Today we sailed in the wake of the Vikings! The crossing towards Greenland has been truly delightful so far. In order to be properly prepared for outings on Greenland, we attended a mandatory briefing about behavior in the Arctic, including the importance of complying with safety procedures for landings in polar bear country. All guests and staff brought outer gear down to basecamp for biosecurity. Today’s teatime was hosted in and around the laundry on deck three, and we got to meet the laundrymen and other key personnel working behind the scenes. The afternoon program included two great presentations. Captain Aaron Wood gave a very informative talk on National Geographic Endurance, and Special Guest Speaker Inga Dora Markussen introduced us to Greenland’s history, culture, and living conditions in general. Many questions followed both presentations, proof that the topics resonated with guests. We’re all excited at the thought of reaching the east coast of Greenland during the coming night. Stay tuned!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 09 Aug 2024
Denmark Strait, 8/9/2024, National Geographic Endurance
- Aboard the National Geographic Endurance
- Iceland
Carl Erik Kilander, Naturalist
Carl was born in Norway and received a master’s degree in forestry and nature conservation from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in 1973. His professional experience is mainly connected to environmental issues and natural resource management...
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Iceland & Greenland: Edge of the Arctic
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8/18/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
Ilulissat, West Greenland
We arrived at the beautiful town of Ilulissat early in the morning, and from then on it was all about ice. Ilulissat means ‘iceberg,’ which is the only proper name to describe this incredible place. The sculpturesque icebergs that can be seen both from sea and from great viewpoints at the UNESCO site originate from Sermeq Kujalleq, otherwise known as Jakobshavn Glacier, which is almost forty miles away from the town. We started out on a cruise amongst these bergs with a few humpbacks hanging around as well. Slightly overcast skies gave the scene a very dramatic feel. After lunch, we headed toward the Ice Fjord Museum. A boardwalk took us down to the UNESCO site, which offers great views of the bergs from a higher viewpoint. But we were not done with the ice. Captain Aaron took us through the maze as the sun was slowly setting for a last chance to see this amazing place before we moved onward for tomorrow’s adventures.
8/17/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
Sisimiut
Early this morning, we awoke north of the Arctic Circle with lovely weather as we entered the harbor at Sisimiut. There were many options for a long morning ashore, from an energetic mountain walk to leisurely strolls through town. We all arrived at the outdoor museum grounds for a tasting of traditional Greenlandic foods and had a chance to visit the historic buildings. The houses in town visually, virtually vibrated with their bright colors in the brilliant sunshine. In the afternoon, a short transit north from town found us alongside a small uninhabited island, perfect for a few hours of sunny exploration. After careful scouting by the expedition team, we were able to free roam along the seashore and over the rocky hills. Some places were covered with a thick, soft carpet of tundra vegetation, and numerous gulls wheeled overhead in the breeze.