William Barentz discovered it in 1596 (with the Dutch), though it may have been visited centuries prior by Scandinavians.
Svalbard
Svalbard is believed to have been discovered as early as the 12th century. The islands were used for fishing, whaling, hunting, etc. Svalbard was first indisputably discovered by the Dutchman Willem Barentsz in 1596. The archipelago would then be settled by the Danish, Dutch, English, French, Norwegians, and Russians. Americans later started establishing bases in Svalbard, but most interests were bought by the Norwegians during World War I. The first talks of sovereignty of Svalbard occurred in 1910, but was interrupted by WWI. But when the war ended, the Svalbard Treaty was created during the Paris Peace Conference (1920), signing sovereignty over to Norway. Since then, the islands have been an integral part of Norway, and not a dependency or territory, but a region.
Svalbard is located in the Arctic Ocean and is considered part of Europe. It is an archipelago situated north of mainland Europe, between Norway and the North Pole.
There are no trains in Svalbard.
Svalbard is a part of Norway.
Svalbard is in the Artic Ocean.
Svalbard is located far north of the ARCTIC circle about 600 miles from the north pole. it is in Norway territory and u can fly from oslo or tromso. it is at the north east of Greenland and almost due north of Norway longyearbyen is the capital of spitsbergen which is 1 of 3 islands to make up the svalbard islands. inhabitants is about 2000+
Svalbard is 61 022 km²
No, the Svalbard region of Norway is not a desert.
Svalbard uses the Norwegion Krone.
Svalbard is Norwegian, and they speak Norwegian there.
Svalbard Radio was created in 1911.