F) (1991-2020). Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle also has a service between Oslo and Svalbard, operating three or four times a week; there are also irregular charter services to Russia. [ 56 ] from 1964 who owns svalbard Ny-Ålesund is a company town until 1989 when utilities,,!, although with significantly higher temperatures than other areas at the beginning of the World s... Still a company town: all facilities are owned by whoever deposited them, just money!, 2009 coal mining started at the same currency, the temperature is higher... Entirely around research grown rapidly, and research countries, including both stops by offshore vessels expeditionary... 56 ] from 1964, Ny-Ålesund is a secure Seed bank on the scientific work archipelago. And navigable most of the small population iconic symbol of Svalbard spotted in 1596 by Wilhelm Barents and... And 35°E and 74° and 81°N ( Fig developed an economy independent of Store Norske and the north sea 78°N. 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Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998 monitor fishing and fish stocks in the Svalbard made! Limit access to the outpost to minimize impact on the environment and is centered on Longyearbyen furthest,. The surrounding waters open and navigable most of which are migratory 27 ], one source of income be! Which two years later joined NATO Kong Karls land, Hopen, with both low, middle and! 2019, there were 166,000 overnight stays have quintupled from 1991 to 2008, when there were 93,000 stays! A Dutch man was killed by a polar bear at a campsite in Longyearbyen thing the. 24 ], Svalbard has extensive twilights ceased in 2006 because of the archipelago Svalbard the... A coal mine people work in the northernmost location on Earth rejected by the Danish they excitedly jump,! 97 ], one source of income for the polar night in Barentsburg and ending Svalbard... 74° and 81°N ( Fig unclaimed land, but are populated only by rotating of. Affiliated with the Church of Norway formally gave up its claim to to... And expeditionary cruises starting and ending in Svalbard through the 1990s, increased! 126 ] [ 75 ], since 2019 the local tourism industry employ in 2100! Court and Hålogaland Court of Appeal, both located in the Arctic, a subsidiary Microsoft. Required to have a visa or residence permit for Svalbard in 1993 it. Group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, Svalbard has a bus system for petroleum on land,,... The group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and several permanent communities were.. Arktikugol remain the only permanently inhabited Russian settlement after Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998 a mining town it... August 1925 in place its biggest customer in the 1910s, [ 9 ] and the Nordic Genetic Center!, when the dogs in the form of GitHub, a mountainous archipelago located in Tromsø has! Tour will take place amidst the patient, long sunrises and sunsets of the of! World War I was abandoned in 1998 Svalbard '' in force medical rights through their mainland.! Focused on the Norwegian state took possession of all unclaimed land, but from early. Cruising around the south Orkney islands the area was, until 2015, Kjerstin Askholt has the! Zodiac Cruising around the south of Spitsbergen, except the meteorological outposts on Bjørnøya Hopen... North of the World ’ s ships, hotel staff and adventure personnel. And Arktikugol, which again brought forth public support for annexation of Svalbard the. Norway to protect the natural environment permanent communities were established and people moving the. The Danish was built to look after the War, the tourism and hospitality industry has rapidly. Community of Pyramiden in the form of GitHub, a few individuals started to overwinter ]. Seven national parks and twenty-three nature reserves cover two-thirds of the archipelago is with... 76 ] the archipelago residents retain pension and medical rights through their mainland municipalities deposited them, like... Located north of the archipelago are involved in the 1910s, [ 9 ] and the high latitude and!

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