norway and the arctic svalbard

Norway’s Fjords and the Arctic Svalbard

May 19-June 4, 2015

Grosvenor Teacher FellowLindblad Expeditions and National Geographic

2015 Fellows

Photo from N

ational Geographic/G

rosvenor Teacher Fellow

Expeditions in 2015 for Fellows

Leslie Wiles and Terri SalleeGrosvenor Teacher Fellows on this Expedition.

Photo at arcticportal.org

Expedition vs CruiseLucho Verdesoto, Expedition Leader

Traveling to NorwayTuesday, May 19, 2015

Copenhagen

NewarkHobbs

Houston

Bergen, NorwayWednesday, May 20, 2015

Copenhagen

Bergen

Shopping in the heart of town.Bergen, Norway

Leslie checking out the wares in a fish market that has continued since the 1500s.

Bergen, Norway

A cross outside the church of Fantoft Stavkirke.

Bergen, Norway

A view across the bay.Bergen, Norway

Nordfjord: Olden & Briksdal GlacierThursday, May 21, 2015

Bergen

Olden

I can wake up to this kind of view! Olden, Norway

Olden Lake catching the early morning reflections.

Olden Lake

The first of many

waterfalls

Near Briksdal Glacier

A retreating valley glacierBriksdal Glacier

Smøla, NorwayFriday, May 22, 2015

Olden

Smøla

Heading to a small fishing village for a hike.

Smøla, Norway

Hiking through wind turbines and bogs.Smøla, Norway

Vega Island & Lomsdal/Visten National Park

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Smøla

Vega Island

Lomsdal/ Visten National Park

Stepping onto the island of VegaNes, Norway on the island of Vega

My first bird watching adventureNes, Norway on the island of Vega

Eider DuckNes, Norway on the island of Vega

Photo by Leslie Wiles

The only hike that reminded

me of Missouri.

Nes, Norway on the island of Vega

“Shopping”Nes, Norway on the island of Vega

Snails are black in Norway?!?Nes, Norway on the island of Vega

Hiking in the rain and

sleet.

Lomsdal/Visten National Park

Lichen=Healthy ForestLomsdal/Visten National Park

We made it!Lomsdal/Visten National Park

A View from the TopLomsdal/Visten National Park

Leslie and TerriLomsdal/Visten National Park

Melfjord & the Arctic CircleSunday, May 24, 2015

Lomsdal/ Visten National Park

Nordfjord Svartisen National Park

Melfjord

TrænaArctic Circle

Hikers preparing for their preferred activities.

Svartisen “Black Ice” National Park

Eric, a Naturalist,

explaining how kelp floats.Svartisen “Black Ice”

National Park

Boulder HikeSvartisen “Black Ice” National Park

What’s it Like… A Boulder Hike?Svartisen “Black Ice” National Park

My First Kayaking ExperienceSvartisen “Black Ice” National Park

Can you spot the kayak?Svartisen “Black Ice” National Park

The captain used his expertise to

get us close to a waterfall.

Melfjord, Norway

Cruising along the MelfjordMelfjord, Norway

Crossing the Arctic Circle

Træna, Norway

Lofoten Islands: Værøya & ReinaMonday, May 25, 2015

Træna

VærøyaReine

Island inhabits used to catch puffins as a source of income.

Måstad, Norway on the Island of Værøya

THIS is a puffin.Måstad, Norway on the Island of Værøya

comingsbirds.com

Stone fencesMåstad, Norway on the Island of Værøya

Hiking along an old wagon trailMåstad, Norway on the Island of Værøya

Reine is a picturesque fishing village.Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Dried cod continues to be a source of income.

Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Even the heads are used!Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Guests out taking photos of humpback whales.

Leaving Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Humpback Whales-What I caught.Leaving Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Humpback Whales-What others caught…

Leaving Reine, Norway- Lofoten Islands

Photo by John Treder

Short, but beautiful fjordTrollfjord, Norway

Captain Leif shows us the maneuverability of the ship.

Trollfjord, Norway

The intern takes the branch to Captain Leif.

Trollfjord, Norway

First of the “Midnight Sun”

TysfjordenTuesday, May 26th, 2015

Reine

Trollfjord

Tysfjorden

Leiknes

Area where the Sami people have summer homes.

End of Tysfjorden, Norway

Wood ready to be used by the Sami.End of Tysfjorden, Norway

Stream running through a boreal forest.End of Tysfjorden, Norway

Massive waterfall seen during our hike.End of Tysfjorden, Norway

Gorgeous view showing metamorphic rock that has been tilted.

End of Tysfjorden, Norway

I was amazed to see sea stars this far north.

End of Tysfjorden, Norway

Video showing sea star’s feet.End of Tysfjorden, Norway

View of the ship while kayakingEnd of Tysfjorden, Norway

Enjoying the views from the back deckmain arm of Tysfjord, Norway

Petroglyphs believed to have been made shortly after the end of the last Ice Age by prehistoric people, 9,000 years ago.

Leiknes, Norway

Vinnie, a historian,

describing the history of the petroglyphs.

Leiknes, Norway

Close-up view of a horse sketched into the black granite.

Leiknes, Norway

View from the petroglyphs of TysfjordenLeiknes, Norway

Tromsø, NorwayWednesday, May 27, 2015

Leiknes

Tromsø

I really love this ship.Tromsø, Norway

Photo by Leslie Wiles

Arctic CathedralTromsø, Norway

Bad taxidermy at it’s finest.Tromsø, Norway

Taking a selfie with the polar

bear!Tromsø, Norway

Puffin diving for cover.Fugloy (Bird Island)

Dramatic island with large number of puffins.

Fugloy (Bird Island)

Bear Island, SvalbardThursday, May 28, 2015

Tromsø

Bear Island

Common Gulls at Bear Island. Named after a Polar Bear that was swimming nearby.

Bear Island, Svalbard

Photo by John Treder

Guillemots sitting on a cliffBear Island, Svalbard

Photo by Leslie Wiles

A video highlighting the guillemots of Bear Island.

Bear Island, Svalbard

Video by Leslie Wiles

A pair of guillemots taking a swim.Bear Island, Svalbard

Photo by John Treder

Hornsund, Southwestern SpitspergenFriday, May 29, 2015

Bear Island

Hornsund

The ice breaking behind the National Geographic Explorer.

Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Our first Polar Bear sighting! Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Our first Polar Bear sighting! Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Photo by John Treder

Our first Polar Bear sighting! Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Photo by John Treder

Pack ice breaking up.Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Zodiac cruise around the area.Hornsund, Spitsbergen

Hamburgbukta & DamskøyaSaturday, May 30, 2015

Hornsund

Hamburgbukta

Damskøya

Still can’t believe I’m

here!Hamburgbukta, Spitsbergen

Photo by Leslie Wiles

Little auks or dovkiesHamburgbukta, Spitsbergen

Photo by Leslie Wiles

Dovkies flying in a mating ritual.Hamburgbukta, Spitsbergen

Photo by Leslie Wiles

Taking the easy way down.Hamburgbukta, Spitsbergen

Photo by Bob Sayer

Tundra LandscapeHamburgbukta, Spitsbergen

Passing an active glacier.Heading toward Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Walruses playing.Heading toward Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Photo by John Treder

Glacier that has recently been calving—almost 10 stories tall.

off Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Photo by John Treder

Bergy Bit showing the layers of moraine.off Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Kayaking in the high arctic!off Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Ever wonder what an iceberg sounds like melting under water?

off Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Polar Plunge!off Damskøya Island, Spitsbergen

Hinlopen StraitSunday, May 31, 2015

Damskøya

Hinlopen Strait

Alkefjellet (Bird Cliff)

Palenderbukta

Northern Most Point of Journey: 80o 48.6’ Polar Bear!

Flag waving over the cliffs.Kapp Fanshawe, Svalbard

Guests observing bird colonies.Kapp Fanshawe, Svalbard

This area hosts some of the largest concentrations of nesting seabirds.

Kapp Fanshawe, Svalbard

Fast ice breaking up behind the National Geographic Explorer.

Hinlopen Strait, Svalbard

Mama and two cubs on the fast ice.Hinlopen Strait, Svalbard

Polar Bear Located!-He’s just chillin’.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Glaucous Gulls arguing.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Polar Bear checking us out.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Now he’s checking out the ivory gull.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

He’s dug out his refrigerated seal. Check out the juvenile ivory gull.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Juvenile Ivory Gull

Juvenile Ivory Gull in front80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Eating his dinner-a ringed seal.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Ivory gulls80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Checking out the ship again.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

And we are checking him out.80o 49.6’ North Latitude, Svalbard

Photo by Carl Kilander

Northern SpitsbergenMonday, June 1, 2015

Northern Most Point of Journey: 80o 48.6’ Polar Bear!

Moffin Island

MosselbuktaMonacobreen Glacier

Woodfjorden

Staff are vigilant on their look-outs for polar bears.

Mossellbukta, Spitsbergen

Hiking Mossellbukta, Spitsbergen

A walrus haul-out.Moffen Island, Svalbard

Adolescent Walruses playing in the bay.Moffen Island, Svalbard

KrossfjordenTuesday, June 2, 2015

Moffin Island

Stefan’s Garden

Lilliehöökbreen Glacier

Blue Whales!

Terminal MoraineStefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

Starting the 1500 feet hike.Stefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

Photo by Carl Kilander

Heading to check out the view.Stefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

Photo by Carl Kilander

Reindeer were curious as to what we were doing.

Stefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

But not too curious…Stefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

View after hiking to to the summit.Stefan’s Garden, Spitsbergen

One of many glaciers passed this afternoon.

Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen

Blue WhaleWestern coast of Spitsbergen

Photo by Jean Ann LeGrand

Longyearbyen & OsloWednesday, June 3, 2015

Blue Whales! Longyearben

Oslo

Eider duck feel safe from the Arctic Fox beside the sled dogs.Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

The reindeer are protected in Spitsbergen.

Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

All pipes must be above ground to prevent the Permafrost from thawing.

Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen Travel—Best Restroom Pass ever!

Beware of Polar Bears!Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Photo by Dennis Roberts

Some facts

• Sailed 2505 Nautical Miles

• Got to 80o 48.6’ North Latitude

• Used 2000 gallons of fuel per day

• 15,000 gallons of fresh water per day through reverse osmosis

Traveling back homeThursday, June 4, 2015

Oslo

Newark

Houston

Lubbock

Hobbs

Heading home

terrilynn.edublogs.orgterri.science@gmail.com

Photo by John Bayard