Great opportunities for exploring one of the world`s last frontiers - Svalbard in Norway!

As Svalbard Villmarksssenter`s slogan goes (referred from the tour operator`s website: www.svalbardvillmarkssenter.no ): "Don`t go where the path may lead you, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go. We are talking about the body of the beloved, not real estate".

Berit Hole said to me on the Norway International Meeting and Travel Fair Reiseliv06, that Svalbard is one of the few places on our globe where people can get in real touch with the nature and experience the sound of silence.

The majestic ice landscape on Svalbard, with a rich wildlife and historical sights, has attracted many Arctic explorers. Here you can walk in the footsteps of the world famous explorers as the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and many others.

Svalbard is Europe's most northern territory. It is an archipelago located within the Arctic Circle, less than 1000 kilometres away from the North Pole. Svalbard is bathing in the midnight sun, and is covered by peaked mountains and soaring glaciers. No other place in the far north offers such richness of wildlife in a limited area. Here you can also admire many of the fjords and glaciers.

On Svaldbard you can enjoy the spectacular landscape by taking a trip led by dog-teams or visit Norway`s Russian and Ukrainian neighbours in Barentsburg.

Keep a safe distance from any bears you may come across, as they are very quick and are known to attack suddenly without warning. Use caution and avoid all contact.

Pack ice and glaciers
Travelling on pack- ice and glaciers involves risks. If you go on a glacier you should go with a guide or at least go in a group so that all the participants are connected by a safety-rope. Remember to bring crampons (ice spurs) and an ice-axe.

Photo. Hiorthamnfjell (mountain) in blue light. © Stian Jørgensen og Trym Ivar Bergsmo, Norway.

The unique nature on Svalbard gives unforgettable memories. The arctic wilderness is still unexplored and it`s no doubt that Svalbard is one of the world`s last frontiers!

Stein Morten Lund, 20 January 2005

Additional information
For an unique adventure at Svalbard, contact the tour operator Svalbard Villmarksssenter on e-mail: info@svalbardvillmarkssenter.no.

Be more inspirated and visit their website: www.svalbardvillmarkssenter.no.

Contact details:
Svalbard Villmarkssenter AS
P.O. Box 396
N-9171 Longyearbyen
Telephone: +47-79021985
Fax: +47-79021986
E-mail: info@svalbardvillmarkssenter.no

Various activities for genuine adventurers
There are a great number opportunities for activities in one of the world's last frontiers Svalbard as:

• Cave tours under the Longyear glacier
• Visiting to a coal mine
• Hiking in the polar night
• Polar Night Safaris - a (snowmobile) light in the dark
• Dog sledding excursions
• Visiting Russian and Ukrainian neighbours
• Cultural and historic Sightseeing
• Tent-tours deep in the polar nights

According to the website Svalbard Net, you can experience on Svalbard a new universe in the ice caves under the glaciers, you can strengthen employees' team spirit with a visit to a coal mine, you can enjoy the spectacular landscape by taking a trip led by dog-teams or by snowmobile or visit Norway`s Russian and Ukrainian neighbours in Barentsburg.

A tent-tour deep in the polar night will definitely be an adventure to write home about, or just relax and enjoy a bit of wine tasting in the world's northernmost wine cellar. Activity providers in Longyearbyen tailor-make programmes for groups for holiday, meetings, courses, conferences and incentive trips.

As it stands on Svalbard Net`s website: "It's always dark at this time of year, but there is always a glimmer of light from the stars, or the moon, on the white snow that blankets the terrain". The beautiful nature on Svalbard it's something for itself. All the great opportunities for activities there will really turn you on. So why not get an unique adventure in one of the world's last frontiers in Norway?

Facts about Svalbard (referred from Svalbard Net):
Location: Group of islands between 74° - 81° N and 10° - 35° E
Area: 63 000 sq.km.; 60% covered by glacier Largest islands Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Barentsøya, Edgeøya and Prins Karls Forland
Settlements Longyearbyen (Norwegian administrative centre): 1,700 inhabitants Barentsburg (Russian mining community): 900 inhabitants Ny-Ålesund (the Norwegian International Research Centre): 40 inhabitants Sveagruva (Norwegian mining community): 210 commuters Hornsund (Polish research station): 8 inhabitants
Administration: Norwegian sovereignty, regulated by the Svalbard Treaty of 1920
Transportation: By plane from/to Oslo and Tromsø, Norway. There are no roads connecting the communities on Svalbard.

Tourist information about Norway`s last frontier Svalbard - Svalbard Net: www.svalbard.net

Other link related to Svalbard:
Norwegian Polar Institute - Norsk Polarinstitutt: www.npolar.no
Sysselmannen på Svalbard: www.sysselmannen.svalbard.no
Weather Forcasting (Værvarsel for Svalbard): met.no

The great Norwegian explorer Roal Amundsen:
In 1926 Roald Amundsen, together with Ellsworth and Italian Umberto Nobile, led an expedition in the airship "Norge" (Norway) from Svalbard over the North Pole to Alaska. The explorers passed over unknown territory and mapped it.