Photo: Audun Dahl

20 Things You Did Not Know About Svalbard and the Animals Who Live There

Photo + Video + Film
by Audun Dahl Nov 1, 2017

1. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

2. In the summer, the sun does not set on Svalbard for 4 months!

Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

3. Polar bears have black skin and, although their fur appears white, it is actually transparent.

Svalbard polar bears

Photo: Audun Dahl

4. They also have built-in socks. The stiff fur on the sole of each foot keeps polar bears from slipping on ice, and also muffles the sound of a bear’s approach when sneaking up on a meal.

Svalbard Polar bears

Photo: Audun Dahl

5. The Arctic fox has the warmest pelt of any animal found in the Arctic, enduring temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius.

Svalbard Arctic fox

Photo: Audun Dahl

6. Svalbard is considered a desert due to its low air humidity.

Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

7. The scientific name for a walrus is Odobenus Rosmarus, which is Latin for “tooth-walking sea-horse.”

Svalbard Walrus

Photo: Audun Dahl

8. Polar bears have been known to swim more than 200 kilometers without rest in search for food. Unfortunately, that distance is increasing due to climate change.

Svalbard polar bears

Photo: Audun Dahl

9. Arctic sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate the global climate.

Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

10. The largest island of the Svalbard archipelago is called Spitsbergen, which means “rugged mountains.” It’s easy to see why when you sail up the west coast of Svalbard.

Svalbard mountains

Photo: Audun Dahl

11. When the walrus became a protected species in 1952, there were only about 50 animals left in Svalbard. Today, there are at least 3,800.

Svalbard Walrus

Photo: Audun Dahl

12. Svalbard has a population of only 2,700 people. There are two main “cities”: Longyearbyen which is under Norwegian control and Barentsburg, in the photo, which is Russian.

Svalbard cities

Photo: Audun Dahl

13. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on planet Earth and can be seen in Svalbard.

Whale Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

14. A blue whale can fill its mouth with 70,000 liters when feeding. It takes a blue whale 90 seconds to empty the water again.

Whale Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

15. In Svalbard, as much as 60% of the landmass is covered in ice, and less than 10% has any vegetation.

Svalbard vegetation

Photo: Audun Dahl

16. The diet of an Arctic fox consists of lemmings, voles, seabirds and their eggs, seal pups, and fish. They also consume the leftovers of polar bears’ meals.

Arctic fox Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

17. The Arctic tern migrates 70,000 kilometers from the Antarctic to the Arctic, and back again, every year!

Svalbard Arctic Tern

Photo: Audun Dahl

18. Walruses can sleep for 5 days before they go out feeding.

Walrus Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

19. Each year, 6 million birds migrate to Svalbard to breed.

Svalbard birds

Photo: Audun Dahl

20. Svalbard’s main source of income is tourism. Polar bears are the main attraction for those visiting the archipelago. If you are interested in a photo tour, WildPhoto Travel will take you on amazing expeditions.

Polar Bear Svalbard

Photo: Audun Dahl

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