The Route · Stop 01
The Norwegian Fjords
Sailing, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac trips through a coastline carved by ice.
First, I spent a few days sailing, hiking, kayaking, and taking Zodiac trips throughout the Norwegian Fjords. Here, we saw a variety of wildlife including lots of birds (guillemots, terns, puffins, and auks), sheep, and seals.
Troll seats
We also learned a lot about glacial action and its role in the formation of the sharp mountain formations. One interesting feature that glaciers can form are the so-called troll seats — crater-like rock formations.
From the Water
The kelp forests
During kayaking and Zodiac excursions, I also learned a considerable amount about the Arctic kelp forests and their important role in the Arctic ecosystem (see the walrus page for more information about this).
On the hikes, we got a chance to learn about the Arctic plant life such as the famed eight-inch trees. These trees can only reach a few inches of height due to the lack of sustained sunlight and shortened growing times. We also saw some of the bird life and locals on these remote Norwegian islands.
Next stop on the route
Bear Island →