Copyright Svalbard Tourism.
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Author: Hilde-Marie Skarstein.
Halfway between the mainland of Norway and the North Pole lays the archipelago Svalbard. The name Svalbard means "cold coasts" and was first mention in Icelandic texts in the 12th century. In 1596 the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz named some of the island Spitsbergen for its "pointed mountains", jagged as a saw blade. About 60% of Svalbard’s land mass is covered with a huge number of small and large glaciers.
Longyearbyen is the seat of local government and Norway’s main administrative centre on Svalbard. The small colourful community of approx. 1 800 inhabitants has developed from being a typical mining community into a community with a number of businesses and industries and a wide range of cultural activities and opportunities.
Despite Svalbard being so close to the North Pole, the archipelago has a relatively mild climate compared to areas at the same latitude. In Longyearbyen, the average temperature ranges from -14°C during the winter to +6°C during the summer. It is not uncommon on Svalbard to have long periods during the winter with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees; add to that a wind-chill factor that usually seriously compounds the cooling effect of the low temperatures. During the summer it is common with periods of fog. In terms of precipitation, however, Svalbard may be described as an "Arctic desert" with annual rain- and snowfall at a mere 200-300 mm. The weather on Svalbard can shift very quickly and local variations are often considerable.
The periods of polar night and midnight sun vary depending on latitude. Longyearbyen enjoys the midnight sun from 19 April to 23 August, while in the period 28 October to 14 February; the sun never peaks over the horizon. The polar night, during which the sun stays more than 6 degrees below the horizon, lasts from 14 November to 29 January.
You can take part in wide range of activities and trips while visiting Svalbard, both winter and summer. Dog sledding, snowmobile safari, ice caving, skiing, boat trips, glacier walks, hiking tours, zodiac safari, kayaking, horse back riding, mine visit, fossil hunting, barbecuing, sightseeing, and expeditions are some of the things you can do. Winter season normally starts in November/December and last to mid May. The summer season normally starts in the beginning of June and lasts to the first half of September.
There is a wide assortment of accommodation alternatives available in Longyearbyen, everything from small, cosy guesthouses to full-service, high quality hotels. Cafes, pubs and excellent restaurants offer everything from simple and inexpensive to the most exquisite menus, including many Arctic specialities.
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