Indre Wijdefjorden National Park

Indre Wijdefjorden is a national park in northern Spitsbergen that protects both land and marine areas along Svalbard's longest fjord. The area covers around 1,127 square kilometers (435 square miles) and includes Arctic coastal landscapes, alpine terrain, and tundra habitats.

Norwegian and Russian trappers were the first to use the area, establishing hunting camps and cabins that marked the beginning of Arctic settlement in the region. Their early presence was driven by the fur trade and the abundance of wildlife that attracted hunters to this remote location.

The park holds several historical trapper cabins that show how people hunted and explored this remote Arctic region in earlier times. These structures reveal the daily life and survival methods of those who made their living from the land.

Access to the park works best by boat from the north or by land through neighboring fjords, so plan your route carefully based on the season. In winter, snowmobiles from Longyearbyen offer another way to reach the area if you are properly equipped.

The park contains a specialized High Arctic steppe vegetation with plant species that grow nowhere else in Svalbard or in very few other places. These rare plants have adapted to extreme conditions and form an important part of the local ecosystem.

Location: Svalbard

Inception: 2005

GPS coordinates: 79.08333,16.10000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:57