Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
| Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
Dorst Bay on Barentsøya | |
| Location | Svalbard, Norway |
| Nearest city | Longyearbyen |
| Coordinates | 78°N 22°E / 78°N 22°E |
| Area | 21,825 km2 (8,427 sq mi), of which 6,400 km2 (2,500 sq mi) is land 15,426 km2 (5,956 sq mi) is water |
| Established | 1 July 1973 |
| Governing body | Norwegian Environment Agency |
Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norwegian: Søraust-Svalbard naturreservat) is located in the south-eastern part of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. The nature reserve covers all of Edgeøya and Barentsøya in addition to a number of smaller islands, including Thousand Islands, Ryke Yseøyane and Halvmåneøya. The reserve is 21,825 square kilometres (8,427 sq mi), of which 6,400 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi) is on land and 15,426 square kilometres (5,956 sq mi) is on water—making it the second-largest preserved area in Norway (including national parks). The reserve has been protected since 1 July 1973 and borders the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve to the north.