History of Svalbard in Timeline
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, situated north of mainland Europe. Its location is roughly midway between Norway's northern coast and the North Pole. The archipelago includes islands ranging from 74° to 81° north latitude and 10° to 35° east longitude. Major islands include Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, and Barentsøya. Bear Island (Bjørnøya) sits furthest south, approximately 147 km from Spitsbergen. Other minor islands include Hopen, Kongsøya, Svenskøya, and Kvitøya. The largest settlement in Svalbard is Longyearbyen, located on Spitsbergen's west coast within Isfjorden.
1904: British Mining Operations
By 1904, British interests established themselves in Adventfjorden and started the first year-round mining operations.
1907: Revival of Keilhau's theory
In 1907, Gunnar Isachsen revived Baltazar Keilhau's theory that the Old Norse toponym Svalbarði referred to Spitsbergen, to help modern Norway's claim to sovereignty.
1908: US Mining Operations in Longyearbyen
In 1908, production in Longyearbyen, by US interests, started.
1916: Establishment of Store Norske
In 1916, Store Norske established itself, as did other Norwegian interests during the First World War, in part by buying US interests.
February 1920: Signing of the Svalbard Treaty
On 9 February 1920, the Svalbard Treaty was signed, granting full sovereignty to Norway but granting all signatory countries non-discriminatory rights.
1920: Svalbard Treaty Definition
In 1920, the Svalbard Treaty defined Svalbard's geographical boundaries.
1920: Spitsbergen Treaty
The 1920 Spitsbergen Treaty (now the Svalbard Treaty) recognized Norwegian sovereignty.
August 1925: Svalbard Act Takes Effect
On 14 August 1925, the Svalbard Treaty took effect, the Svalbard Act regulated the archipelago, and the first governor took office.
1925: Adoption of Svalbard as the archipelago's name
In 1925, Norway formally annexed the archipelago, and the name Svalbard was officially adopted, with Spitsbergen being restricted to the main island.
1925: Svalbard Act
In 1925, the Norwegian Svalbard Act made Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway.
1925: Svalbard Treaty in Effect
In 1925, the Svalbard Treaty came into effect following the Svalbard Act, formalizing Norwegian sovereignty and the rights of treaty signatories regarding commercial activities.
1925: Norwegian Sovereignty Cemented
In 1925, the renaming cemented Norwegian sovereignty as recognised by the 1920 Spitsbergen Treaty (now the Svalbard Treaty).
1925: Svalbard part of the Kingdom of Norway
Since 1925, Svalbard has been part of the Kingdom of Norway but is not part of geographical Norway and has a special jurisdiction.
1928: Italia airship crash
In 1928, Italian explorer Umberto Nobile and the crew of the airship Italia crashed on the icepack off the coast of Foyn Island, increasing Svalbard's fame due to the extensive press coverage of the rescue attempts.
April 1940: German Invasion of Norway
In April 1940, Svalbard was little affected by the German invasion of Norway.
July 1941: Royal Navy Reconnaissance
In July 1941, following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Royal Navy reconnoitered Svalbard, but the idea of using it as a base was rejected.
August 1941: Evacuation of Svalbard
In August 1941, the Norwegian and Soviet settlements on Svalbard were evacuated, and facilities there destroyed, in Operation Gauntlet.
October 1941: German Weather Station
In October 1941, the Germans established a reporting weather station, codenamed "Banso".
May 1942: Evacuation of Banso
In May 1942, after the arrival of the Fritham force, the German unit at Banso was evacuated.
May 1942: Establishment of Norwegian Garrison
In May 1942, the Norwegian government in exile established a garrison in Svalbard during Operation Fritham.
September 1943: Operation Zitronella
In September 1943, a German task force, including the battleship Tirpitz, attacked the garrison and destroyed settlements at Longyearbyen and Barentsburg, though the Norwegians returned later.
September 1944: Operation Haudegen
In September 1944, the Germans set up their last weather station, Operation Haudegen in Nordaustlandet.
September 1945: German Surrender
On 4 September 1945, the soldiers of Operation Haudegen surrendered, marking the last German troops to surrender after the Second World War.
1945: Re-establishment of Operations
After the war, in 1945, Norway re-established operations at Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund, while the Soviet Union established mining in other locations.
1946: Protection of Historical Human Traces
All human traces dating from before 1946 are automatically protected in Svalbard.
1947: Rejection of Joint Administration
In 1947, Norway rejected the Soviet Union's proposal for common Norwegian and Soviet administration and military defense of Svalbard.
1954: Accidents at Ny-Ålesund
From 1945 to 1954 the mine at Ny-Ålesund had several fatal accidents.
1960: Re-establishment of Operations
From 1960 to 1963 the mine at Ny-Ålesund had several fatal accidents.
1960: Regular Charter Flights
From 1960, regular charter flights were made from the mainland to a field at Hotellneset.
1961: Reference to 1961-90 Average
In 2016, Svalbard Airport recorded its warmest year with a mean temperature significantly above the 1961-90 average.
1962: Closure of Grumant
Grumant was closed after it was depleted in 1962.
1962: Kings Bay Affair
In 1962, The Kings Bay Affair, caused by the accident that killed 21 workers, forced Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet to resign.
1963: Accidents at Ny-Ålesund
From 1960 to 1963 the mine at Ny-Ålesund had several fatal accidents.
1963: Petroleum Test Drilling
Petroleum test drilling was started in 1963 and continued until 1984, but no commercially viable fields were found.
1964: Ny-Ålesund Becomes Research Outpost
From 1964, Ny-Ålesund became a research outpost, and a facility for the European Space Research Organisation.
1970: Temperature increase since 1970
Between 1970 and 2020, the average temperature on Svalbard rose by 4 degrees Celsius, and in the winter months by 7 degrees.
1973: Creation of Protected Areas
In 1973, most of the nature reserves and three of the national parks were created in Svalbard.
1975: Opening of Svalbard Airport
In 1975, Svalbard Airport, Longyearbyen opened, allowing year-round services.
1977: Norway Claims EEZ Around Svalbard
In 1977, Norway claimed a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Svalbard, which is disputed by Russia.
1978: Norway and Finland Bilateral Agreement on Air Traffic
In 1978, Norway and Finland signed a bilateral agreement on air traffic, which was later cited when a Finnair route from Helsinki to Svalbard was disallowed in August 2016.
1984: End of Petroleum Test Drilling
Petroleum test drilling started in 1963 and continued until 1984, but no commercially viable fields were found.
1989: Separation of Utilities
Longyearbyen remained purely a company town until 1989 when utilities, culture, and education was separated into Svalbard Samfunnsdrift.
1990: Decrease in Russian Activity
From 1990 to 2010, Russian activity in Svalbard has diminished considerably.
1991: Climate of Svalbard
Between 1991 and 2020, the average daily mean summer temperature at Svalbard was 4 to 7°C, and January averages at -13 to -9°C.
1991: Tourism Overnight Stays Increased
From 1991 tourism overnight stays began to quintuple.
1993: Establishment of University Centre
In 1993, Svalbard Samfunnsdrift was sold to the national government and the University Centre was established.
1996: Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
In 1996, Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crashed, killing 141 people.
1998: Abandonment of Pyramiden
In 1998, the Russian mining settlement of Pyramiden was abandoned.
1998: Pyramiden School Closure
Prior to 1998, a primary school served the community of Pyramiden, marking its existence before the town's decline.
2001: Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani Mining
From 2001, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani produced 20 million tonnes of coal from Svea Nord.
January 2002: Incorporation of Longyearbyen
On 1 January 2002, Longyearbyen was incorporated, adopting a community council.
2002: Longyearbyen Community Council Responsibilities
Since 2002, the Longyearbyen Community Council has taken on responsibilities similar to a municipality, including utilities, education, cultural facilities, fire department, roads, and ports.
2006: Coal Exports Ceased
Coal exports from Barentsburg ceased in 2006 because of a fire, but resumed in 2010.
2006: Average Income on Svalbard
In 2006, the average income for economically active people on Svalbard was 494,700 kroner, 23% higher than on the mainland.
2007: Svalbard Industry Overview
In 2007, Svalbard's main industries included coal mining, tourism, and research, with mining yielding the highest revenues.
2007: Reduced Mining by Arktikugol
Since 2007, there has not been any significant mining by the Russian state-owned Arktikugol in Barentsburg.
2008: Tourism Overnight Stays Increased
By 2008, overnight stays quintupled since 1991, reaching 93,000.
2008: Heerodden Helicopter Accident
In 2008, the Heerodden helicopter accident killed three people.
March 2009: Strongest Earthquake
On 6 March 2009, Svalbard experienced Norway's strongest earthquake at magnitude 6.5.
2009: Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani Mining
From 2001 to 2009, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani produced 20 million tonnes of coal from Svea Nord.
September 2010: Russia and Norway Sign Boundary Treaty
In September 2010, Russia and Norway signed a treaty fixing the boundary between the Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya archipelagos, accounting for the relative positions of the archipelagos.
2010: Coal Exports Resumed
Coal exports from Barentsburg ceased in 2006 because of a fire, but resumed in 2010.
2010: Decrease in Russian Activity
From 1990 to 2010, Russian activity in Svalbard has diminished considerably.
2011: Offshore Oil and Gas Development Plan
In 2011, a 20-year plan to develop offshore oil and gas resources around Svalbard was announced.
2011: Fatal Polar Bear Attack
In 2011, a British schoolboy was killed and four others were injured by a polar bear.
2014: Barentsburg School Status
In 2014, the Barentsburg school, serving the Russian community, had three teachers, but its welfare funds had declined.
March 2015: Total Solar Eclipse
In March 2015, a total solar eclipse was visible in Svalbard, making it one of the only two locations on Earth, along with the Faroe Islands, where the totality of the eclipse could be observed.
2015: Restrictions on Cruise Ships
In 2015, the Norwegian government restricted the size of cruise ships visiting Svalbard due to concerns about large numbers of passengers overwhelming small settlements.
August 2016: Finnair Route Disallowed
In August 2016, Norwegian authorities disallowed a Finnair route from Helsinki to Svalbard, citing a 1978 bilateral agreement on air traffic.
2016: Warmest Year on Record
In 2016, Svalbard Airport recorded its warmest year with a mean temperature of 0.0°C, significantly above the 1961-90 average.
2016: Svalbard Population
In 2016, Svalbard had a population of 2,667, with 423 Russians and Ukrainians, 10 Polish, and 322 other non-Norwegians living in Norwegian settlements.
March 2017: Arctic World Archive Opens
In March 2017, the Arctic World Archive opened, run by Piql and Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani.
2017: Suspension of Mining Operations
In 2017, coal mines at Sveagruva and Lunckefjellet suspended operations.
July 2018: Polar Bear Shot Dead
In July 2018, a polar bear was shot dead after it attacked and injured a polar bear guard leading tourists off a cruise ship.
March 2020: Sveagruva Mining Settlement Shut Down
In March 2020, the Sveagruva mining settlement was shut down due to budget issues and cleanup efforts following coal mining in Svalbard.
July 2020: Record Temperature Measured
On 25 July 2020, a new record temperature of 21.7°C was measured for the Svalbard archipelago, which is also the highest temperature ever recorded in the European part of the High Arctic.
August 2020: Fatal Polar Bear Attack
In August 2020, a Dutch man was killed by a polar bear at a campsite in Longyearbyen, and the polar bear was subsequently shot dead.
2020: Climate of Svalbard
Between 1991 and 2020, the average daily mean summer temperature at Svalbard was 4 to 7°C, and January averages at -13 to -9°C.
2020: Permanent Closure of Mines
In 2020, coal mines at Sveagruva and Lunckefjellet were closed permanently.
2020: GitHub Becomes Customer of Arctic World Archive
In mid-2020, GitHub, a subsidiary of Microsoft, became the biggest customer of the Arctic World Archive.
2021: Polar Bear Population Estimate
As of 2021, Svalbard has around 300 resident polar bears, and Svalbard and Franz Joseph Land share a common population of roughly 2,650 polar bears.
2021: Lars Fause Appointed Governor
In 2021, Lars Fause was appointed as the Governor of Svalbard, assuming responsibilities including environmental policy, law enforcement, and tourism management.
January 2022: Undersea Cable Damage
In January 2022, an undersea telecommunications cable connecting Svalbard with mainland Norway was damaged, leading to suspicions of Russian involvement, though the investigation was inconclusive.
2022: Polar Bear Attack on Tourist
In 2022, a polar bear attacked a French tourist, who suffered injuries to an arm. The bear left after shots had been fired and was later euthanised.
2023: Ongoing Operations in Pyramiden
In 2023, approximately 48 workers are stationed in Pyramiden to maintain infrastructure and operate the reopened hotel for tourism.
2023: Coast Guard Modernization
In 2023, the Norwegian Coast Guard began modernizing its fleet with larger, ice-capable ships and announced the acquisition of MH-60R helicopters to enhance its ability to enforce claims around the archipelago.
2023: Inhabitants on Spitsbergen
In mid 2023 there were 3,094 inhabitants on Spitsbergen, including 2,465 at Longyearbyen, 130 at Ny-Alesund, and 10 (Polish) at the Hornsund (Isbjornhamna) research station; there were 440 Russians at Barentsburg and some 50 at Pyramiden.
February 2024: Limits on tourism announced
In February 2024, Norway announced limits on tourism to favor protection of flora and fauna in the archipelago.
February 2024: New Tourism Regulations
In February 2024, Norway announced new regulations for tourism in Svalbard, including a maximum of 200 people on a ship, to protect the flora and fauna.
2025: Scheduled Shutdown of Gruve 7 Mine
The Gruve 7 mine is scheduled to shut down in 2025.
