|RNature and climate:|N Group of islands in the Arctic Ocean at the edge of the Polar Ice.
The islands are mountainous, highest peak 1 717 m.a.s.l. with numerous deep creeks. Here lives polar bears, reindeers, lemmings, musk ox and polar hares.
The arctic climate is tempered by the warm Atlantic Golf-stream.
Average temperature in January -11°C and in July +4°C.
|RPeople:|N 33% Norwegians and 66% Russians.
|REconomy:|N There are three Norwegian, three Russian and one Swedish coal mine at Svalbard, of which two Norwegian and two Russian are still in use.
The islands houses several meteorological stations and radio stations and since 1975 a runway for aircrafts near the main village Langyearbyen.
|RHistory:|N Svalbard is the ancient Icelandic word for "the cold coast". Was probably discovered by Norsemen 1194 and again by the Dutch explorer Barents in 1596.
During the 17th century it was frequently visited by whalers and hunters from Norway, the Netherlands and Great Britain, and those three nations fought about sovereignty.
But when whaling lost importance during the 18th century the interest of sovereignty diminished.
In the early 20th century coal was found at Svalbard and several nations started negotiations on sovereignty.
1920 a treaty was signed in Paris that recognized Norwegian sovereignty and in 1925 it was officially incorporated in Norway.
According to this treaty citizens and subjects of any nations have the right to run business, shipping, hunting, fishing and mining and to search and extract oil at Svalbard.
