Nature reserves in Svalbard

Bear Island (, ) is the southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. The island is located at the limits of the Norwegian and Barents seas, approximately halfway between Spitsbergen and the North Cape. Bear Island was discovered by Dutch explorers Willem Barentsz and Jacob van Heemskerck on 10 June 1596. It was named after a polar bear that was seen swimming nearby. The island was considered terra nullius until the Spitsbergen Treaty of 1920 placed it under Norwegian sovereignty.

island in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago, Norway

thumb|350px|Moffen, 2005. thumb|350px|Moffen, clearly labelled on this map, is on the northern coast of Spitsbergen. thumb|350px|Chart of Moffen. Moffen is a small, low island north of the mouth of Wijdefjorden, on the northern coast of Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. The island lies just north of 80° so has become a popular target for vessels touring the archipelago but landing or entering the inner waters is strictly forbidden for fear of disturbing the wildlife as the island is an important haul-out area for Walrus and a nesting site for birds. The island was fi

nature reserve

protected area in Norway

nature reserve in Norway