Bradt Guide to Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen, also known as Svalbard, is as close as you can easily get to the North Pole. An isolated archipelago lying entirely within the Arctic Circle, Spitsbergen is one of the last areas of original wilderness in Europe, inhabited by polar bears, reindeer and arctic fox, and with 60% of its land covered by ice. Currently dependent on mining, the islands are slowly opening up to tourism as an alternative source of income for the tiny population of around 2,800. In this fully revised and expanded edition of Guide to Spitsbergen, author Andreas Umbreit, the acknowledged expert on the region, describes in detail the complex history of the archipelago and its present-day attractions. Includes information on wildlife, natural history and the environment; practical preparations and equipment; safety and firearms; and cruise routes.