Svalbard’s high arctic climate, only 1,000 km from the North Pole, offers four months of light days and midnight sun in summer, and three months of total darkness in winter, with only the Northern Lights flaring across the sky. Keep a sharp lookout for a glimpse of a polar bear. With its vast glacier fields, Svalbard is sure to cast a spell on you. The old mines in the mountains around Longyearbyen are a reminder of why people decided to live so far north in the first place. With virtually no vegetation, the Svalbard reindeer, which has been here for ten thousand years, lives only on moss and lichen. The Svalbard archipelago was discovered in the 16th century, and developed into the natural place from which to launch polar exhibitions. Why not join a tour in Longyearbyen, long or short? The environment here can be hard and merciless, but is also rich in fossils and wildlife. You could come across a polar bear at any time, and leaving the built-up area without a weapon is not advisable. This far north you can also see whales, seals, killer whales, walruses, arctic foxes and the Svalbard grouse. Why not ride a snowmobile or dog sled to the Russian outpost of Barentsburg, or Kapp Linné – in the midnight sun or in total darkness, depending on which season you choose.
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The arctic light, the vast areas and the endless landscape of ice and mountains is humbling in its immensity. However, Longyearbyen is exuberant with its energetic social life, shopping, museums, gourmet restaurants and amazing wine cellars. It’s a unique place – a blend of cold, luxury, the magnificent and the merciless. Read more about SVALBARD on Page 114
5 DID YOU KNOW... The polar bear is the world’s largest terrestrial carni vore. It has become the symbol of Svalbard and the cold arctic, even though you rarely see it around people.
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© 1+2+3+4) Marcela Cardenas / Svalbard / Spitsbergen, 5) Ole J Liodden / naturfokus
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