SPITZBERGEN, a group of islands in the Arctic ocean, in lat. 76* 30'-80° 40' n., and long. 9°-22' e„ lies 300 m. n. of Scandinavia, and 325 e. of Greenland. The group, which is estimated to contain about 30,000 English sq.m., is composed of three large and several small islands. The largest of the group, Spitzbergen Proper, consists of two oblong and parallel tracts known as West Spitzbergen and East Spitzbergen or New Friesland, connected by a neck of land; the whole strongly resembling a boat book in shape. The two next in size are Egede and Island. Being far within time Arc tic circle, and surrounded by a wide expanse of sea, almost the whole of its surface is covered with perpetual snow and glaciers. The whole of the w. side is mountainous, the general elevation being 3,000 4,500 ft. above sea-level; and the same is true of the n.e. coast. During ten months of the year mercury freezes, and for the other two months the temperature is seldom more than 5° above the freezing-point; yet, during this short summer. more than 100 species of plants, which constitute the vegetation of
this inhospitable region, succeed in springing np, and producing and ripening their seed. The whole of Spitzbergen could not afford sustenance for one human being; but it is, nevertheless, a haunt of reindeer, foxes, and bears, and whales and seals abound on the coast. Spitzbergen has from time to time been occupied by Dute.t arid Russian colonies, who were supplied from the mainland of Europe. It was discovered, in 1596, by William Barentz, the Dutch explorer, in his third voyage to discover the North-east Passage, and, has since been frequently visited by other explorers and by whalers. It is claimed as a dependency of its European territories by Russia.