Svalbard Environment - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Environment - current issues

ice floes are a maritime hazard; past exploitation of mammal species (whale, seal, walrus, and polar bear) severely depleted the populations, but a gradual recovery seems to be occurring

Climate

arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Svalbard on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Svalbard 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Svalbard 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.