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The Arctic climate, classified as Polar, is found in countries around the Arctic Ocean. This includes north Alaska, north Canada, coastal areas of Greenland, northern Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Finland) and Siberia in northern Russia. The main features of this climate are low amounts of precipitation, mild summers and very cold winters. This extreme climate produces the type of scenery known as the Tundra. Winters in the Tundra are very cold and very dark; north of the Arctic Circle there are days when the sun does not rise. Precipitation is very low during this season as the cold temperatures reduce evaporation and the air can only hold very low amounts of water vapor. What little snow that falls does not melt so the land is covered in snow and ice all winter.

The short summers see the land covered in heather, moss and arctic flowers. The land is waterlogged, as the ground will remain frozen and so impermeable with only the top meter or so melting. The frozen ground is known as permafrost and the section that melts is known as the active layer. Plants do not grow high due to the strong winds and the permafrost preventing deep roots. Great seasonal changes in the length of days and nights are experienced north of the Arctic Circle, with variations that range from 24 hours of constant daylight (“midnight sun”) or darkness at the Arctic Circle to six months of daylight or darkness at the North Pole. However, because of the low angle of the sun above the horizon, insolation is minimal throughout the regions, even during the prolonged daylight period.

Svalbard is the northern most point of Europe, sitting between Norway and the North Pole, and literally translated means ‘cold edge’. It is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears, the Aurora Borealis and experience the midnight sun - a full four months a year when the sun doesn’t once dip below the horizon. The capital city of Longyearbyen has a small community of around 2,000, offering a peaceful stay no matter what the time of year.  So when is the best time to visit Svalbard to view polar bears?  From a wildlife, travel and comfort perspective, June, July and August are the ideal months when it is light and not as cold. If you want lots of light and snow, go between March and May.