Today we woke up with stunning weather. Ny Ålesund was on the program, a research town with a lot of history, starting with coal mining 1911 and then turned into a research town in the 60’s.
The community also has a long history of coal mining, starting in 1911. Coal mining in Ny Ålesund continued until around the 1960s. And it was also then that the first researchers found Ny Ålesund and established their studies and investigations.
We walked out to the Anchor Mast of the Airship (which was not an easy path, since the snow was deep and wet), and listened to the adventures of Amundsen, Nobile and Company. We saw reindeer in the distance and even harbour seals on the small island across the bay. After the walk we visited the shop and some of us enjoyed eating a nice ice cream in the sun - what a day.
In the afternoon we made an outing at 14th of July Bay, named after the famous Duke of Monaco, Albert the First. We went on a small Zodiac cruise along the beautiful layered cliffs with already some Brunich Guillemots and even a few puffins nesting.
Then we went ashore and had a walk along the beach. The melting snow produced some beautiful icicles, and the glacier front of the 14th of July Glacier showed some very deep blue ice parts. Our long hike took us up on the moraine at the side of the glacier and a young man even proposed to his “wife to be” ,what a stunning place for a proposal!
Back onboard the day was not yet finished: After dinner we visited Lilliehöökbreen. A stunning glacier front, at least 8 kilometer wide, all the way in in Krossfjord. And there we stood, out on deck, enjoying a drink with a glacier in front and the beautiful scenery, icebergs, walrus on ice floe - all in still bright sunshine.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.
