tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45864789080335250292011-04-21T11:46:05.609-07:00Wildlife and Landscapes of the ArcticSharon K. Schafernoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4586478908033525029.post-50137531347664870082008-06-07T16:52:00.000-07:002008-06-07T20:24:31.206-07:00The Itinerary begins in London (Tower Bridge), then cruises to UK; Newcastle; Lerwick, UK; cruise/explore Shetland Island; Thorshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark; cruise/explore Faroe Islands; cruise/explore Jan Mayen Island; Longyearbyen; Ny Alesund; 4 days around the Svalbard Islands; cruise/explore Bear Island and finally a return to Tromso, Norway on June 30.<br /><br />Spitsbergen is known as the <em>Land of the Ice Bears</em>. I have always dreamed of seeing Polar Bears in the wild and it is likely, at last, I will. The archipelago is virtually an undisturbed sanctuary for birds and other hardy wildlife. Harp, Ringed, and Bearded Seals share the icy waters with Polar Bears, Walrus, and Beluga Whales. On shore the Reindeer graze and Arctic Foxes scavenge at the foot of huge seabird colonies. It is estimated that one million pairs of Brünnich’s Guillemots breed around the coastline.<br /><br />I can’t wait. But for now, I must get back to planning and packing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4586478908033525029-5013753134766487008?l=skydancearctic.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sharon K. Schafernoreply@blogger.com