Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Svalbard

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Svalbard.

Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
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
Highest Point: 1717 — Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Lowest Point: Arctic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources: Coal, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, and fish. Svalbard also holds deposits of iron ore, though commercial extraction has largely ceased. Coal remains the most historically significant mineral resource, with Norwegian and Russian mining operations having shaped the archipelago's economy for over a century. The Norwegian state company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani continues limited coal extraction, though production has declined significantly in recent decades amid environmental pressures and shifting energy policies. Rich Arctic fisheries, particularly for cod, shrimp, and capelin, represent an increasingly important economic resource, while the archipelago's unique wildlife and pristine wilderness support a growing ecotourism sector.
Natural Hazards: ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Detailed geography