Hopen Island

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About Hopen Island:

It is a small, remote island in the far southeast of Svalbard and part of the Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve.
It is mostly covered by rocks and continuous permafrost, with a very narrow beach from which the landscape rises sharply.
In the north of the island there are steep cliffs with horizontal shelves which are ideal for breeding seabirds, including the globally vulnerable Atlantic puffin.
Fauna: There are huge seabird colonies on steep cliffs with Brunich’s Guillemots, Kittywakes, Fulmars etc.
The numbers of breeding birds here make Hopen one of the most important seabird islands of the Barents Sea.

Key facts about Walrus

It is a pinniped, or fin-footed mammal, and is related to seals and sea lions. Their skin is covered by a thin layer of small coarse hairs.
It is easily recognised by its sheer size and magnificent tusks. It is a keystone species in Arctic marine ecosystems.
Walruses are terrestrial, marine mammals, meaning they can swim in the ocean and walk on land and sea ice.
They typically eat mollusks, but worms, snails, soft shell crabs, shrimp, and sea cucumbers can also be found on their menu.
Distribution: Walruses live in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the world near the North Pole. They can be found in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean.
Threats: It is threatened by commercial hunting, but today the biggest danger it faces is climate change.
Conservation status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Q1: What is Permafrost?

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes—near the North and South Poles.