Barent

Barent is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the northern part of the country, along the Barents Sea. The municipality covers an area of 1,087 square kilometers (420 sq mi) and has a population of around 2,500 people. The administrative center of Barent is the village of Barentsburg, which is situated on the island of Spitsbergen.

The municipality is known for its Arctic landscapes and wildlife. It includes parts of the Svalbard archipelago, which is a Norwegian dependency located north of the Arctic Circle. The archipelago is famous for its polar bears, reindeer, and unique plant life. Barent is also home to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure facility for the long-term preservation of seeds.

The economy of Barent is primarily based on fishing and tourism. The fishing industry is centered around the village of Barentsburg, where there is a fish processing plant. Tourism is a growing sector, with visitors attracted to the municipality's natural beauty and unique Arctic environment.

Barent is part of the traditional district of Nordmøre, but it is administratively part of Nordland county. The municipality was established on January 1, 1990, when it was separated from the municipality of Bø. Barent is governed by a municipal council, which is elected every four years. The current mayor of Barent is Oddvar Sæther.

The municipality has a long history of human habitation, with evidence of settlement dating back to the Stone Age. The earliest known inhabitants were the Saami people, who were reindeer herders. The area was later settled by Norwegian and Russian explorers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, Barent is a popular destination for researchers and scientists studying the Arctic environment.