By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
Located within the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is the northernmost part of Norway, situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole. This far-northern region is one of the few places in the world that few people ever visit. About 65% of the area here is protected as a nature reserve to preserve its unique flora and fauna, and the archipelago’s largest town, “Longyearbyen,” is the only place in the world where life is forbidden to begin or end.
Longyearbyen is the only town in the world where life is forbidden to begin or end (Photo / Svalbard, the same applies below)
Longyearbyen is one of the few places in the world frequented by visitors
Svalbard covers a total area of 61,000 square kilometers, about 1 to 2 times the size of Taiwan. In summer, there are 99 to 141 days of polar day, while in winter, there are 84 to 128 days of polar night. The area has a significant population of polar bears, so residents carry guns when going out to protect themselves in case of an attack.
Longyearbyen under the polar day
About 60% of Svalbard’s territory is covered by glaciers, another 30% consists of barren land, and the remaining 10% is vegetated. It is rich in mineral resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, apatite, and iron. Coastal areas often gather animals such as walruses, seals, Arctic foxes, and whales, and its flora and fauna are also quite unique.
Aurora over Svalbard
According to local laws in Longyearbyen, all pregnant women must give birth elsewhere. Even patients on the brink of death or those who suffer accidents and are about to die must leave. The local cemetery is just a small plot where only those who died 70 years ago are buried, and even the town hospital has fewer than 10 beds available.
The beauty of Svalbard
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