Marine geology cruise (Greenland & Barents' Seas)

Trip Start Aug 03, 2003
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Trip End Jun 05, 2004


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Flag of Norway  ,
Tuesday, May 4, 2004

The longest boat trip we've ever made began the 4th of May, 2004. In the Research Vessel Jan Mayen, 1... Jan Mayen Vessel
1... Jan Mayen Vessel
 an icebreaker property of the Norwegian Polar Institute, we set off for the Greenland and Barents Sea, where we expected to collect core samples to analyze the climatic variability of the last tens of thousands of years...

Achamba, our friend from Cameroon
Achamba, our friend from Cameroon

We left Isfjorden 2
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 , where the weather conditions were almost perfect, and headed for the open sea; but first we passed near the main Russian settlement in Svalbard, Barentsburg. 3... Barentsburg (Russian town)
3... Barentsburg (Russian town)
 . The calm ocean reflecting the sky, the presence of icebergs...there was magic in the air (so we had to take a lot of pictures!).


4... magical place...
4... magical place...
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After a lot of work (two turns of six hours per day to work and two to rest), and some seasickness problems (with waves of up to five metres), we also managed to see some wonderful animals on the ice! 9... A seal!
9... A seal!

The furthest point we arrived to was in the Barents Sea, where we found the (extremely) nice and sharp limit between the drift ice and the sea. 10... Very well limited limit
10... Very well limited limit
 The ice becomes more compact as you sail into it, giving a sensation of unexplored world behind it... 11... Just the North Pole and not so far
11... Just the North Pole and not so far

And finally, after months of waiting for it we had the chance of watching a POLAR BEAR!
12... A POLAR BEAR!
12... A POLAR BEAR!
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Where I stayed
Jan Mayen Vessel
(Oslo hotels)
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