Vlad, OK2WX will be active as JW0V from Svalbard Island, IOTA EU - 026, 14 - 23 July 2025.
He will operate on 160 - 6m, CW, SSB, FT8.
Recent DX Spots JW0V
JW0V Log search QSL via I8KHC.
DX Pedition page
Svalbard: a life illuminated by the northern lights
Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago washed by the Arctic Ocean. Its main inhabitants are polar bears, which are fishermen. The area is made up of hundreds of small islands and dozens of large islands, including Prince Charles Land, Barents Island and West Spitsbergen. The total area is more than 62,000 km², and 60% of the entire territory is covered with a thick layer of snow and ice blocks. The exotic name of the archipelago is due to the mountainous terrain and the presence of a huge number of icebergs. In translation from the Dutch language “Spitsbergen” literally sounds like “sharp mountains”.
According to the official version of geographers, the discoverer of the archipelago was V. Barents in the distant 1596. However, for the last 100 years historians have managed to study archives and chronicles of Russian Pomors, most of which tell about a certain Grumant. The mysterious island was a part of Greenland and for several centuries it was developed by Pomors who hunted bears, seals and walruses.
After the discovery of the area in the late 17th century, Svalbard was swept by a wave of hunters and fishermen from Holland, Britain, Norway, Denmark and France. They hunted whales, whose meat and fat were valued on the mainland. Entire settlements sprang up on land, people came here as families, and while the men were at sea, the women cut up the carcasses and rendered the fat.
Svalbard. Author - Tim Melling.
Why a “no man's land” became a stumbling block between world leaders
Over time, the coal deposits discovered by Russian scientist V. Rusanov in 1912 attracted the interest of industrialists. The “no man's land” became a tidbit for the world's leading countries. A fierce struggle for the right to use natural resources unfolded between Russia, the United States, England, Norway and Holland. In early 1920, the competition intensified and in order to resolve the disputes a large-scale conference was held, the participants of which considered the status of Spitsbergen. Its result was the Treaty of Paris, according to which all countries could carry out economic works and scientific research in the area.
Years later, the archipelago was transferred under the sovereignty of Norway, and Spitsbergen itself became a demilitarized zone, where any military action was forbidden. Mines, weather and radio stations, nature reserves were built on the territory of the islands. In the early 60s, the environmental protection regime in the sea areas was strengthened. Thanks to the coordinated work of Norway and the American company Arctic Cole Co. the town of Longyear with a police station, a public notary and an emergency rescue service was established.
JW0V. Svalbard Island Logo.
What is remarkable about life on Svalbard today
Today Svalbard is inhabited by more than 3,000 people. They come from Norway, Russia, Poland and Ukraine. The main population centers are: Barentsburg, Pyramid, Sveagruva, Ny-Olesund, Hornsunn. There is a visa-free regime in the area. The archipelago abounds with stunning snowy landscapes, mazes of blue icebergs, polar bears and friendly harbor seals. It is a true kingdom of ice and permafrost, visited annually by the British, Germans, Americans, French and Japanese. The highlight of Svalbard is the shimmering northern lights and the abundance of historical fern fossils.
Despite the fact that the place is an hour from the North Pole, expensive hotels in Longyear are packed with tourists eager to join the harsh winter and enjoy kayaking. The locals call the area Svalbard, which means “Cold Land” in Norwegian dialect. You can get to Svalbard from Oslo or buy a ticket on charter flights from Russia, designed for government officials or researchers.
Svalbard. Author - Geoff Upward.
Vacation for real men
The excursion route runs through abandoned coal mines. Most travelers rush to the snow-covered area to the beginning of the Arctic cruise on the legendary “Kapitan Khlebnikov”. The main means of transportation for locals are snowmobiles, ferries, cars that almost everyone has, and shuttle buses that take tourists to their hotels. You can stay in a simple gesthouse or reserve a fancy room at the Radisson, which used to be a radio station. There is a frozen satellite dish at the entrance, and the hotel itself is a sailing schooner with comfortable cabins for wealthy guests. Upon arrival, each traveler receives a safety booklet and a shotgun, which will be an invariable companion during solitary outings. Svalbard is a place of rest for real men who are not afraid of dangers and are ready for adventure.
