Bear Island (Svalbard)
Native name: Bjørnøya | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Location | Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea |
Coordinates | 74°26′24″N 19°02′51″E / 74.44000°N 19.04750°E |
Archipelago | Svalbard |
Area | 178 km2 (69 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 536 m (1759 ft) |
Highest point | Urd, Miseryfjellet |
Administration | |
Norway | |
Demographics | |
Population | 4, semi-permanent inhabitants (2008-08-20) |
Official name | Bear Island |
Designated | 12 November 2010 |
Reference no. | 1966[1] |
Bear Island (
Despite its remote location and barren nature, the island has seen commercial activities in past centuries, such as coal mining, fishing and
History
The
Bear Island has never been extensively settled. The remnants of a whaling station from the early 20th century can be seen at Kvalrossbukta ("walrus bay") in the southeast. From 1916 through 1925, coal was mined at a small settlement named Tunheim on the northeastern coast, but then the mining was given up as unprofitable. Due to the cold climate, the remains of the settlement, including a half-destroyed jetty and a steam locomotive, are relatively well-preserved.[5]
The strategic value of Bear Island was recognised in the late 19th century, when
The whole island was privately owned by the coal mining company of
In 1932 and 1933 the island was a site of the first Polish polar expedition, related to the second International Polar Year. Three researchers - Czesław Centkiewicz (who later recounted the expedition in his book Wyspa Mgieł i Wichrów), Władysław Łysakowski and Stanisław Siedlecki stayed there for entire winter conducting meteorological and geophysical observations.[8]
Since the shipping routes from the Atlantic Ocean to the ports of the arctic White Sea pass through the Barents Sea, the waters near Bear Island were of some strategic importance during World War II as well as during the Cold War. Although Svalbard was not occupied by Germany, the Kriegsmarine built several weather stations there as part of Operation Haudegen. An automated radio station was deployed on Bjørnøya in 1941. German forces attacked several arctic convoys with military supplies bound for the Soviet Union in the waters surrounding Bear Island. They inflicted heavy losses upon the Convoy PQ 17 of June/July 1942, but they were ineffective in the Battle of the Barents Sea on New Year's Eve 1942. The waters southeast of Bear Island were the scene of more naval battles in 1943. In November 1944, the Soviet Union proposed to annul the Spitsbergen Treaty with the intention of gaining sovereignty over Bear Island. Negotiations with Trygve Lie of the Norwegian government-in-exile did not lead to an agreement by the end of World War II, and the Soviet proposals were never carried out.[2] The Soviet Union (and later, Russia) maintained some presence on Spitsbergen, however.
By the time the Germans had surrendered to the allied forces, the weather station operating on the island was still occupied by a team of 11 soldiers, commanded by Lieutenant Wilhelm Dege, who were broadcasting weather information back to Germany. They had been informed of the German surrender via radio on May 7th, and by May 22th with the arrest of Admiral Donitz, they were left to fend for themselves. After nearly running out of supplies, they surrendered to a group of Norwegian seal hunters on September 4th, making them the last German soldiers to surrender during the war.[9]
In 2002 a nature reserve was established that covers all of the island, except 1.2 square kilometres (0.46 sq mi) around the meteorological station. The reserve also includes the adjacent waters of a four-nautical-mile (seven-kilometre) radius from the coast.[10]
In 2008, the decision was made to extend the reserve to a radius of 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) from the coast covering 177 square kilometres (68 sq mi) on land and 2,805 square kilometres (818 sq nmi) of sea area.[11]
Today, the island's only inhabitants are the nine or so
Amateur radio operators occasionally conduct
The first recorded case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Svalbard occurred on Bear Island on 6 October 2021. A Russian fisherman had been confirmed to have contracted the disease and was transported via helicopter to Longyearbyen to be treated at its hospital, where he made a full recovery. There have been 0 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Svalbard as of 2023. [14]
Geography
Bear Island lies about 235 kilometres (127 nmi) south of mainland Spitsbergen and 397 kilometres (214 nmi) north-northwest of Ingøy in mainland Norway. It is located at the limits of the Norwegian and Barents Seas on Spitsbergen Bank, which extends southward from Spitsbergen and Edgeøya, forming a part of the continental shelf.
The island's outline is an approximate triangle pointing south with a greatest north–south extension of 20 kilometres (12 mi) and a greatest east-west extension of 15.5 kilometres (9+3⁄4 mi). Its surface area is 178 square kilometres (69 sq mi). The southern part of Bjørnøya is mountainous, the highest top being Miseryfjellet on the southeast coast at about 536 metres (1,759 ft) above sea level.
Other notable mountains are Antarcticfjellet in the southeast, and Fuglefjellet, Hambergfjellet and Alfredfjellet in the southwest. The northern part of the island forms a lowland plain that covers some two thirds of the surface area.
Apart from a few sandy beaches, the coast is mostly steep, with high cliffs and notable signs of erosion such as caverns and isolated rock pillars. A number of anchorages and landing points exist, as well as a small harbor at Herwighamna on the north coast.
Hydrography
Norwegian government agencies have conducted
Water depths near the island and to the north and east do not much exceed 100 metres (328 ft), but become much greater to the south, and especially some 55 kilometres (30 nautical miles) to the west, where the continental shelf slopes into the deep water of the Norwegian Sea and Greenland Sea.
The lowland is strewn with shallow freshwater lakes that cover about 19 square kilometres (7.3 sq mi) in all. Several streams flow into the ocean, often via waterfalls along the steeper parts of the coast. There are known glaciers on Bear Island.
Climate
Bear Island, located well south of the main islands in the Svalbard Archipelago, has the mildest climate in Svalbard. A branch of the
While winters are very long, the maritime moderation and the delay of salt water ice formation makes Bear Island have much less cold winters than a lot of mid-latitude climates on the larger continental landmasses. In summer, the maritime influence causes seasonal lag. This means that August is slightly milder than July, which is extremely uncommon on high latitudes. The seasonal lag is extreme in the winter with the coldest month being March and April being colder than December.
The weather can be quite stable during the summer months, although foggy conditions are common, occurring during 20% of all days in July. Fog develops when the warm air of the Atlantic Ocean, from farther south, passes over cold water. The average monthly precipitation is lowest in May, and highest in September and October.
Because Bear Island lies on a boundary between cold water of polar origin and warmer Atlantic water, water temperatures within a few dozen nautical miles of the island are quite variable, sometimes reaching 10 °C (50 °F) in summer. During the winter
The polar night lasts from about November 8 through February 3, and the period of midnight sun from about May 2 through August 11. With just 595 hours of bright sunshine per year, Bear Island has the lowest average yearly sunshine in Europe.[16]
Climate data for Bear Island 1991-2020 (16 m, extremes 1910-2020) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) |
5 (41) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.1 (46.6) |
16.5 (61.7) |
23.6 (74.5) |
22.8 (73.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
6.4 (43.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−3 (27) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
1.5 (34.7) |
4.5 (40.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
7.3 (45.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
2.2 (36.0) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
1.5 (34.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.6 (23.7) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
2.9 (37.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
4.1 (39.4) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.3 (18.9) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−8 (18) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
4.2 (39.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−1 (30) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−2.4 (27.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | −29.8 (−21.6) |
−29.1 (−20.4) |
−31.6 (−24.9) |
−25.6 (−14.1) |
−17.7 (0.1) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−25.1 (−13.2) |
−28.1 (−18.6) |
−31.6 (−24.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48 (1.9) |
41.7 (1.64) |
41.6 (1.64) |
31.7 (1.25) |
25 (1.0) |
19.7 (0.78) |
27.4 (1.08) |
32.4 (1.28) |
47.2 (1.86) |
40.2 (1.58) |
46 (1.8) |
50.4 (1.98) |
451.3 (17.79) |
Source 1: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute/eklima (means, precipitation, extremes)[17] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Meteostat (average high/low)[18] |
Earlier climate normal for Bear Island with sunhours
Climate data for Bear Island, Norway 1961-1990 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −5.0 (23.0) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
0.3 (32.5) |
3.6 (38.5) |
6.6 (43.9) |
6.3 (43.3) |
4.2 (39.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −7 (19) |
−7 (19) |
−7 (19) |
−4 (25) |
0 (32) |
2 (36) |
4 (39) |
4 (39) |
3 (37) |
0 (32) |
−3 (27) |
−6 (21) |
−2 (29) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.4 (11.5) |
−10.9 (12.4) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
0.4 (32.7) |
2.8 (37.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
−4.5 (23.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 30 (1.2) |
33 (1.3) |
28 (1.1) |
21 (0.8) |
18 (0.7) |
23 (0.9) |
30 (1.2) |
36 (1.4) |
44 (1.7) |
44 (1.7) |
33 (1.3) |
31 (1.2) |
371 (14.5) |
Average precipitation days | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 96 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
87 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 92 | 91 | 89 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 88 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 0 | 6 | 57 | 105 | 116 | 105 | 79 | 70 | 42 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 595 |
Source 1: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.php?product=statistics&pagecontent=C00009 | |||||||||||||
Source 2: met-no/met.no/eklima |
Flora and fauna
Bear Island was the site of a pioneering
The only indigenous land
Ringed seal and bearded seal, prey of the polar bear, live in the waters near Bjørnøya, but the formerly common walruses have nowadays become guests. Bear Island's freshwater lakes are the home of some arctic fish species like the Arctic char.[21]
Birds
The only land birds are snow buntings and rock ptarmigans, but the island is rich in seabirds that nest on the southern cliffs. Other species visit the island during their seasonal migration between Svalbard's northern islands and mainland Europe.
Bear island has been identified as an
It also supports migratory populations of pink-footed geese (30,000 individuals), barnacle geese and long-tailed ducks.[22]
Environmental concerns
Although there are currently no industrial activities on Bjørnøya or in its immediate vicinity, pollution by toxic and radioactive substances remains a threat to the island's virtually untouched nature. Exploration in the Barents sea and the recent development of the
Culture
Surfing has been documented in the movie Bjørnøya – følg drømmen. [28]
Books
“The Last Bear”, a storybook by Hannah Gold, features Bear Island and Svalbard. The story depicts a girl named April who must, with her father, go to the Arctic to research for a duration of 6 months. During these 6 months, April secretly helps a wounded bear to escape the island to Svalbard.
There is also a novel named Bear Island by Alistair MacLean. In 1979 the book was adapted into a film bearing the same name, starring Donald Sutherland, Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Widmark.
See also
References
- ^ "Bear Island". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 82-519-1851-0.
- ^ Circumpolar Seabird Working Group (2001). "Seabird harvest regimes in the circumpolar nations". Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
- Meissner, Hans Otto(1963). Unknown Europe. trans. Florence and Isabel McHugh. London and Glasgow: Blackie & Sons. pp. 158–170.
- ^ "Steam Locomotive Information".
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry (2005). "The State's Ownership Report 2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2006.
- ^ "List of coastal radio stations" (PDF). World Meteorological Organisation. 2005. Retrieved October 9, 2006. [dead link]
- ^ Jan Szupryczyński (2013). "Pierwsza Polska wyprawa polarna ("The first Polish polar expedition")" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Germany in World War II: The Long Surrender". Warfare History Network. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ Sysselmannen på Svalbard (The Governor of Svalbard) (2005). "Forvaltningsplan for Bjørnøya 2005–2010 ("Administrative plan for Bjørnøya 2005–2010")" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2005. Retrieved November 24, 2005.
- ^ "Enlarged nature reserve around Bear Island". Svalbardposten. The Norway Post. December 18, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Badet naken på Bjørnøya ("Swam naked on Bear island")". 2008. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
- ^ Jeppesen Aviation Charts, cycle 2304 (2023/04)
- ^ "Syk fisker har Covid-19". Sysselmesteren på Svalbard (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ISBN 82-90653-06-9.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Last 13 months". www.yr.no. Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
- ^ "Meteostat (average high and low)".
- ^ Årsæther, Jan (July 27, 2004). "Isbjørnfamilie fanget på Bjørnøya ("Polar bear family trapped on Bear Island")". TV2 (Norway). Archived from the original on August 10, 2004.
- ^ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Polar Bear: Ursus maritimus, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg Archived December 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- PMID 30847088.
- ^ "Bjørnøya (Bear Island)". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
- ^ Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (2005). "Barents Sea exploration celebrates 25 years". Archived from the original on November 25, 2005. Retrieved March 1, 2006.
- ^ Buch, Cato (2002). "Snøhvit: Reasons for Bellona's opposition". Archived from the original on February 10, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2005.
- ^ Herzke, D.; Evenset A.; et al. (2004). Polybrominated diphenylethers in biota from Bjørnøya (Bear Island) (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007.
- ^ Montgomery, George (1995). The Komsomolets Disaster. Center for the Studies of Intelligence.
- doi:10.1111/j.1751-8369.2004.tb00006.x. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ Jakten på den unike bølgen Archived October 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
External links
Publications of administrative and general interest are issued by the Governor of Svalbard [1]. Maps, research reports, and scholarly works about Svalbard-related subjects are available from the Norwegian Polar Institute [2].
Books
- Bear Island: The story of an isolated arctic island – exploration, people, culture and nature by Dag Kjelldahl
General information
- Website of the meteorological station on Bear Island
- Report to the Storting (1999–2000) on Svalbard by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police– extensive report on political, administrative, economical and scientific matters relating to Svalbard
Time Zone
- TimeGenie.com – Central Europe Time zone. Standard Time difference compared to UTC/GMT is +1 hours
Maps and photos:
- Bear Island nature reserve (JPEG image) – from the Office of the Governor of Svalbard
- An interactive map of Svalbard – Bear Island included
- Detailed map northeastern part (PDF) showing the location of the meteorological station near the top
- Detailed map southern part (PDF)
- Map showing the location of Bear Island in relation to Svalbard – from the Norwegian Polar Institute
- Strategic Arctic outpost – pictorial introduction to Bear Island, from Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, September 6, 2005
Geography, hydrography, meteorology:
- Geology of Bear Island, Norway Archived September 8, 2006, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Svalbards geological development – By Winfried Dallmann, Norwegian Polar Institute.
- Bjørnøya and the island's meteorological station – by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
- Monthly temperature, precipitation normals 1961–1990 – upper table: temperature (°C); lower table: precipitation (mm)
- Sea ice charts of the Bjørnøya area – updated daily on weekdays
History:
- "Meteorological operations in the Arctic 1940–1945" – by Franz Selinger; on World War II German Arctic meteorology services, incl. TAAGET station, Bjørnøya
Recent events: