Time Zone |
Europe/Guernsey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+1 |
Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Bredo Valle are a special combination of Norwegian territories located within the Arctic Circle. The archipelago of Svalbard is situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, with the capital city of Longyearbyen and the volcanic island of Jan Mayen in the North Atlantic, and is administratively under the same jurisdiction despite the distance between the two.
Svalbard covers an area of about 61,000 square kilometers, 60% of which is covered by glaciers, with unique polar landscapes and permafrost. Jan Mayen Island is famous for the volcano Berenberg and has no permanent residents. Both are important bases for observing the aurora borealis and studying Arctic ecology, and are home to rare animals such as polar bears and reindeer.
According to the Svalbard Treaty, citizens of the signatory countries can freely enter and leave the region for scientific research or commercial activities. The city of Longyearbyen hosts the world's northernmost university and seed bank, while Jan Mayen Island is manned only by a weather station. Tourism is dominated by glacier expeditions and polar scientific research, and environmental regulations are strictly adhered to throughout the year.
The climate is polar, with long polar nights in winter and polar days in summer. Visitors need to obtain permission from the Norwegian authorities in advance and have adequate cold weather protection. Due to the high activity of polar bears, it is important to carry protective equipment and be accompanied by a guide when traveling outdoors.
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.