SVALBARD

Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean situated roughly halfway between the northern coast of the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole. More than half of the mountainous archipelago is covered with glaciers. Svalbard is an important breeding area for many seabirds, and is also home to native populations of polar bear, Arctic fox, and reindeer. The nutrient-rich waters around Svalbard support a variety of marine mammals, from seals and walrus to the blue whale.