SPITZBERGEN, a group of three large and several small islands in the Arctic Ocean; between lat. 76° 30' and 80° 40' N.; lon. 9° and 22° E.; nearly equidistant between Greenland and Nova Zembla, the largest being West Spitz bergen and Northeast Land. Total area about 27,000 square miles. The coasts present immense glaciers and mountain chains, some of which exceed 4,000 feet in height. The climate is intensely cold; and vegetation is confined to a few plants of rapid growth. For four months in winter the sun is below the horizon, and for an equal period in sum mer the sun is always above the horizon. The larger forms of animal life are foxes, bears, and reindeer, while sea fowl are numerous. The islands are rich in coal. In 1918 more than 100,000 tons were shipped to Scandinavian ports alone. The group appears to have been discov ered in 1553 by Willoughby, the English navigator, and was again visited in 1596 by the Dutch navigator Barentz in en deavoring to effect a N. E. passage to
India. Among the later explorers are Leigh Smith, Nordenskjiild, Andreasen, Johannesen, Nansen, and Svordrup. Un til the World War ended in 1918 the political status of Spitzbergen was un defined. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1917) between Germans and Bolshe vists disclosed that Germany proposed to control the islands. Great Britain there fore in the summer of 1918 despatched an expedition under Sir Ernest Shackle ton to seize the German coal fields, which were thenceforth worked in the interests of Great Britain. In 1919 the Supreme Council in Paris granted Norway suzer ainty over the archipelago. American holdings were sold to Europeans.