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Ny Alesund, just 600 miles from the North Pole, is part of Norway’s Svalbard territory and one of northernmost settlements in the world. Hemmed in by ancient glaciers and perched on the tip of Spitsbergen Island, this is a rugged destination -- it’s a former base camp for adventure-seeking polar expeditions, including the ill-fated 1928 voyage of Roald Amundsen.

But Ny Alesund also is a strangely diverse place, where the west-blowing Atlantic Gulf Stream has ushered in a vast array of plant and animal life. Much of the surrounding islands have been preserved as nature sanctuaries, where a ban on hunting has led to an explosion in the local polar bear and arctic fox populations. The tiny village also supports a number of scientific endeavors, from the Arctic Marine Laboratory to a Global Atmosphere Watch station.

Language: Norwegian     Currency: Krone (NOK)