It’s June 21st, the Summer Solstice, the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the High Arctic it is no different. So, you would expect the weather to be sunny and warm on the longest day of the year, and we were not disappointed! As the National Geographic Explorer dropped anchor off our landing site, Hamburgbukta, we had clear skies, and very mild temperatures for the planned activities this lovely morning.
This area of the main island of Spitzbergen, or “jagged Peaks” in Dutch, has a large amount of sharply formed, towering mountains, which was the source of its name when it was first discovered in 1596 by Willem Barents. This landscape was the perfect back-drop for our morning’s options of hiking and kayaking. So, soon after breakfast was over, the guests headed to shore to explore the area by foot and by kayak.
There was a special greeting committee waiting within the sheltered bay to welcome us on such a glorious day; harbor seals. These small pinnipeds, which are one of the “Phocids,” or what we know as “true seals,” we’re very interested in our presence in their world! Their range is circumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere, and are seen often in protected bays and inlets. They kept a close eye on the activities, and often closely approached the Zodiacs and kayaks.
Everyone had the opportunity to try their hand at kayaking, as well as going for medium and short walks over this unique landscape. The long hike however, went further and lasted much longer, so the participants had made the choice not to kayak.
Soon it was time for everyone to return to the ship for a special mid-summer lunch on the Sun Deck, and maybe catch a quick nap, as the National Geographic Explorer set sail to the north to find the “pack ice,” and hopefully observe more wildlife! Sure enough, shortly after dinner ended a beautiful, and large, male polar bear was spotted in the ice to everyone’s delight. A perfect way to end a Mid-Summer’s day!
