Spitsbergen

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spitsbergen

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Spitsbergen?Westernmost island of the Svalbard archipelago, Arctic Ocean, Northern Norway
2. How many people live in Spitsbergen?Approximately 2,500 permanent residents
3. How big is Spitsbergen?37,673 km² (14,546 sq mi)
4. What is the capital of Spitsbergen?Longyearbyen
5. What language do people speak in Spitsbergen?Norwegian, Russian
6. What is the glacier cover (1999)?21,977 km² (58.5% of total area)

Svalbard Treaty: International agreement granting Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal economic access for signatories.
Demilitarized Zone: An area where military installations and activities are prohibited.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A secure facility preserving diverse crop seeds for future global food security.
Arctic Climate: Characterized by extreme cold, long winters, and distinct periods of light and darkness.