Smarinbukta
Step right up! Come on in for the Arctic Ocean Underwater Freak Show, the strangest side of the greatest show on Earth! See the freaks that never see the light of day! We got ‘em all! See the Spineless Wonders, the 20-armed Fern Beast, the Dog-faced Fish and the World’s Strongest Slug! Don’t forget to bundle up (maybe in a dry suit); it’s a bit chilly inside!
Observing the marvelous creatures and strange ecology of the Arctic seas really is a bit like walking into a sideshow of freaks. Under the big top are the marquee species, the polar bears, walrus, Arctic fox and graceful seabirds, but since you’ve paid the admission don’t miss the oddities under the smaller tents off the to side. Here you’ll find the curiosities, like the bearded lady, that rearrange our perspectives and prejudices: there are animals that resemble ferns and flowers, rich collections of life in a realm of freezing cold, terrible pressure and eternal darkness, even whole ecologies based on the slow rain of death and decay from the world above.
There is more than one tent in this weird part of the circus. Start by strolling past the cages and stages from the rocky outer coast, where gorgeous flower-like anemones crowd together with stilt-man crabs and disturbingly large sea spiders. Then move deeper into the inner recesses of the freak show, see the really weird life of the deep dark bottoms of the fjords. Here, even under the midnight sun, no light ever penetrates and a world of crushing pressure and swirling silt is inhabited by predatory sea stars, spiky slugs and fish that curl into neat spirals as though thoughtfully preparing themselves for the frying pan.
During our week exploring the islands of Svalbard the show under the big top has been spectacular indeed. Polar bear mothers led their cubs over the teeter-totters of frozen seas, walrus performed their renowned “molting in a pile” revue and belugas galloped by like a brace of white horses. But the sideshow freaks were well worth it too, showing us in their strangeness something special about ourselves. Don’t miss it!
Step right up! Come on in for the Arctic Ocean Underwater Freak Show, the strangest side of the greatest show on Earth! See the freaks that never see the light of day! We got ‘em all! See the Spineless Wonders, the 20-armed Fern Beast, the Dog-faced Fish and the World’s Strongest Slug! Don’t forget to bundle up (maybe in a dry suit); it’s a bit chilly inside!
Observing the marvelous creatures and strange ecology of the Arctic seas really is a bit like walking into a sideshow of freaks. Under the big top are the marquee species, the polar bears, walrus, Arctic fox and graceful seabirds, but since you’ve paid the admission don’t miss the oddities under the smaller tents off the to side. Here you’ll find the curiosities, like the bearded lady, that rearrange our perspectives and prejudices: there are animals that resemble ferns and flowers, rich collections of life in a realm of freezing cold, terrible pressure and eternal darkness, even whole ecologies based on the slow rain of death and decay from the world above.
There is more than one tent in this weird part of the circus. Start by strolling past the cages and stages from the rocky outer coast, where gorgeous flower-like anemones crowd together with stilt-man crabs and disturbingly large sea spiders. Then move deeper into the inner recesses of the freak show, see the really weird life of the deep dark bottoms of the fjords. Here, even under the midnight sun, no light ever penetrates and a world of crushing pressure and swirling silt is inhabited by predatory sea stars, spiky slugs and fish that curl into neat spirals as though thoughtfully preparing themselves for the frying pan.
During our week exploring the islands of Svalbard the show under the big top has been spectacular indeed. Polar bear mothers led their cubs over the teeter-totters of frozen seas, walrus performed their renowned “molting in a pile” revue and belugas galloped by like a brace of white horses. But the sideshow freaks were well worth it too, showing us in their strangeness something special about ourselves. Don’t miss it!
