Bear Island

Approximately halfway between Spitsbergen Island and the North Cape, Bear Island, located in the western parts of the Barents Sea, is the southernmost island of the Svalbard archipelago. Named after the Polar Bear which were seen swimming nearby, despite remoteness and barren terrain, this island has seen commercial activities in the past centuries. Largely uninhabited over long periods of Time, except for meteorological stations no human settlements have lasted on Bear Island for more than a few years.

A major historic center of coal-mining, fishing and whaling, Bear Island outline is an irregular triangle pointing south. Featuring a 178 square kilometer landscape, apart from a few sandy beaches, the coastline is mostly steep with high cliffs and notable signs of erosion. Home to a few indigenous land mammals and arctic foxes, Bear Island Flora mostly consists of Moss, scurvy grasses, but no trees. Featuring a club for nude dippers with over 2,000 members, admissions are open to new comers with set conditions, just in case you are seeking one.