Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago that lies at the convergence of the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it lies about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitu…
Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago that lies at the convergence of the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it lies about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitude. The largest island is Spitsbergen, followed in size by Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya and Barentsøya. Bjørnøya or Bear Island is the most southerly island in the territory, situated some 147 km south of Spitsbergen. Other small islands in the group include Hopen to the southeast of Edgeøya, Kongsøya and Svenskøya in the east, and Kvitøya to the northeast. The largest settlement is Longyearbyen, situated in Isfjorden on the west coast of Spitsbergen.
Highest elevation: 1,718 m (5,636 ft)
Sovereign state: Norway
Svalbard Treaty: 9 February 1920
Svalbard Act: 17 July 1925
Official languages: Norwegian
Ethnic groups (2021): 61.1% Norwegian · 38.9% other
Government: Devolved locally-administered unincorporated area within a constitutional monarchy
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