Hopen, Svalbard

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For the former municipality, see Hopen, Møre og Romsdal.

Hopen
Geography
Hopen in the southeast.
Location	Arctic Ocean
Coordinates	76°33′N 25°7′E / 76.550°N 25.117°E / 76.550; 25.117Coordinates: 76°33′N 25°7′E / 76.550°N 25.117°E / 76.550; 25.117
Archipelago	Svalbard
Area	47 km² (18 sq mi)
Length	33 km (20.5 mi)
Width	2 km (1.2 mi)
Highest elevation	370 m (1,210 ft)
Highest point	Iversenfjellet
Country
Norway
Demographics
Population	4

Hopen is an island in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago (Norway). Hopen was discovered in 1613, probably by Thomas Marmaduke of Hull, who named it after his former command, the Hopewell.

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Norges Meteorologiske Institutt) operates a manned weather station on the island with a staff of four persons. For the welfare of the crew, there are three cabins available on the island for their use.

During World War II, the Luftwaffe placed a meteorological team there under cover of Operation Sizilien.

Environment

A significant number of Polar bears are found at Hopen in the winter;^[1] moreover, the sub-population of Ursus maritimus found here is a genetically distinct taxon of Polar Bears associated with the Barents Sea region.^[2]

Important Bird Area

The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. It supports breeding populations of Black-legged Kittiwakes (40,000 pairs), Thick-billed Guillemots (150,000 individuals) and Black Guillemots (1000 pairs).^[3]

Gallery

Hopen meteorological station, seen from north
The southernmost point, Kapp Thor, and the highest point, Iversenfjellet (370 m) seen from south

References

↑ Oysten Wiig and Kjell Isaksen
↑ C. Michael Hogan, 2008
↑ "Hopen Island". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-22.

C. Michael Hogan (2008) Polar Bear: Ursus maritimus, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg
Oysten Wiig and Kjell Isaksen Seasonal Distribution of Harbour Seals, Bearded Seals, White Whales and Polar Bears in the Barents Sea

External links

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v t e Islands of the Barents Sea

Barentsøya Berkha Island Bear Island Dolgy Island Edgeøya Gorbovy Island Hopen Kharlov Island Kildin Island Kolguyev Kongsøya Kvitøya Lumbovskiy Island Mezhdusharsky Island Morzhovets Island Nordaustlandet Novaya Zemlya Pankratyev Island Pinyegin and Kazimov Islands Sengeyskiy Island Severny Island Spitsbergen Svenskøya Vaygach Island Wilhelmøya Yuzhny Island

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