Aug 17, 2019 - National Geographic Orion
To arrive at Wrangel Island aboard National Geographic Orion for the first time was an accomplishment that words fail to describe. Such a northerly Russian outpost of polar bears and birds stands as legend in the minds of explorers since it was first discovered, and today’s activities did not disappoint in the slightest. Our first landing ashore was accompanied by musk ox and polar bears while harlequin ducks bobbed in the water. And the afternoon brought still more white bears to observe along the shoreline: a day to be remembered as we explore further this mighty island.
Paul North is the founder of the educational nonprofit Meet the Ocean and host of its online podcast. As a polar diver with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic, he tours the remote underwater landscapes of Antarctica and other sub-zero destinations to emphasize the importance, diversity, and unexpected color of the invertebrate kingdom.