Nordfjord
Early this morning Endeavour entered into the very scenic Nordfjord. It is this type of scenery that gives rise to childhood images of trolls and fairies. The fjord is lined with high cliffs covered with lush green vegetation, amidst jutting rocks. Houses built in that classic Norwegian style are scattered on the hills, screaming come and stay, put your feet up, and take it all in.
The guests of Endeavour took in all this scenery as they traveled along Lovatnet Lake, and up the Kjern Valley. The destination of the day was the foot of the Kjerndal Glacier (Kjerndalsbreen). This was the first encounter of the trip with a glacier, and what an encounter it was. The glacier face is very easy to access by foot, so after a short walk, the guests came face to face with the ice. Entranced with the massiveness, some just sat, watching the surroundings, and listening to the roar of the glacial river. Others hiked around the base, or on the nature trail. But to sure, this opportunity for photography was missed by no one.
It is not only the landscape that left us lost in thought. The water here in Norway holds many enticements. The underwater world here projects itself as an exquisite place, full of life. Our Undersea Specialist, Dennis Cornejo, and I as his dive buddy, take the opportunity to explore this underwater world, collecting images for the guests of Endeavour to enjoy.
During our first days, the water was full of jelly fish, not just your occasional one, but numbered in the thousands. There were harmless moonjellys, looking like large gelatinous disks. They line the water column from top to bottom, sometimes making it an underwater obstacle course whilst fining in between, over and under. The other species of jellyfish that we ran across is the much more dangerous lion’s mane jellyfish, pictured here. Thankfully there are not as many in the water as the moonjellys, but with slim, slightly transparent stinging tentacles that can reach 30 meters in length, one has to keep a keen eye out. The tentacles are used for defense against predators, and for stunning prey. The lion’s mane poison is not very toxic to humans, but can cause a nasty sting. Vinegar alleviates the pain. These jellyfish are very common throughout the world in temperate waters. Small fish take advantage of the lion’s mane tentacles, seeking shelter from their own larger predators.
Our first day in these deep fjords that line the Northern part of Norway has left us completely entranced, and has at least some of us starting to believe the fairy tales.
Early this morning Endeavour entered into the very scenic Nordfjord. It is this type of scenery that gives rise to childhood images of trolls and fairies. The fjord is lined with high cliffs covered with lush green vegetation, amidst jutting rocks. Houses built in that classic Norwegian style are scattered on the hills, screaming come and stay, put your feet up, and take it all in.
The guests of Endeavour took in all this scenery as they traveled along Lovatnet Lake, and up the Kjern Valley. The destination of the day was the foot of the Kjerndal Glacier (Kjerndalsbreen). This was the first encounter of the trip with a glacier, and what an encounter it was. The glacier face is very easy to access by foot, so after a short walk, the guests came face to face with the ice. Entranced with the massiveness, some just sat, watching the surroundings, and listening to the roar of the glacial river. Others hiked around the base, or on the nature trail. But to sure, this opportunity for photography was missed by no one.
It is not only the landscape that left us lost in thought. The water here in Norway holds many enticements. The underwater world here projects itself as an exquisite place, full of life. Our Undersea Specialist, Dennis Cornejo, and I as his dive buddy, take the opportunity to explore this underwater world, collecting images for the guests of Endeavour to enjoy.
During our first days, the water was full of jelly fish, not just your occasional one, but numbered in the thousands. There were harmless moonjellys, looking like large gelatinous disks. They line the water column from top to bottom, sometimes making it an underwater obstacle course whilst fining in between, over and under. The other species of jellyfish that we ran across is the much more dangerous lion’s mane jellyfish, pictured here. Thankfully there are not as many in the water as the moonjellys, but with slim, slightly transparent stinging tentacles that can reach 30 meters in length, one has to keep a keen eye out. The tentacles are used for defense against predators, and for stunning prey. The lion’s mane poison is not very toxic to humans, but can cause a nasty sting. Vinegar alleviates the pain. These jellyfish are very common throughout the world in temperate waters. Small fish take advantage of the lion’s mane tentacles, seeking shelter from their own larger predators.
Our first day in these deep fjords that line the Northern part of Norway has left us completely entranced, and has at least some of us starting to believe the fairy tales.
