Warm send-off to a cold place

Expedition - like tourism to polar areas has become increasingly popular among people who want to experience the unique wildlife and untouched natural beauty found in such remote parts of the globe as the Arctic and the Antarctic. Going to the Svalbard archipelago, an area of more than 60.000 square kilometres of islands and ice, home to more polar bears (appr. 3000) than human beings (appr. 2600) certainly gives the opportunity to explore a place like few others.

Intrigued and warmed by the interest by Chinese nature lovers in this special part of Norway, the Consul General wanted to throw them a send-off party. In a presentation about Svalbard, he highlighted the significance of Svalbard as a centre for polar and climate research, as of 2004 also by the Chinese Yellow River Research Station. - Svalbard has a unique and very vulnerable environment and wildlife. Because of its location and unspoilt nature, it is also a very important observation point for study of effects of long distance pollution, atmospherical change and global warming, said Consul General Tormod C. Endresen. What goes on in the Arctic region matters to the whole world. That is why questions related to developments in this region have become an important part of Sino-Norwegian co-operation.