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Today, there are nine settlements on Svalbard. The largest population concentration is in Longyearbyen. "Pyramiden" (the Pyramid), which had 600 inhabitants a few years ago, is now depopulated.

Many polar expeditions have made Svalbard their base for scientific purposes. British Captain C.J. Phipps conducted the first polar exploration in 1773, followed by Norwegian, Swedish, and German groups in the 19^th century. Mapping, polar flights, and geologic surveys continued through the first half of the 20^th century. The Norwegian Polar Institute, headquartered in Oslo, furthers the work begun by earlier expeditions.

The fjords and sea areas north and east of Svalbard are covered with ice for 8-9 months of the year, while the fjords on the west side of Spitsbergen can be ice-free for large parts of the winter. The majority of rainfall on Svalbard comes with polar eastern winds from the Barents Sea, and there is three times as much rainfall on the south coast of Spitsbergen as in Longyearbyen and Ny-Εlesund. Svalbard has a permafrost layer that goes down to 450 metres. During the summer, only the upper layer of the soil defrosts, down to a maximum of one metre.

The springtime blooming of plant planktons in the Barents Sea, when the ice pack melts, constitutes the main basis for the fauna of Svalbard. This enormous production is a life-source for fish, seals and seabirds. In the summer months when they feed their offspring, seafowl transport some of this production to the bird rocks around Svalbard. Thus the sea provides Svalbard with nutrients, which in turn make the basis for plant growth, herbivores and carnivores (Arctic fox and birds).

Oceanographic and climatic differences have considerable effect on plant life. Along the west coast, vegetation can in certain areas be quite prolific, with flowers and carpets of moss and grass. Vegetation is particularly lush beneath the bird rocks.

On account of its location, Svalbard has a special place in the Arctic milieu. The islands and their surrounding seas are the most easily accessible of all the high-Arctic areas. This makes Svalbard attractive both as a base for Arctic research and for a limited and regulated tourism. The preservation of the wild landscapes and unspoiled natural environment serves a double purpose. It is a goal in itself, and it is valuable for future research. In a draft plan for future commercial activities on Svalbard, new jobs are proposed created in both these sectors. 

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