National Geographic Endurance arrived early this morning in Tromsø, known as the “Gateway to the Arctic”. At the local husky farm, guests learned about the role of sled dogs in Arctic exploration. These dogs have been essential for transportation and hunting in the Arctic for centuries. Guests also visited the Full Steam Museum where a local guide shared his expertise on Norway’s rich cod fishing industry and guests tasted cod caviar, cod liver oil, fish skins, and cod fish cakes. Cod fishing has been a cornerstone of the Norwegian economy and culture for over 1,000 years, and guests learned about, both the traditional methods used by the Vikings and modern sustainable cod fishing practices, as well as traditions of the Sami people.
As National Geographic Endurance set sail for Svalbard, the bridge team navigated to Fugløya (Bird Island) where guests spotted hundreds of seabirds, including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and northern fulmars. The ship then continued onwards into the Barents Sea en route to Bear Island where we will spend the morning observing the hundreds of thousands of seabirds who return to this nesting site each year.
