Svalbard

Svalbard, part of the Kingdom of Norway, lies in the Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe. It consists of a group of islands ranging from 74? to 81? North, and 10? to 34? East; it is the northernmost possession of the Kingdom of Norway. Three islands are populated: Spitsbergen, Bj?rn?ya and Hopen.

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Vikings and/or Russians may have discovered Svalbard as early as the 12th century. Traditional Norse accounts exist of a land known as Svalbard ? literally "cold edge". But the Dutchman Willem Barents made the first indisputable discovery of Svalbard in 1596. The islands served as an international whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also provided the headquarters for many Arctic exploration expeditions. Comprehensive geological mapping of the archipelago was conducted by teams from Cambridge and other universities, led primarily by W. Brian Harland from the 1940s to 1980s.

Kingdom of Norway: REDIRECT Norway...

Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Ocean, located mostly in the north polar region, is the smallest of the world's five oceans, and the shallowest. Even though IHO recognizes it as an ocean, oceanographers may call it the Arctic Mediterranean Sea or simply the Arctic Sea, classifying it as one of the mediterranean seas of...

Europe: :This article is about the continent. For other meanings, see Europe (disambiguation)....

Svalbard related Images and Photos (experimental)

Woodfjorden Svalbard Arctic Circle Norway Scandinavia Europe

Harbour Barentsburg Spitsbergen Svalbard Norway Scandinavia Europe

Glacier and Reflection Spitzbergen Svalbard Norway Scandinavia Europe

Blue Ice under a Blue Sky with Streaky Clouds Hornsund Spitsbergen Island Svalbard Norway