NORTHWEST SPITSBERGEN NATIONAL PARK

Norwegian Nordvest-spitsbergen Nasjonalpark, national park and bird sanctuary established in 1973 by Norway on the northwestern corner of the island of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. With an area of 1,268 square miles (3,283 square km), the park typifies a high-arctic-tundra biologic community. The glaciated uplands of Albert I Land and Haakon VII Land, together with offshore islands, constitute the park, which ranges in elevation from sea level to 4,311 feet (1,314 m). The park is particularly rich in bird life, containing five separately established bird sanctuaries in the south and west of the park: Kongsfjorden, Blomstrandhamna, Guissezholmen, Skorpa, and Moseya. Animal life includes Arctic fox and reindeer; walrus congregate on Moffen Island, the northern extremity of the park.