Svalbard/History

Background: First discovered by the Norwegian?s in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.

Note, not from the Factbook: This 12th century discovery is quite doubtful, the statement might be about some very different country (east coast of Greenland, Jan Mayen, the [White Sea]? area). The first indisputable discovery of Svalbard was by the Dutchman [Willem Barentsz]? in 1596.