Sunday 9 February 2025Before the Wire, which starts 26 October 2026Updated 23:59
Polar night, day 107 of 112. The sun returns 15 February.
Svalbard Wire starts on 26 October 2026. Pages before that date show the history of the island.
This day, 9 February
1920
The Svalbard Treaty was concluded on 9 February 1920. Negotiations had begun in Paris in 1919 on Norwegian initiative, as part of the peace settlement after the First World War. Before that, Svalbard had been no man's land.
History Store norske leksikon
From the timeline, Hunting and expeditions
1795
The first Norwegian wintering hunting expedition to Svalbard is held to have taken place in 1795 and 1796. Hunting only got properly under way about twenty-five years later.
History Store norske leksikon
The timeline by era
Svalbard