*Svalbard, Geography Location: in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet, 445 km north of Norway Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 62,049 km2 land area: 62,049 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island) Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3,587 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia territorial sea: 4 nm International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea Note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area *Svalbard, People Population: 3,209 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: -2.84% (1993 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981) Languages: Russian, Norwegian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA *Svalbard, Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard Digraph: SV Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway Capital: Longyearbyen Independence: none (territory of Norway) Legal system: NA National holiday: NA Leaders: Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) Head of Government: Governor (vacant) Member of: none Flag: the flag of Norway is used *Svalbard, Economy Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus. Budget: revenues $13.3 million; expenditures $13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 13,860 kWh per capita (1992) Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988) *Svalbard, Communications Ports: limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian mainland *Svalbard, Defense Forces Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)