Woodfjord, Svalbard, 6/12/2024, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Arctic
What a great day for wildlife viewing here in Svalbard on board National Geographic Endurance. Today the ship explored in Woodfjord where we were able to land for hikes on the tundra and visit Monacobreen where we boarded Zodiacs to explore the face of the glacier. Bird sightings were plentiful and once on the ice we had close up views of bearded seals, including a very young pup.
Brett is a photographer, marine biologist, and educator from California. He is happiest underwater with camera in hand working to inspire marine conservation. He has worked and traveled extensively throughout the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and the Midd...
Our last day of the voyage began with a beautiful landing in Signehamna, Krossfjorden. Those up for a longer adventure set out on a two-hour hike across the undulating hills surrounding the bay, while others enjoyed shorter, yet equally rewarding walks. A couple of curious Svalbard reindeer grazed on the freshly uncovered tundra vegetation as gray clouds settled gently into the valley. Meanwhile, snow buntings, kittiwakes, and Arctic terns treated us to a lively concert. It was truly a magical day in the high Arctic. In the afternoon, we repositioned the ship in front of the stunning Lilliehöök Glacier for a scenic ship cruise, where we admired the mesmerizing blue ice reflected in the still waters. To top it all off, we ended the day with a Polar Plunge! The brave among us took the plunge to test just how cold those Arctic waters really are. What a perfect way to conclude our unforgettable two-week voyage along the Norwegian coast and through the wild beauty of Arctic Svalbard.
It was a wildlife bonanza day—we saw king eiders, a minke whale, playful harbor and ringed seals, a walrus, reindeer, and even some polar bears. So, let’s play a game! Can you guess who made the prints in these images?
As predicted, National Geographic Endurance encountered pack ice in the far north at 6:00 a.m. Having left the last land of the archipelago the evening prior, our plan was to spend the day in the ice: looking for, hoping for, and mentally manifesting more wildlife. Before breakfast, guides were already up on the Bridge. A few harp seals were spotted, along with several ivory gulls. Soon there were ringed seals, as well as a bearded seal mum and pup together on the ice. Several presentations were given. Dennis spoke on lichen, and Sergei discussed glacier sand ice. In the afternoon, Shell spoke about polar bears. Of course, we had the shifting visual of ice and wildlife. In the evening, a few of us had the treat of dining at Charlie’s Table on deck 8, a true journey of culinary precision and passion. As the evening progressed, we exited out of the sea ice, southbound again for tomorrow’s land-based adventures on the north coast of Spitsbergen.
