Guidelines

• Chermsideøya

  Since time immemorial we have marked our presence. On a headland covered in gravel, several names of ships and men have been written with stones, all telling different stories.

• Isflakbukta

  Together with six other islands, Phippsøya is the northernmost group of islands in Svalbard. Nothing lies between here and the top of the world. Many have been attracted by this outpost and some have left signs of their visits with their names added to the map. The largest of the Seven Islands is named after Constantine John Phipps, Friedrich Martens and Sir William Parry. Isflakbukta is located on Phippsøya.

• Nordre Russøya

  This unique Russian Orthodox cross was erected to elicit protection from higher powers, to bring luck in trapping, to mark territories and graves and serve as navigational markers. These large wooden crosses were once raised in numerous places along the coasts of Svalbard, but today only the bases of the crosses remain. The exception are the two crosses still standing in Murchinsonfjorden, the one here at Nordre Russøya and one other at Krossøya.

• Eolusneset

  The graves at Eolusneset lie as silent monuments to the international whaling that took place in Svalbard 300-400 years ago. They tell a story of a risky workplace from a time when the whalers mastered the arctic sea and coast. Prepared for death they stocked their ships with materials for coffins on their northbound journeys.

• London

  An enterprising and charming Englishman created a lot of enthusiasm when he claimed to have found an entire island of marble. Money was quickly in place and industrial equipment bought and shipped to Blomstrandhalvøya. The marble was beautiful while left in the ground, but during transportation it crumbled to pieces. The pipe dream was demolished.

• Fjortende Julibukta

  Very few places near 79° North can offer more opulent vegetation than this very special site. Here you can enjoy the rich diversity and colors of Arctic vegetation and nice smells at close range. The bay close to the glacier offers one of the most beautiful beaches in the Arctic. The water temperature may not be impressive but the view is!

• Signehamna

  Weather information can make the difference of a battle lost or won. In World War II German generals realized the value of weather data in the North Atlantic and established weather stations in Svalbard from 1941. In the beautiful surroundings of Signehamna, men overwintered and sent daily weather data to the German military. In 1943, Norwegian forces bombed and burnt the Signehamna station.

• Alkhornet / Trygghamna

  The characteristic landmark, Alkhornet, has been welcomed by sailors in Isfjorden for centuries. While many only have the chance to admire the sight from a distance, those who land have the opportunity to experience an oasis. Rich vegetation, abundant fauna and diverse cultural remains are within walking distance from the sheltered harbor in Trygghamna.

• Gåshamna

  During the large Russian Arc of Meridian Expedition in 1899-1900, the scientists were making trigonometric measurements in Gåshamna and made what was considered a sensational discovery of the time. The scientists worked over large areas, measuring the distance between latitudes and determined the earth was flattened at the Poles.

• Gnålodden

  The female hunter and trapper Wanny Woldstad was tougher than most males. Below the steep and very noisy bird cliff she stayed in one of her hunting cabins. The cabin stands as a monument over toil and self-denial. Her nearest neighbors were the remains of a Russian trapping station and a grave of a 17th century whaler.

• Ahlstrandhalvøya

  This is one of the most favorable and productive climatic regions for plants at Svalbard. Within the range of a short walk, several of the most typical of Svalbard vegetation types can be observed, including saxifrage heath, wetland, grassland, moss heath, along with exposed ridges of vegetation.

• Gåsbergkilen

  This place is full of life, but it is also quite sensitive so set your foot gently and pay special attention to the guidelines. Through thousands of years of accumulated guano from the bird cliff, this area developed a thick peat, which is now the bed for very lush plant-life. The bird cliff is full of life all through the summer. Over it flies the glaucous gull, searching for food. Arctic fox are often seen under the cliff in search of prey.

• Kobbefjord

  The station is located at the end of a fjord called Kangerluarsunnguaq (in Danish: Kobbefjord) which means “The little fjord”.

• Ny-Ålesund

  Welcome to Ny-Ålesund – a unique, Norwegian research station hosting a large international research community.

• Walrus

  The sight, sound – and not at least smell of a large group of walrus, is quite impressive.

• Seals

  There are six species of true seals in the Atlantic Arctic; harbor seal, ringed seal, harp seal, hooded seal, bearded seal and grey seal.

• Reindeer

  The reindeer, also known as caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution native to the Arctic, the Subarctic and some alpine areas.

• Polar Bear

  Polar bears can be encountered in wide-ranging areas of the Arctic. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their lives on the sea ice.

• Cetaceans

  Encounters with cetaceans are a common phenomenon in the Arctic and the number of species during the summer is around 15. The variety is great – ranging from the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale, to one of the smallest cetaceans of them all, the harbor porpoise – as well as perhaps the most peculiar of them all, the narwhal.

• Birds in the Arctic

  Birdlife in the Arctic is diverse yet unique. The large numbers of birds during this period is a distinctive feature, since most bird species only spend the summer in the Arctic.