Isbukta, Svalbard
The winds were up and the seas sprinkled with small whitecaps as we made our way south along the east coast of Spitsbergen this morning. Conversations on board ran the gamut from highlights of the past few days to broad views of the future of the Arctic, while we watched the glacier faces and black rock peaks march by.
By mid-morning we came into Isbukta, a spectacular, semi-circular bay completely surrounded by great rivers of ice flowing down from the mountains of the interior. In short order the kayak platform was deployed and soon both small yellow kayaks and black Zodiacs were cruising the choppy waters of the bay, their occupants drinking in the high Arctic scenery. Thanks to our hotel managers, Anders and Michael, the boats occupants also had an opportunity to drink in some delicious glug, a Swedish mulled wine which went down very nicely indeed while we all enjoyed the chilly polar morning.
While we paddled and cruised, some of us turned our thoughts to the seas beneath our small vessels. During the voyage we have seen the amazing communities of marine life that live in these freezing waters, in kelp forests, on the soft muddy bottoms of fjords and in tremendous profusion on the current swept floor of a narrow channel. What a surprise that such color and diversity should exist in these cold, dark waters! Now, whenever we see the icebergs and jagged rocky coasts of the Arctic, we can imagine the other world that lies hidden only a few meters away. This world is ancient, and directly connected to all life on earth. It is also terribly delicate, terribly exploited and terribly threatened. Kayaking and cruising on the surface of Isbukta we now remember it and treasure it. It is a treasure we must embrace and defend if we are not to lose it forever.
The winds were up and the seas sprinkled with small whitecaps as we made our way south along the east coast of Spitsbergen this morning. Conversations on board ran the gamut from highlights of the past few days to broad views of the future of the Arctic, while we watched the glacier faces and black rock peaks march by.
By mid-morning we came into Isbukta, a spectacular, semi-circular bay completely surrounded by great rivers of ice flowing down from the mountains of the interior. In short order the kayak platform was deployed and soon both small yellow kayaks and black Zodiacs were cruising the choppy waters of the bay, their occupants drinking in the high Arctic scenery. Thanks to our hotel managers, Anders and Michael, the boats occupants also had an opportunity to drink in some delicious glug, a Swedish mulled wine which went down very nicely indeed while we all enjoyed the chilly polar morning.
While we paddled and cruised, some of us turned our thoughts to the seas beneath our small vessels. During the voyage we have seen the amazing communities of marine life that live in these freezing waters, in kelp forests, on the soft muddy bottoms of fjords and in tremendous profusion on the current swept floor of a narrow channel. What a surprise that such color and diversity should exist in these cold, dark waters! Now, whenever we see the icebergs and jagged rocky coasts of the Arctic, we can imagine the other world that lies hidden only a few meters away. This world is ancient, and directly connected to all life on earth. It is also terribly delicate, terribly exploited and terribly threatened. Kayaking and cruising on the surface of Isbukta we now remember it and treasure it. It is a treasure we must embrace and defend if we are not to lose it forever.
