Svalbard is a group of nine remote islands situated in the Arctic Ocean. The largest of the islands was discovered in 1596 and named “Spitsbergen”, which means “pointy mountain” in Dutch. Prior to 1925, all of Svalbard was known as Spitsbergen, which is the only one of the islands currently inhabited by humans.

Although Svalbard is situated even further north than Greenland, the influence of the Gulf Stream pushes warmer waters up to its coast. In fact, Svalbard is so far north that the sun doesn’t set for the entire summer! However, during the winter, one night can last for three months. Because of the prolonged darkness and proximity to the North Pole, it’s a perfect place to watch the northern lights!

With a total human population of 2,700, it’s estimated that there are more polar bears than people in Svalbard. Since it’s not rare to stumble upon one, people are obliged to carry a firearm to scare them away when leaving the main town. However, you won’t see a single cat, as they were prohibited by law in order to protect sensitive birdlife across the archipelago.

In the pictures you can see the Svalbard museum and the Svalbard Research Park, home to the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and the Norwegian Polar Instiute.

Photos by Arunava Poddar