FACTS

Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Area (only Total) total: 61,020 sq km

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

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

Population: 2,165

Main Language (only first): Norwegian, Russian

Government type:

Capital (Name): Longyearbyen

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence:

National holiday: