After 12 wonder-filled days exploring the Svalbard archipelago and then two days at sea, we landed in Greenland - known as Kalaallit Numaat in the language of the ‘indigenous’ Inuit people. Greenland is the least density populated country in the world and the majority of its residents are Inuit whose ancestors began migrating from the Canadian mainland in the 13th century.
It is the largest island on earth that isn’t also a continent. The massive permanent ice sheet which covers more than 80% of the island, is so heavy that the land beneath has been depressed into a basin sinking hundreds of metres below sea level.
We explored a number of sites along the east coast where we saw musk ox and more lush vegetation than in Svalbard and then went cruising into the Keyser Franz Josef Fjord. For me Greenland was about walking the tundra, eating berries, finding flowers and musk ox (not so successfully), ogling giant icebergs and simply amazing geology! Awesome, magical, a triple wow place to visit! (Pix a little out of sequence, sorry)
One of a few trappers huts on the east coast of Greenland. The whole things is covered in tar paper. This one is is called Wolf Hut because it was here that 'they' say the last family of wolves on Greenland was killed. Not sure it’s true or not.
The skull and horns of a musk ox. Musk ox are members of the goat family.
This clear blue streak is melt water refrozen. So beautiful.
The beginning of awesome rocky mountains
This is a window attachment which when fitted acts as a deterrent to stop bears pushing in the windows. The nails point outwards - pretty convincing deterrent!
These are bear berries. We ate lots of the blue ripe ones. Not lots of flavour but they are juicy.
Greenland’s National flower - Fireweed
No comments:
Post a Comment