Isbukta, Svalbard, Norway
The last day of our explorations of Svalbard saw the Endeavour making it’s way to the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen. We had journeyed overnight passing through the strait which separates the islands of Barentsoya and Edgeoya, and after crossing an open area of water known as Storfjord, we arrived around midday at a small fjord called Isbukt or Ice Bay which lies on the eastern side of the island. Ranged around the bay are a number of impressive tidewater glaciers which flow downward past jagged frost shattered peaks. At water level the sea swells cut a notch at the base of the glaciers which speed up the calving of the ice. This area of the coast is relatively uncharted, but on a recent visit here, the Endeavour made it’s own hydrographic survey to facilitate a safe landing. Additional soundings were taken during the course of our stay here today.
Shortly after lunch we went ashore to explore this isolated landscape. The recent retreat of the ice has exposed the underlying moraine, but as yet plants have not established a strong foothold here. This was in stark contrast to the rich tundra vegetation we had seen at other locations. It was interesting to contemplate that we were perhaps the first people to walk on this land surface. A bearded seal made an appearance in a narrow inlet adjoining the beach and we were able to observe it at close quarters. The moraine consisted of a varied assortment of mostly sedimentary rocks including shale, sandstone and conglomerates. Many of the fragments bore fossil traces of plants and bivalve mollusks. A large amount of driftwood lay strewn along the beach. Among the most interesting objects we found were whale and seal bones. A variety of bird species were seen including the ubiquitous fulmar, arctic tern, parasitic jaeger, little auk and pink-footed goose.
Once we had explored the beach and glacial moraines, Zodiac cruises along the glacier fronts and kayaking were organized. A polar bear made an appearance swimming in the water on the north side of the fjord much to the delight of the guests in one of the Zodiacs which happened to be nearby. This sighting of a mammal so closely associated with the Arctic was most fitting as we neared our departure from this dramatic landscape.
The last day of our explorations of Svalbard saw the Endeavour making it’s way to the southernmost tip of Spitsbergen. We had journeyed overnight passing through the strait which separates the islands of Barentsoya and Edgeoya, and after crossing an open area of water known as Storfjord, we arrived around midday at a small fjord called Isbukt or Ice Bay which lies on the eastern side of the island. Ranged around the bay are a number of impressive tidewater glaciers which flow downward past jagged frost shattered peaks. At water level the sea swells cut a notch at the base of the glaciers which speed up the calving of the ice. This area of the coast is relatively uncharted, but on a recent visit here, the Endeavour made it’s own hydrographic survey to facilitate a safe landing. Additional soundings were taken during the course of our stay here today.
Shortly after lunch we went ashore to explore this isolated landscape. The recent retreat of the ice has exposed the underlying moraine, but as yet plants have not established a strong foothold here. This was in stark contrast to the rich tundra vegetation we had seen at other locations. It was interesting to contemplate that we were perhaps the first people to walk on this land surface. A bearded seal made an appearance in a narrow inlet adjoining the beach and we were able to observe it at close quarters. The moraine consisted of a varied assortment of mostly sedimentary rocks including shale, sandstone and conglomerates. Many of the fragments bore fossil traces of plants and bivalve mollusks. A large amount of driftwood lay strewn along the beach. Among the most interesting objects we found were whale and seal bones. A variety of bird species were seen including the ubiquitous fulmar, arctic tern, parasitic jaeger, little auk and pink-footed goose.
Once we had explored the beach and glacial moraines, Zodiac cruises along the glacier fronts and kayaking were organized. A polar bear made an appearance swimming in the water on the north side of the fjord much to the delight of the guests in one of the Zodiacs which happened to be nearby. This sighting of a mammal so closely associated with the Arctic was most fitting as we neared our departure from this dramatic landscape.
