New place names near Kongsfjorden in Svalbard

Original text by Elin Vinje Jenssen / Norsk Polarinstitutt – https://npolar.no/nyhet/nye-stadnamn-ved-kongsfjorden-pa-svalbard/
Translated with Microsoft Copilot, checked and edited by a human.

In the mountain area Brikkene, three peaks have been given bird‑inspired names, in line with an established tradition where local species leave their mark on the map.

The Committee for Polar Place Names has approved several new names in the area around Kongsfjorden in Svalbard. Among the new names are three mountain peaks in the Brikkene area, which have been given bird‑inspired names: Havhesten, Snipa, and Plytten. All three species nest nearby, and the naming choices follow an established tradition in Svalbard.

“Bird names are widely used, especially in areas where the species have a clear connection,” says the head of the place‑name committee, cartographer Oddveig Øien Ørvoll at the Norwegian Polar Institute.

The proposer of the names is the experienced bird researcher Geir Wing Gabrielsen, who has carried out fieldwork in Kongsfjorden every summer for more than forty years. Over a long research career, he has built up extensive local knowledge, both on land and at sea. Today he is retired, but his commitment to birdlife and nature in the North remains strong. Wing Gabrielsen is pleased to have received approval from the naming committee for the new names in Kongsfjorden.

“After many years of work in this fjord, I have seen that several mountains and lakes did not have place names. After reviewing various literature from the area, I came up with the proposals that have now been approved by the Place‑Name Committee.

New land areas are emerging

The Norwegian Polar Institute is responsible for place‑name management in Svalbard and in Norway’s claim in Antarctica, Dronning Maud Land. The work is rooted in long‑standing traditions in which historical usage, natural features, and systematic naming play central roles. The Place‑Name Committee meets several times a year to consider, among other things, proposals for new names.

“The goal is consistent and knowledge‑based naming that reflects the landscape and makes maps more precise and useful for researchers, management, and travel in the Norwegian polar regions,” Ørvoll says.

Over time, many places have been given names through this work, but there are still areas that remain unnamed. Climate change also contributes to this, as melting ice reveals new land areas that must be mapped.

Place‑name traditions in Svalbard

In addition to the bird names in Brikkene, Gabrielsen proposed several other names that have also been approved. A round lake between Kongsvegen and Fatumbreen has been given the name Garwoodskåla. The name refers to the shape of the lake and follows the common naming tradition in Svalbard, which uses descriptive suffixes such as “‑skåla,” “‑dalen,” and “‑breen.”

The committee has also approved the name Kløyvden for a prominent mountain plateau in the same area. The formation lies within Olssønfjellet, but is both distinct and clearly visible from the fjord.

“Kløyvden is a fitting name for a divided landform, and such characteristic features are often the basis for naming,” Ørvoll says.

In addition, Nordvågvatnet has now been confirmed as an official name. Aerial photographs show that the lake has existed for more than 90 years, and documented use over time carries significant weight in the assessments.

The decision means that the following names are now approved in the Kongsfjorden area: Havhesten, Snipa, Plytten, Garwoodskåla, Kløyvden, and Nordvågvatnet.