Europe

[Visited: May 2019]

We have seen always bigger icebergs on our way north through Storefjorden, and when we finally reach the northern side of the wide fjord, we finally get to see where all those large bergs came from. From left to right, the glacier of Negribreen has an enormous waterfront, and the blue-and-white wall rising up from the cold waters of the fjord leaves a lasting impression. The glacier tumbles down the mountain slopes with a spiky spine, and snow-covered mountains make for a dramatic backdrop. Small pieces of ice float in the water next to our ship, bigger chunks are much slower, and the really serious icebergs seem to be moored to the ocean floor forever. After soaking in the scenery with a happy feeling, we hear that we have to get dressed in our suits for a zodiac tour which makes us all thankful and excited.
As soon as we are in the rubber boats, we realise how much more impressive the view becomes from this lower perspective. The glacier wall looks higher, and we now see how big the chunks of ice and the icebergs really are. We drive straight towards the glacier, making it look always more impressive the closer we get. We then cruise along its massive wall. We now see details that were not visible before. Ice caves, turrets and towers of ice which might have been designed by Gaudí, carved over the span of hundreds and perhaps even thousands of years, huge cracks in the wall, indicating places where the glacier will break and a new iceberg might be born. We see all kinds of shades of blue, white and grey: the glacier wall now comes to life right in front of our eyes. Moreover, we spot an abundance of birds which are looking for food right at the edge of the glacier, where the ice hits the water.
Then, as we are on our way west, we hear a thundering sound, look back, and see what looks like a big tidal wave pushing away from Negribreen. A slice of the icy wall has broken off, and it has caused a mini-tsunami. Our driver quickly steers our zodiac away from the glacier, and the others, who were closer to the falling ice, escape to safety as well. Our mothership, moored a mile away, also feels the wave. When all is quiet again, we return to the location where the ice came down, to find the sea littered with a debris of ice chunks. Birds seem excited, too: this stirs things up and might increase their chance of a catch. We see lots of ivory birds flying around us, and landing on ice close to us. We then continue our cruise west, never tired of looking at the cracks, lines, caves, and towers of Negribreen, and its colours.

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Negribreen glacier (Svalbard and Jan Mayen)

Negribreen glacier > Svalbard and Jan Mayen > Europe

[Visited: May 2019]

Around the World in 80 Clicks