Svalbard |  |
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Svalbard | |
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| capital: | Longyearbyen |
| geographic coordinates: | 78 13 N, 15 33 E |
| time difference: | UTC + 1 |
| daylight saving time: | +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
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First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory. |