Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve

The protected area spans 21,825 square kilometers, with 6,400 square kilometers of land and 15,426 square kilometers of water across Edgeøya and Barentsøya islands.

The reserve contains remnants of European whaling stations and Russian hunting outposts that operated between 1700 and 1850 in the Tusenøyane region.

Former trapper buildings at Ekrollhamna demonstrate the historical practices of polar bear and walrus hunting activities in the southeastern Svalbard region.

Special permissions are required to enter the reserve, with year-round visitor restrictions applying to Zieglerøya, Delitschøya, Spekkholmen, Haudegen, and sections of Halvmåneøya.

The reserve features distinct strandline formations with exposed whale bones, previously submerged areas that have risen above sea level due to geological processes.

Location: Svalbard

Inception: June 1, 1973

GPS coordinates: 78.00000,22.00000

Latest update: March 7, 2025 16:32