Imagine living in a place where polar bears outnumber humans, the air is freezing cold, and death is almost forbiddendue to strict health regulations. Sounds like a real-life challenge, right? Well, Svalbard, an Arctic island now officially open to Turkish citizens for property ownership, offers a lifestyle like no other. But is this remote, icy island really a place to call home? From harsh weather to unique laws, let’s dive into the surprising realities of life in this polar bear haven! 🐻❄️🌨️ Curious? Read on to discover what life on Svalbard is really like! 👇
Is Living in Svalbard, the Arctic Paradise with More Polar Bears than People, Really Possible?
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The Svalbard archipelago, which is part of Norway, is known as the closest settlement to the North Pole.
On March 7, 2025, a Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette made the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) Treaty effective for Turkey.
This is, of course, a controversial issue, as many people consider it part of Norway, yet it lies very far to the North.
Located approximately 1,300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is an archipelago with a total area of about 61,022 km², 60% of which is covered by glaciers.
As you can imagine, life in Svalbard is quite challenging due to the harsh climatic conditions.
During the winter months, temperatures can drop to as low as -20°C, and long periods of darkness occur. In the summer, temperatures range between 5-10°C, and 24-hour daylight is experienced. The population of the island is around 2,500, with the majority living in Longyearbyen.
There are no road connections between settlements.
Transportation is generally provided by snowmobiles, airplanes, and boats, with Svalbard Airport being the main transport hub.
Economic activities in the region include coal mining, research, and tourism.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the Svalbard University Center play significant roles in the local economy. Norwegian Store Norske and Russian Arcticugol are the main mining companies operating in the region.
It is also worth noting that, unlike other parts of Norway, Svalbard does not have a comprehensive social security system.
Residents of Svalbard are expected to support themselves because there are no services like unemployment benefits, social assistance, or state-funded health insurance. Therefore, those who move here are expected to be employable and have their own health insurance.
If you lose your job or experience a serious health problem, you may need to return to mainland Norway.
By the way, the population of polar bears here exceeds the human population!
Svalbard has around 2,500 residents, but the number of polar bears is about 3,000! Therefore, those who wish to venture outside the settlement areas are required to carry weapons. Since polar bears are protected, weapons may only be used for self-defense.
In fact, even dying here is prohibited!
Technically, birth and death are prohibited in Svalbard!
The island has a hospital, but serious cases are sent to mainland Norway. Moreover, being buried here is impossible because the frozen ground does not allow bodies to decompose.
You can enter Svalbard without a visa, but there's one condition…
To live here, you are expected to prove that you can financially support yourself.