Time Zone |
Europe/Guernsey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+1 |
Time Zone |
America/Nuuk |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-1 |
Svalbard and Jan Mayen are two Norwegian Overseas Territories, located in the Arctic region, that are not independent states. Svalbard is situated in the Arctic Ocean, between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, with the largest settlement on the main island, Spitsbergen, which is demilitarized under the 1920 Treaty of Svalbard, which gives Norway sovereignty over the island, but which is free to enter and exit and to engage in economic activities by citizens of the contracting parties. Jan Mayen, on the other hand, is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean with no permanent inhabitants and a Norwegian weather station and navigation facilities. Because of their geographic proximity and administrative links, the two areas are classified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) under the same entity code, and together they constitute a strategically important Norwegian pivot point in the Arctic, with value for scientific research, shipping and resource development.
Nuuk, the capital of the Greenland autonomous region, is located on the southwest coast of Greenland, close to the Davis Strait, and is Greenland's largest city and political and economic center. With a population of about 18,000, mostly Inuit, this Arctic Circle city is a blend of Greenlandic tradition and modern urbanism. Nuuk is characterized by a unique natural landscape of fjords, glaciers and aurora borealis, with a remarkable combination of extreme day in summer and extreme night in winter. The economy is based on fishing and seafood processing, and tourism is on the rise, attracting visitors to experience Inuit culture, dog sledding and other activities. Although small, the city is home to cultural institutions such as the University of Greenland and the National Museum, and is an important gateway for exploring Greenland's history and nature.