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Svalbard is the Norwegian Arctic archipelago located about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
Three large islands dominate the archipelago - the Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. The largest settlement is Longyearbyen.
The Svalbard Treaty (1920) recognises Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard and the 1925 Svalbard Act makes Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway.
Coal mining is the main industry on the archipelago. In addition, research and tourism have developed rapidly over the last years.
Svalbard has a major Russian settlement based in the mining town of Barentsburg.
Svalbard in 2005 had a population of approximately 2,400 people, of which about 55% were Norwegians and 45% Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. Over the last years, natives from several other countries have moved to the area to engage in the international research projects.
Royal book about Svalbard
Royal Highnesses Victoria, Frederik and Haakon (Photo Polararet.no)
The three Scandinavian heirs to the thrones are writing a book about their experiences from Svalbard and Greenland.
The book will focus on climate changes and research and living in the Arctic. Three environmental scientists will also contribute to the book, which will be published simultaneously in Norway, Sweden and Denmark in October, Svalbardposten reports.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Swedish Crown Princess Victoria visited Svalbard and last summer. This was their first official visit together. This year they visited Greenland. The trips were aimed at highlighting the International Polar Year that ended in March 2009. The three heirs to the thrones of the Scandinavian countries were all patrons of the polar year committees in their respective countries.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Swedish Crown Princess Victoria visited Svalbard and last summer. This was their first official visit together. This year they visited Greenland. The trips were aimed at highlighting the International Polar Year that ended in March 2009. The three heirs to the thrones of the Scandinavian countries were all patrons of the polar year committees in their respective countries.
