Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen, or Spitzbergen, is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. North of mainland Europe, it is about midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The islands of the group range from 74° to 81° north latitude, and from 10° to 35° east longitude.

The Svalbard Archipelago is best visited by ship, on foot, or by Zodiac, from intimate encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's abundant fauna. Roaming polar bears, reclining seals, grazing reindeer, and bird colonies all coexist in this cold environment that most people only go into for a few months of the year.

Because Svalbard is so isolated, it houses the Worldwide Seed Vault, which serves as a safety net against unintentional loss of diversity in the case of a severe regional or global disaster.

Polar bears are frequently at the top of the list of must-see creatures, but the islands also include reindeer, arctic foxes, walruses, and large seabird nesting colonies.