A series of images documenting a most amazing voyage of discovery, heading North, on route to the Svalbard Islands in the Arctic Circle. Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago also known as Spitsbergen or the ‘Land of the Midnight sun’, is located between mainland Norway and the North Pole. A group of island’s, that are part of the North Pole Ice-Cap during the winter months, then in summer, they become island’s once again as the surrounding sea ice melts. One of the world’s most remote and Northerly areas, the Island’s population is primarily scientists from around the world studying the Arctic Region. Svalbard is best known for its remote and rugged terrain, it’s glaciers, frozen tundra, Polar Bears and the 24 hour’s of Sunlight during the summer months.
Svalbard, on top of the world…
Svalbard, a remote Arctic Archipelago
On Svalbard, ‘Stop, Polar Bear Danger’ signs, are displayed on the edge of the few remote Island communities. The signs giving an important reminder that a weapon should always be carried when leaving the town boundary, due to the constant danger of polar bears roaming the tundra.
Our adventure began at Tilbury docks on the River Thames. Sailing up the East coast of England, across the North Sea and along the coast of Norway. With a visit of Geirangerfjord and North Cape (Cape Nordkinn), the most northerly point in Europe along the way. Our journey then continued across the Barents Sea enroute to Svalbard. Once we reached Svalbard, we visited the world’s most Northerly towns, Longyearbyen at 78° North and Ny-Ålesund at almost 79° North. Ny-Ålesund is the world’s most Northerly all year-round research station, home to around 35 scientists who carry out research in the Arctic Region, given it’s relatively close proximity of 700 miles from the north pole.
The voyage back towards home, took us across the Norwegian Sea to the beautiful Faroe Islands, the Shetland Islands and the outer & inner Hebrides of Scotland, before finally returning to Tilbury on the Thames.
MS Marco Polo (IMO 6417097), the lovely old, classically styled cruise ship, built in 1965. She was a regular visitor of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, due to her ice strengthened hull.
We sailed on ‘MS Marco Polo’ (IMO 6417097), a classic ocean going cruise liner, originally built as the ‘Aleksandr Pushkin’ in 1965 and renamed ‘Marco Polo’ in 1991. She was a regular visitor to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions due to her ice strengthened hull.
Sadly, she made her final journey, ending 55 years of cruising the world on a beach at the ship-breaking facility in ‘Alang’, India in 2021 to be scrapped…
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