High up in the Arctic Circle, Olivier Chastel begins his working day by scanning the horizon for polar bears, rifle at the ready. "In 25 years I've never had to use it, but you can't be too careful," he explains. There can't be many conservationists who go birdwatching while armed, but the danger to life from bears in Svalbard - the largest island of the Norwegian polar archipelago - is so high that it's a legal requirement.
Located in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the town has regular modern amenities like schools, restaurants, and stores. However, it's unlike anywhere else on Earth. For starters, it's dark four months a year and perpetually light for another four months. Secondly, it's suggested residents carry a rifle when traveling outside the town borders - in case they run into a polar bear.
