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I was curious about this myself, and did a bit of research ... with some disappointing news:
Yes, saltwater fishing is free and available to all, but there may not be that much to be caught from land, by a rod. Adventfjorden and parts of isfjorden are silted by glacial waters, not good for fishing...
There is one exception - arctic char: it is an anadrome fish (lives in saltwater as well as freshwater), and can be caught by rod. But, sorry, it's mainly for people who actually live on Svalbard and they also need to have a permit issued for char fishing. The issuing authority is Sysselmannen/the Governor in Longyearbyen. The available info says only a few permits/licences are issued each year, and then only for specially interested people. Apparently, regulations aerre thawing up a bit as not so many locals go fishing, so new regulations will make it possible for visitors to come for fishing, too. But still it will entail some distant travels from Longyearbyen.
Go to Greenland, Iceland or Northern Sweden/Norway to do easier arctic char fishing...
Maybe you have aquaintances who do fishing in Svalbard and then you should be able to join. If not, have some char as served by Nansen restaurant or Huset in Longyearbyen... Leave a Comment
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 Ranunculus glacialis by Saagar
The flora here is hardy and in fact quite colorful. This ranunculus glacialis is a typical species up here.
You will be very well equipped with a flower book. There is one made specifically for Svalbard as well as one on mainland mountain flora - bot smallish and handy. You can get them at Longyearbyen's shops. Leave a Comment
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 by MittnicLeave a Comment
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 Skua riding the waves by Saagar
The Arctic birdlife is relatively easy to spot and identify as they are not very shy, and they are conspicous. The sea birds frequently follow boats to ride on the air pressure on the wake waves, such as this skua. Leave a Comment
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Just a hike up the valley from Longyearbyen settlement you will find the Longyear glacier. It carves up a lot of sedimentary rocks with plenty of fossils in them. It's a good place to go fossil hunting.
You will probably need a rifle or company with somebody who carries a rifle here as it is a little bit away from the settlement and other people. The terrain is rocky, and scree and glacial rubble as get closer to the glacier. Leave a Comment
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 Not much to see, really, but
Svalbard grouse by Saagar, 1 more photos
Like the reindeer, tame as a pigeon. You can see them right off the strets of Longyearbyen. It is a plentyful bird, so there is some albeit limited huinting after them during the autumn season. The result can be tasted in some of the restaurants at Longyearbyen. Leave a Comment
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 Museum and tourism info
opening hours by Saagar
Good bookshop with a selection of posters, maps, books and scientific works on the islands and other polar areas.
Opening hours:
Mon-Wed 12-17
Thu 17-19
Fri - Sun 12-17
Admission NOK 40 per adult
Note that the museum has moved from the old Pigsty (not joking!) to the university centre. It has won a European Leave a Comment Phone: 79021384 fax 79021344Directions: Located below the main downtown centre, at the University Centre and tourist information.Website: http://www.svalbardmuseum.no/ Other Contact: P.O.Box 521, 9171 Longyearbyen
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 Exotic fare in Svalbard by Saagar
But try whatever arctic food you can stomach. On the fishy side there is the local arctic char prepared in a variety of ways, and there is also salomon to be had. Ensure that it is wild salomon from the mainland or the locally caught hump-backed Russian variety of Pacific salomon.
Inbetween land and water there is much excitement: whale and seal. You can get a variety of locally caught seal meat (or imports from the mainland), but whale is always the same - minke whale from the mainland. The few land animals found on the table are reindeer, which can be superbly tasty here at good restaurants. Polar bear meat comes as snacks and appetizer only. The avifauna may be the best choice in terms of tastebud teazer of all the critters on Svalbard that have ended in the kitchen: Spitzbergen geese and Svalbard grouse - fantastic. Other sea birds are caught, too, but rarely served at restaurants. Just to confim: hunting and trapping up here is severely curtailed and regulated.
This is part of the adventure up here - if you do not agree, there are varieties of fast foods and "normal" cafe and restaurant dishes to be had, too. Leave a Comment Directions: My tips give away some of the locations where you can eat your way through the adventure...
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 Drift ice by Saagar
Be aware of the restraints caused by the ice movements when booking a travel to Svalbard - you may not be able to get exactly where you want. Leave a Comment Directions: You may access recent satellite photographs to see the current position of the ice.
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This is a must-do-thing in Longyearbyen. it takes only three-four hours (maybe more, check variations in offers) and at NOK 590 it's good value for money.
A weasel or dog sled takes you to the Longyear Glacier above Longyearbyen (other glaciers, too), and you enter the glacier from the surface into a maze of meltwater tunnels deep down in the glacier. You come up again on another place. It is a wonderful experience, most beutiful and surprising after seeing the windswept desolate glacier surface. Toward the end of the tour the guides provide some hot drinks and biscuits in a wider section of a meltwater tunnel.
The tunnels are carved out during summers over many years, and because of the permafrost they remain a fairly fixed feature on parts of the glaciers and do not move much throughout the year either. This glacier type is called "cold" opposed to the mainland glaciers.
The tours require a bit of squeezing thorugh narrow gaps on hands and knees, so it will be difficult for people with disabilities, elderly and certainly for those who are claustrophobic. The temperature below is a stable - 4C. Bring appropriate clothes, the guides will supply helmet and headlamp. Leave a Comment Directions: Both Longyearbreen Glacier and Foxbreen Glacier are well known for their ice grottos.Website: www.spitsbergentravel.no
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