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Bjørnøya ( Norwegian for "Bear Island") is a Norwegian island in the Arctic Ocean that constitutes a part of Svalbard. It is located at 78°N 19°E, about halfway between Spitsbergen and the North Cape.
Bjørnøya's outline is an irregular triangle pointing south with a greatest north-south extension of 20km; its surface area is 178km². The northern part is flat and comprises some two thirds of the area, while the south is mountainous. The highest mountain, is Miseryfjellet on the southeast coast, which is about 536 metres above sea level. Other notable mountains are Antarcticfjellet (also in the southeast), and Fuglefjellet , Hamburgfjellet , and Alfredfjellet in the southwest. The coast is mostly steep with some high cliffs, but there are also sandy beaches. Many freshwater lakes exist in the inland. Several streams flow into the sea, often as waterfalls in the steeper parts of the coast. There is a number of anchorages and landing points as well as a small harbor at Herwighamna on the north coast. However, none of these are safe in all weather conditions.
The climate is maritime- subarctic. However, there are no glaciers.
The vast cliffs in the southern part are inhabited by many birds, among them the guillemot. Despite its name, Bjørnøya is not a permanent residence of polar bears although many arrive with the expanding pack ice in the winter. Occasionally, a bear will stay behind when the ice retreats in spring and stay through the summer months. There are also a few arctic foxThe Arctic fox Alopex lagopus or Vulpes lagopus is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Although some authorities have suggested placing them in the Vulpes genus, they have long been considered the sole member of the genuses but no other indigenous mammalSubclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorps.
There have never been extensive settlements on Bjørnøya. The island has long been a base for whalingAlbert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch Whaling is the hunting and killing of whales. Historically, poor conservation management by many nations led to far more whales being killed than could be sustained and to near extinction of several species. as well as hunting of walrusrosmarus rosmarus ''O. rosmarus divergens Walruses are large semi-aquatic mammals that live in the cold Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The two subspecies are the Atlantic, Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus and the Pacific, Odobenus rosmarus divergens''. and other sealOtariidae Phocidae Odobenidae Pinnipeds are large marine mammals belonging to the Pinnipedia a family (sometimes a suborder or superfamily, depending on the classification scheme) of the order Carnivora. The true seals, sea lions, fur seals and Walrus are species. The remnants of a whaling station from the early 20th century can be seen at Kvallrossbukta in the southeast. A coalCoal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by mining. It is a readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. It is composed primarily of carbon and hydrocarbons, along with assorted other elements, including sulfur. Often associated wi mine existed from 1916 until 1925 in Tunheim on the northeastern coast, but mining was given up due to lack of profitability.
As of 2004, the only population on the island (approximately ten persons) is the staff of the Norwegian meteorological station at Herwighamna. The station conducts meteorological observations and provides logistic and telecommunication services. It also maintains a a landing place for use by helicopters of the Norwegian coast guard.A nature reserve covers all of the island, except 1.2 km² around the meteorological station; the reserve also stretches 4 nautical miles into the ocean.
The Norwegian Polar Institute conducts annual expedtions to Bjørnøya, mostly concerned with ornithological research. There are also several other research projects under way, mostly pertaining to geography and climatology.
There are very few if any opportunities for individual travel to Bjørnøya. A few yachts make landfall, usually en route between Norway and Spitsbergen. Tourism is almost nonexistent. A small number of cruising ships have visited the island.
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