Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve

Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Hinlopen Strait seen from Nordaustlandet
Location	Svalbard, Norway
Nearest city	Longyearbyen
Coordinates	79°N 23°E / 79°N 23°E / 79; 23Coordinates: 79°N 23°E / 79°N 23°E / 79; 23
Area	55,354 km2 (21,372 sq mi), of which 18,663 km2 (7,206 sq mi) is land 36,691 km2 (14,166 sq mi) is water
Established	1 July 1973
Governing body	Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management

Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norwegian: Nordaust-Svalbard naturreservat) is located in the north-eastern part of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. The nature reserve covers all of Nordaustlandet, Kong Karls Land, Kvitøya, Sjuøyane, Storøya, Lågøya, Wilhelm Island, Wahlbergøya and a small section of the north-east corner of Spitsbergen. The reserve is 55,354 square kilometres (21,372 sq mi), of which 18,663 square kilometres (7,206 sq mi) is on land and 36,691 square kilometres (14,166 sq mi) is on water—making it the largest preserved area in Norway (including national parks). It includes the largest glacier in Norway, Austfonna, as well as Vestfonna and parts of Olav V Land. The reserve has been protected since 1 July 1973 and borders in the south to Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve.

Three-quarters of Nordaustlandet is covered by glaciers, the largest being Austfonna at 7,000 square kilometres (2,700 sq mi). The landscape has low, rounded hills and plains, created by glaciation during former ice ages. Most of the reserve has little or no vegetation, and the reserve belongs to the polar desert. The nature reserve is used by scientists and tourists, the latter commonly sailing eastwards along Hinlopen Strait or round Nordaustlandet. The most popular places to visit are Sjuøyane, Alkefjellet, Bråsvellbreen and Kvitøya.