Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74o to 81o north latitude, and from 10o to 35o east longitude. Spitsbergen is the largest island, followed by Nordaustlandet and Edgeöya. The administrative center is Longyearbyen, and other settlements include the Russian mining community of Barentsburg, the research community of Ny-Ålesund and the mining outpost of Sveagruva. The archipelago is administered by the governor of Svalbard.
I spent two weeks on the Swedish vessel M/S Origo going around Svalbard and also visiting the pack ice on 82o N 20o E for two days - probably the most northern postition of a normal vessel ever!