SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN ISLANDS

The top reasons to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands have differences since they are two separate groups of islands. For instance, Svalbard is covered in ice whereas Jan Mayen is filled with volcanic terrain. However, they also share a few similarities since they belong to Norway and are closely located to each other. Listed below are some good reasons why you should visit the two Norwegian territories.

Svalbard, Bellsund, tundra

Svalbard is the most accessible portion of the North Pole. You can get in by plane from Oslo, Tromsø, Moscow, Murmansk, and Scandinavia. Cruises to Svalbard are also available. Since it is technically part of the North Pole, you can expect to see icebergs floating on sea, glaciers, frost-covered peaks, and vast expanses of icefields. Summer allows the ice to melt in regions where the climate is milder, revealing lush tundras and flowers underneath.

Svalbard has a unique wildlife. Climate conditions and terrain encouraged rare animals to thrive in the area. Among the creatures you can spot in the country include Arctic foxes, Arctic Fulmar, Arctic Terns, polar bears, puffins, seals, squat Svalbard reindeer, walruses, and a variety of birds. During late summer, you can spot Beluga Whales, Humpback Whales, Orcas, and Narwhals in surrounding waters. All these unique animals are among the top reasons to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands.

Svalbard offers outdoor activities. Longyearbyen is open for excursions during summer where some museums and the world’s most northernmost church are located. From there, you can visit two Soviet settlements namely Barentsburg and Pyramiden. Even though Pyramiden was abandoned in the 1990s, it still has offbeat attractions and two Lenin statues.

Jan Mayen is isolated. There are no commercial flights heading for the island so not too many people visit. Fortunately, it can be accessed via boat trips. But even this doesn’t bring in crowds so you’re guaranteed a private experience when traveling around.

Jan Mayen is uninhabited. Well, except for 18 individuals assigned by the government to conduct research. The absence of large populations is the reason why Jan Mayen is unspoilt.

Egg-oeja, a peninsula on the westcoast of Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen has a distinct landscape. The volcanic island is rich with mountainous regions, some lagoons, and bays that are worth exploring. Some of its peaks are covered in snow due to their high altitudes. Karst formations are also common in the island. Its distinct landscape is one of the top reasons to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands.