Why in news?
Recently Svalbard is in highlights for several important updates and ongoing issues in the Arctic region. These include the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in arctic foxes
Key facts
- It is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, located midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
- The total land area is about 61,022 km², with Spitsbergen as the largest island.
- Svalbard is home to unique Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes, and various seabirds.
- The archipelago has seven national parks and 23 nature reserves protecting two-thirds of its area.
- Discovered by Willem Barentsz in 1596, it became Norwegian territory through the 1920 Svalbard Treaty.
- It is governed by a governor appointed by Norway and is demilitarized; the treaty allows signatory countries equal rights to resources.
Avian influenza
Commonly known as bird flu, is a viral infection caused by influenza A viruses that primarily affect birds but can occasionally infect mammals like cows and humans.
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