Thousand Islands (Svalbard)

The Thousand Islands (Norwegian: Tusenøyane) are a group of low-lying islands, islets and skerries that form part of the Svalbard archipelago. Located south of Edgeøya and east of Spitsbergen, the islands extend over a large marine area. They are part of the Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve.

The islands are generally barren and rocky, with sparse vegetation. They are a significant breeding ground for various seabird species and are also important habitat for marine mammals, including walruses and seals. Due to their remote location and protected status, human activity in the Thousand Islands is limited.

Geologically, the islands are primarily composed of sedimentary rocks. The area is subject to sea ice conditions for much of the year, which influences the landscape and accessibility. The names of many of the individual islands reflect their appearance or association with whaling activities that occurred in the region historically. Despite the name, the number of islands, islets and rocks that comprise the Thousand Islands is significantly more than a thousand.