If you're looking for the perfect destination for polar holidays, it's hard to beat the Norwegian islands of Svalbard for both relative convenience and abundance of wildlife. The archipelago presents visitors with a breath-taking backdrop of jagged mountains, creaking glaciers and deep fjords. The islands are located well within the Arctic Circle, just 600 miles south of the North Pole. A variety of habitats rarely found elsewhere (such as the tundra), mean that those looking for unusual flora and fauna will be in their element during their time on and around the archipelago. The presence of pack-ice during the summer months ensures that visitors will be in little doubt as to how close they are to the North Pole, immersing them in the unique atmosphere that makes polar holidays so special.
Spitsbergen
The largest island in the archipelago, much of the action in Svalbard takes place in Spitsbergen, and this is where many people on polar holidays will find themselves. The island's largest conurbation is Longyearbyen - the centre of cultural, commercial and municipal life in the islands. The town is the seat of the local government and the world's northernmost settlement (other than research stations). It is home to just over 2,000 people and is famed for its colourful weather-resistant buildings.
Arctic Fowl
Many people who embark on polar holidays to the region will spend at least some of their time at sea. A cruise of the area allows visitors to observe the abundant bird life that inhabits the cliffs and mountains that ring the islands. There are large colonies of Little Auks and Brunnich's Guillemots nesting on the ragged cliff-faces. Further inland visitors can look out for the Grey Phalarope and the Barnacle Goose. The Barents Sea is famed as one of the areas in the world most densely populated by sea-birds, and other species include the Northern Fulmar, Thick-billed Murre and the Black-legged Kittiwake. Sixteen of the native bird species are on the IUCN Red List of endangered wildlife.
Go There for the Bear
There is one main reason that most people heading to Svalbard choose the destination, and it is fluffy, white and very big: the Polar bear! Polar Bears are an icon of the islands, and those human residents leaving the settlement are required to carry a rifle for last-resort protection. Between Svalbard and its distant neighbour Franz Joseph Land there is a population of 3,000 Polar Bears, making it perhaps the best area for those who want to spot these majestic beasts.
Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for polar holidays, Naturetrek specialise in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek bring over 25 years of experience to polar holidays and other spectacular regions on Earth.
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