Arctic experiencing summer temperatures

By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Published January 26, 2006

OSLO, Norway -- It may still be January, but the Arctic region is reportedly experiencing record, summerlike temperatures.

Norway's Meteorological Institute said the ice line at Svalbard, a northern Norwegian territory, is extremely far north for the season, Aftenposten reported Thursday. The waters around Svalbard are nearly free of ice and there are large areas of open sea up to near 84 degrees north.