What is Svalbard?
- A mountain
- An archipelago
- A county
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💡 Explanation
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago located far to the north, about halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. It is a cold area with ice and snow for much of the year. Svalbard consists of many islands, the largest of which is Spitsbergen.
About 2,500 people live on Svalbard. Most are Norwegian, but there are also people from other countries, especially researchers working with climate, nature, and wildlife. For example, there are research stations from Germany and the United Kingdom.
The main town on Svalbard is called Longyearbyen. There you’ll find homes, shops, a school, and a kindergarten – just like in a small town on the mainland. There is also a mining community called Barentsburg.
Large parts of Svalbard’s nature are protected. That means people are not allowed to build or change the landscape. This is to protect the animals, plants, and unique environment. Polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes, and many bird species live here, and it is important to take care of them.
The leader of Svalbard is called the Governor. This is the highest representative of Norway on Svalbard. The Governor acts as both chief of police and county governor, and is responsible for environmental protection and emergency preparedness.