listen to the crackle and pop of the brash ice, search for seals and have a chance to admire a natural sculpture gallery. NORDAUSTLANDET ISLAND This is the second-largest island in the entire Svalbard archipelago, and home to the polar desert. Featured here is Bråsvellbreen, an ice cap connected to the larger Austfonna, which together form a 112-mile- (180 km) long ice cliff. Bråsvellbreen’s glacier face makes for an impressive sight during a Zodiac cruise, stretching all the way to the horizon. PALANDERBUKTA On the western coast of Nordaustlandet, this bay stretches south and east from Wahlenberg Fjord. This is a typical polar desert, where the “ice bear” (polar bear) can sometimes be seen roaming in search of food.
PHIPPSØYA AND MARTENSØYA, SEVEN ISLANDS This small archipelago is the northernmost land in Svalbard. Englishmen left their mark following key expeditions in 1773 and 1827. The islands are named after naval officers that took part, with the smallest and least significant island being named Nelsonøya, after the lowly midshipman who was promoted over the years to the rank and title of Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson! Featuring austere polar desert landscapes, and often shrouded in pack ice, these islands are closer to the North Pole than anywhere else in Svalbard.
EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
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