The ship anchored at Gnalodden and we got on zodiacs to get close to the icebergs and hear the air bubbles crackle inside them. As the zodiac stopped and turned we got to see the stunning land and seascape from different angles. It was a photographer's paradise!
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| A barnacle goose on the untouched landscape! |
We went ashore briefly to look at a historical trappers's cabin and climbed up to a viewpoint to get a panoramic view of the surroundings. Armed expedition staff were positioned on both the landward and seaward side to make sure we were safe from wildlife, mainly polar bears as they could apparently run up to 40 km/hr and easily outrun humans. We saw hundreds of kittiwakes, guillemots and glaucous gulls, including a rare sighting of an ivory gull. We went back to the boat for lunch while the ship saled past the majestic peak of Hornsundtind, the highest mountain in southern Spitsbergen.
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| Panorama from the viewpoint half way up the hill |
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| Expedition staff standing watch |
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| Hundreds of kittiwakes hangout on shore |
The ship next cast anchor in the bay of Brepollen with its stunning scenery and mirrored reflections. We got into zodiacs to see the two glaciers, Svalisbreen and Mendeleevbreen. The glaciers were the widest I have seen, even wider than the huge Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia. We saw a couple of arctic skuas and a fight between them and some gulls.
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| Hornsundtind, the highest mountain in southern Spisbergen in the distance |
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| The Svalisbreen Glacier and the amazing shapes of the mountains |
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| Arctic pyramids! |
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| An all white ivory gull |
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| Arctic skua also called Parasitic jaeger, so called because it robs other birds, like gulls and we actually saw them do it from our zodiac! |
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| Guillemot |
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| Svalisbreen and Mendeleevbreen Glaciers |
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| Zodiac going through glacier ice |
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| The stunning landscape and reflections along the Bay of Brepollen |
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| Barbeque dinner on the rear deck |
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