WEST SPITSBERGEN

Norwegian Vestspitsbergen, largest island of the Spitsbergen group of islands in the Arctic Ocean, and part of Norway. The Spitsbergen group (area 23,641 square miles [61,230 square km]) is itself the main group of the Svalbard archipelago. West Spitsbergen, with an area of 15,075 square miles (39,044 square km), is approximately 280 miles (450 km) long and ranges from 25 to 140 miles (40 to 225 km) wide. The terrain is mountainous, and most of the island is covered with glaciers. The highest point on the island is Mount Newton (5,633 feet ) in the northeast. Other notable peaks include Hornsundtind (4,695 feet ) and Drygalski Crest (4,669 feet ). Many other peaks on the mountainous west coast have elevations over 3,000 feet (900 m). West Spitsbergen is deeply indented by fjords; Longyear city on Is Fjord (the largest fjord on the west coast) is the island's main settlement. Most of the island's few settlements are mining communities on the west coast. Both Norwegians and Russians mine the rich coal deposits, and, consequently, the island has a sizable Russian community. Cruise ships dock at Longyear, and tourists can make walking tours of the island's scenic landscapes. National parks and nature reserves are a relatively new feature of the island.