Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen
/spits"berr'geuhn/, n.
a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean, N of and belonging to Norway. 3431; 24,293 sq. mi. (62,920 sq. km).
Also, Spitzbergen. Norwegian, Svalbard.

* * *

Island group, Norway.

The main island group in the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen lies 360 mi (580 km) north of Norway in the Arctic Ocean. The chief islands are Spitsbergen (formerly West Spitsbergen), North East Land, Edge Island, and Barents Island. The islands may have been known to the Vikings. Possession of the Spitsbergen islands was disputed by several European nations in the 17th century over whaling rights and in the 20th century over mining rights. Norway took formal possession in 1925. Spitsbergen has extensive coal deposits.

* * *

      main island within the archipelago of Svalbard (q.v.).

formerly  West Spitsbergen (Vestspitsbergen) 

      largest island of the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, and part of Norway. Spitsbergen, with an area of 15,075 square miles (39,044 square km), is approximately 280 miles (450 km) long and ranges from 25 to 140 miles (40 to 225 km) wide.

      The terrain is mountainous, and most of the island is covered with glaciers. The highest point on the island is Mount Newton (5,633 feet [1,717 metres]) in the northeast. Other notable peaks include Hornsundtind (4,695 feet [1,431 metres]) and Drygalski Crest (4,669 feet [1,423 metres]). Many other peaks on the mountainous west coast have elevations over 3,000 feet (900 metres).

      Spitsbergen is deeply indented by fjords; Longyear city on Is Fjord (the largest fjord on the west coast) is the island's main settlement. Most of the island's few settlements are mining communities on the west coast. Both Norwegians and Russians have mined the rich coal deposits; the island had a sizable Russian community until the 1990s. Cruise ships dock at Longyear, and tourists can make walking tours of the island's scenic landscapes. National parks and nature reserves are a feature of the island.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spitsbergen — [spits′bʉr΄gən] 1. group of Norwegian islands in the Arctic Ocean, constituting the major part of Svalbard: 23,641 sq mi (61,230 sq km) 2. SVALBARD …   English World dictionary

  • Spitsbergen — This article is about the island. For the archipelago of which it is a part, see Svalbard. Spitsbergen Map of Svalbard with Spitsbergen in the west emphasised Geography Location Arctic Ocean …   Wikipedia

  • Spitsbergen — Isla de Spitsbergen Imagen de satélite de Spitsbergen Localización País  No …   Wikipedia Español

  • Spitsbergen — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Toponyme  Norvege !Norvège Spitsbergen, nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spitsbergen — Lage des Svalbard Archipels mit Spitzbergen (rot markiert) Karte der Insel Spitzbergen Spitzbergen (norwegisch und englisc …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spitsbergen — Sp Špicbergenas Ap Spitsbergen L s. Svalbardo ss., Norvegija …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Spitsbergen — Admin ASC 2 Code Orig. name Spitsbergen Country and Admin Code SJ.21.2111 SJ …   World countries Adminstrative division ASC I-II

  • Spitsbergen Guesthouse — (Лонгйир,Норвегия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Longyearbyen, 9171 Лонгйир, Норвегия …   Каталог отелей

  • Spitsbergen Hotel — (Лонгйир,Норвегия) Категория отеля: 4 звездочный отель Адрес: Longyearbyen, 9171 Лонгйир …   Каталог отелей

  • Spitsbergen Current — is the northernmost part of the North Atlantic Current. It separates from the Norwegian Current in the area of Norwegian abyssal plain. It is the most northern of the so called warm ocean currents. It keeps the North Atlantic passage to… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”