Svalbard

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/svalbard

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 Svalbard?Arctic Ocean, approximately midway between mainland Europe and the North Pole
2. How many people live in Svalbard?Approximately 2,600 residents, with a diverse international presence
3. How big is Svalbard?61,022 square kilometers
4. What is the capital of Svalbard?Longyearbyen
5. What language do people speak in Svalbard?Norwegian and Russian are the primary languages spoken
6. What is the governing treaty?Svalbard Treaty of 1920

Demilitarized Zone: An area where military installations, activities, or personnel are forbidden by treaty or agreement.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: An international facility designed to store duplicate samples of seeds from genebanks worldwide.
Polar Night: A phenomenon where the sun remains below the horizon for more than 24 hours during winter months in polar regions.