Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve | |
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Location | Svalbard, Norway |
Nearest city | Longyearbyen |
Coordinates | 79°N 23°E / 79°N 23°E |
Area | 55,354 km2 (21,372 sq mi), of which 18,663 km2 (7,206 sq mi) is land 36,691 km2 (14,166 sq mi) is water |
Established | 1 July 1973 |
Governing body | Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management |
Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norwegian: Nordaust-Svalbard naturreservat) is located in the north-eastern part of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. The nature reserve covers all of Nordaustlandet, Kong Karls Land, Kvitøya, Sjuøyane, Storøya, Lågøya, Wilhelm Island, Wahlbergøya and a small section of the north-east corner of Spitsbergen. The reserve is 55,354 square kilometres (21,372 sq mi), of which 18,663 square kilometres (7,206 sq mi) is on land and 36,691 square kilometres (14,166 sq mi) is on water—making it the largest preserved area in Norway (including national parks). It includes the largest glacier in Norway, Austfonna, as well as Vestfonna and parts of Olav V Land. The reserve has been protected since 1 July 1973 and borders in the south to Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve.[1]