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World View

JUN 2021

5 Min Read

Secrets of South Carolina's Salt Marsh

South Carolina is home to about a half-million acres of salt marsh—more than any other Atlantic coast state. Find out what lies within this dynamic ecosystem on two brand-new itineraries.

Daily Expedition Reports

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Daily Expedition Reports

Aug 21

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Ford’s Terror/Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier

We began our day early with some exploration of the Ford’s Terror Wilderness by Zodiac cruise. Because the tides would be changing all day, crew and the expedition team decided to maintain a homogenous cruise – this included a speedy entry into Ford’s Terror, followed by a circulation of the wilderness surrounding our ship, and close encounters with waterfalls pouring down steep granite cliffs. In two separate Zodiac groups, we felt the climate that created and then took part in melting the tidewater glaciers further up the inlet.   After lunch aboard National Geographic Sea Bird , again in two groups, we traveled from the ship by Zodiac toward Dawes Glacier. This tidewater glacier is spanning, active and provocative. We saw harbor seals on ice and quietly lingering in the silty ocean surrounding our vessels. We saw and heard thunderous calving events when the glacier lost mass before our eyes. The reason the glacier, fed by the Stikine Icefield, continues to live and flow is clear by the precipitation we felt on this journey. In the evening, we heard a lecture that explained the connections from ice to the sea, to salmon and back again to fertilize the forest. This sealed our trip with Lindblad/National Geographic.

Daily Expedition Reports

Aug 21

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National Geographic Quest

Lake Eva

The rainforest of Southeast Alaska is a spectacular ecosystem composed of massive trees. Today, we visited one of the best locations around for old growth forest at Lake Eva on Baranof Island. Hikes of all lengths followed a salmon stream that was active with pink, chum, and sockeye salmon.  Bear signs were everywhere as were berries.  Many of us feasted on a variety of treats including blueberries, salmonberries, and watermelon berries.    Those of us who reached the lake enjoyed not only the scenic beauty, but also a grove of giants. These trees reach nearly 200 feet and could be close to 800 years old. One of the trees was so large that it took eight explorers to encircle it. We sat nearby and soaked in the wilderness and wildness of this special spot.   Returning to the ship, we headed south in Chatham Strait towards Petersburg, and more adventures tomorrow.

Daily Expedition Reports

Aug 21

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National Geographic Islander

Isabela

This morning the ship moved towards Urbina Bay, at the belly of seahorse-shaped Isabela Island.   Breakfast was announced and some of us were already beginning to eat when we heard on the PA system that orcas were outside the ship. We all ran to the outer decks to see them, and in the meantime the crew put the Zodiacs in the water, so we embarked them with cameras in hand and the rest is a fantastic story – one of the highlights of the expedition and maybe one of those moments we’ll remember forever. So, of course, the delayed breakfast was well worth it.    Later we landed on the island for long and short walks through an area of interesting geology and biology. The shore was moved backwards following a tectonic event in 1954. Uplifted coral is now scattered all around the area, about half of a mile inland. Tortoises of Alcedo Volcano wander around freely. Some were nesting, while others were waiting to grow strong enough to climb up the volcano slopes. Land iguanas live here permanently and almost always smile at us.   Later we visited Tagus Cove for snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. There we saw penguins, cormorants and more interesting wildlife. This how we enjoy the Galapagos at its best.

Daily Expedition Reports

Aug 21

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National Geographic Explorer

Arkanes, Iceland

Although the sun wasn’t shining above, the dark basaltic rocks of the breakwater of Arkanes glowed with golden sunburst lichens as the world of western Iceland began to stir. Arctic terns creaked as they circled the calm waters in search of breakfast morsels while oystercatchers tootled above, en route from one rocky shore to another.  Onboard there were stirrings also as still jet-lagged bodies shook off their drowsy feelings, buoyed by anticipation of the day to come.   Divided into flocks of our own choosing, we scattered inland in search of new sites and adventures.  The early and intrepid found themselves literally immersed in the ice of Langjokull Glacier as they followed a tunnel deep beneath its surface.  Meanwhile, heat-loving souls soaked in the geothermal baths at Krauma, moving from pool to pool with an occasional individual brave enough to plunge into a small icy bath. The more moderate of us chose neither freezing nor warming but explored the verdant greenery of the Borgarfjord region and climbed the cinder cone of Grabrok.   The lushness of the landscape could escape no one’s attention. Nor could we miss the occasional steam-belching stream here in the land where magma is not far below our feet. It is hard to describe the cascades of the many waterfalls. Like clouds, each is different. Each is unique.  At Hraunfoss the layers of basalt seem to leak, for no above ground stream is visible and yet volumes stream to the river below.  Barnafoss tumbles beneath a basalt bridge and Glanni roars from a tranquil pool where red-throated loons sedately fed.   Day one of our voyage has been diverse.  We look forward to the wonders of tomorrow.

Daily Expedition Reports

Aug 21

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National Geographic Quest

Inian Islands

After a sunny day in Glacier Bay National Park yesterday ending with a rainy walk at Bartlett Cove, today we awoke to a beautiful partially cloudy morning in the Inian Islands. After breakfast, we hopped into our Zodiacs and cruised around the outermost islands of the Inians. Among the islands, we found sea otters relaxing amongst the bull kelp forests preening and enjoying the view of the Fairweather range to our north.   Tufted puffins flew around our heads and pigeon guillemots called out to one another, drawing our attention from the otters. Soon there were Steller sea lions swimming all around our boats—cavorting, snorting, hunting, playing in the currents that swirl through the islands, and bringing fish close to the surface for the sea lions.   As we returned from our Zodiac cruising rain started to fall, setting an authentic Alaskan mood for our afternoon of hikes and kayaks. Over lunch, we repositioned to the entrance of Port Althorp and went ashore to explore a salt chuck. We landed where the ocean and the stream meet at the head of the salt chuck, and were met with leaping salmon. Hikers went out to explore the salt chuck and the surrounding forests.   As we explored, we found evidence of the brown bears of Chichagof Island everywhere we went—footprints in the mud flats, bear trails through the meadows with bear scat along the paths, skunk cabbage dug up by bears in search of food, bear scratchings and fur on spruce trunks, and even the bones of a bear. As we returned to the entrance of the salt chuck we were greeted by the salmon leaping, our first and last clue to the bears.   On a day that could hardly get better, we were surprised at dusk by a group of humpback whales cooperatively bubblenetting at Point Adolphus. The cherry on top of our perfect Alaskan Tuesdae.

Our World on Film

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Galápagos: Going Where Awesome Is

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Alaska: Guiding You To the Heart of It

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Antarctica: Exploring & Discovering