Svalbard is a group of islands in Northern Norway which, thanks to its well-developed infrastructure, plays host to the best-equipped Arctic research platform in the world.
- The EISCAT radar dish in Svalbard, North Norway (photo by Tom Grydeland)
Scientists from all over the world flock to the region to take part in experiments and observations ranging from space physics to environmental science such as ecology and ocean-atmosphere interaction studies.
Most visitors begin a visit in Longyearbyen, the world’s most easily accessible Northern settlement – you can fly to Svalbard Airport from Tromso and Oslo and many tour operators offer trips to the city throughout the summer.
UNIS, the University Centre in Svalbard, offers open lectures for visitors several times a year, normally from lecturers who are part of the university’s staff or visiting academics from a range of European partners who spend time studying in Svalbard.
During summer when it’s daylight around the clock, it’s possible to get out and about to explore the island Spitsbergen by snowmobile, although parts of the island are protected and access is restricted, and there’s a year-round threat from Polar Bears (outside of designated zones it’s compulsory to carry a firearm, check with your host and look out for the polar bear signs). If in doubt, go with a local tour guide!
It is also possible to see the EISCAT Radar Facility, and many local tour guides will take visitors to see the enormous parabolic dishes just outside Longyearbyen.
EISCAT (the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) constructed the giant 32-meter 500MHz radar in 1994, to study the interaction between the Earth and our sun by looking at the magnetosphere and ionosphere in the upper part of the atmosphere.
Scientists can apply to do experiments on the site, but for everyone else access to the center is limited to viewing from a distance and booking with a local tour guide is advisable.
For those prepared to venture even further North, head to the settlement of Ny-Ålesund, the northernmost inhabited settlement in the world.
The settlement is home to 30-35 people working on twelve different scientific projects in this pristine, radio-silent area. King’s Bay, a Norwegian state authority, controls the area and provides flights and accommodation for guests wishing to visit, so it’s vital to check with them in advance as accommodation is often overbooked and visitors are not permitted to just arrive at the area unannounced.
