Svalbard

arctic · islands · norway · extreme-places

Halfway to the North Pole. Svalbard is an archipelago (group of islands) that sits roughly midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, making it one of the most northern settlements in the world where people actually live.

Main town on ice. The largest settlement is Longyearbyen, a town on the west coast of the biggest island, Spitsbergen. Despite the freezing cold, about 2,400 people call this Arctic town home.

Polar bears welcome. Svalbard is home to thousands of polar bears, and residents have to be very careful and carry rifles when traveling outside town to stay safe from these powerful Arctic predators.

Many islands together. Svalbard isn't just one island but a whole group, with Spitsbergen being the largest, followed by Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, and Barentsøya among others.

Where oceans meet. Svalbard sits at the special meeting point where the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean come together, making it a unique Arctic location.