GEOGRAPHY THROUGH MAPS
Svalbard
Svalbard lies north of mainland Norway, between the Greenland Sea and Barents Sea. Spitsbergen is its largest island; Svalbard is the name of the whole archipelago, including Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya and Bjørnøya (Bear Island).
Fast Facts
- Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, is the administrative centre; it is not the capital of an independent country.
- The 1920 Svalbard Treaty recognises Norwegian sovereignty, subject to treaty obligations. Svalbard became part of the Kingdom of Norway in 1925.
- The archipelago reaches roughly 74–81°N, well north of the Arctic Circle. Jan Mayen is a separate Norwegian island far to its southwest.
Connected lessons
- SvalbardMap, explanation and practice
Geographical connections
- NorwayLocated in
- Jan MayenRelated places
- Nordic countriesRelated places
- Norwegian SeaRelated places