Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Svalbard and Jan Mayen is an island nation with its capital and largest city in Longyearbyen. The ideal time to visit is during the summer when there are enough sunlight and clearer skies. The climate season are spilt into the spring, fall, summer and winter seasons. The major ethnic groups in Svalbard and Jan Mayen are the Norwegian, Russian and Ukrainian groups. Christianity is predominately practiced here and Norwegian is the official language spoken here. Its most popular foods are pizza, sushi, and reindeer soup.
The largest airport in the islands is located in Longyearbyen and you can travel between islands and settlements by plane at anytime of the year. Boats are the only practical means of visiting the more far-flung areas and can be used in the summer. There are also paved streets in Longyearbyen and you can use your car there. During the winter, snowmobiles are a common means of transportation. Svalbard and Jan Mayen is a relatively safe place to visit, however its biggest threat is the polar bears which inhabit the main islands. It is advised to stick to guided tours to be safe.
Travelers to Svalbard and Jan Mayen would experience Arctic nature at its rawest and most spectacular sight. It boasts of untouched glaciers, craggy mountains, polar bears, green vegetation and a large variety of birds. If you are ever in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, some of the festivals of interest you should attend include: the Polar Jazz Festival, Sunfest Week, KunstPause Svalbard and the Blues Festival used to mark the beginning of winter.
There are a lot of fascinating places of interest to see while in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, they include:
Svalbard Museum: you can discover the fascinating natural and cultural history of the archipelago here. Those interested in science will enjoy the history of arctic exploration and examination of Svalbard’s natural environment.
Svalbard’s Northern Fjords: if you venture into this region, you will find the mighty polar bears here. It is a great delight to watch these polar bears at their natural habitats.
Global Seed Vault: hidden deep below the permafrost ground on an elevated hill over Longyearbyen, you will find seeds from every corner of the world permanently stored here.
Spitsbergen Airship Museum: this museum showcases the long history of aviation on the Svalbard. There are exhibitions from planes to aviation gears, hangers etc.
There are over 10,000 hotels and apartments to stay in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, so you will be spoiled for choice especially when in Longyearbyen.
