The Svalbard Islands Postcard

The Svalbard Islands are located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time. From texts from the 12th century, we know that Svalbard means "cold coasts". Effective since 1925, the Svalbard Treaty that defines Norway's sovereignty over the archipelago has some very interesting conditions. The most curious is that the islands are an entirely visa-free zone. This gives citizens of all treaty signatories the right to live there. Photo credit: Christopher Michel, 2016. Enjoy your new The Svalbard Islands postcard!