In the early morning National Geographic Explorer smoothly cut the glassy surface of Melfjord, a very scenic fjord in the county of Nordland. We were heading for Svartisen National Park, which extends to the bottom of Nordfjorden, a branch of the Melfjord. Svartisen means "black Ice" and is one of the largest icecaps of the Norwegian mainland. A number of glaciers spill off the icecap, including at the location where the ship had anchored, close to the inner shore of the fjord. This shoreline forms part of the border of the national park. Just as we arrived, the sun peeked over the horizon up above.
A small group of guests embarking on a long hiker were the first ashore. They went bush-wacking through a dense birch forest in a valley behind the fjord. Another group made a shorter climb on a boulder slope to a beautiful viewpoint above the fjord. Some guests took the opportunity to join the photo team on a shorter hike. A Zodiac cruise was offered as an alternative to the hikes. This was also the first opportunity on this voyage to go kayaking, and many guests chose this alternative, even some of those who had done the short or medium hikes.
After lunch we cruised back along the picturesque fjord with its lush slopes and waterfalls rushing over glacially smoothed rocks.
Two presentations were given during the afternoon. Our Global Perspectives guest speaker, Dr. Joe MacInnis shared his extensive experience on pioneering research expeditions beneath the ice of Arctic Ocean, including the first science dives under the North Pole. In the late afternoon naturalist Carl Erik Kilander talked on Norway’s nature and the importance of nature in the life of Norwegians.
After dinner the ship stayed alongside at the port of Træna, a charming fishing village on an island which is bisected by the Arctic Circle. A steel globe reminds any visitor of the location, at 66.5 degrees north. The bright evening light was stunning. Many guests took the opportunity to stroll around the little village and have their photograph taken at the Arctic globe monument. The serving of hot glögg and cookies from hotel manager Patrick and his team out in Træna town was a much appreciated treat at the end of yet another memorable day in the fjords of Norway.
