Svalbard and Polar Bears 2009
Longyearbyen is a town of less than 2000 people. The utility pipes are above ground because of the permafrost.
The modern and colorful houses of Longyearbyen.
Scenery near Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Swedish ship in the cold waters of Svalbard.
We sighted our first polar bear who was sniffing us out.
Content that we represented no threat, he or she relaxed.
A fulmar gracefully following the ship.
Another fulmar catching the morning light.
From a rocky ledge on Sundneset, Svalbard, we see the National Geographic Explorer in the background..
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Sundneset, Svalbard and the National Geographic Explorer
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A mother and cub polar bear.
Curious!
Learning to jump.
Hey wait for me mom!
No words needed.
Movin' on.
The harsh landscape of Hamburgbukta, Svalbard.
We were cruising along in Zodiacs when a group of walruses popped up. They were as inquisitive about us as we were about them.
The island of Edgeoya, Svalbard.
An enormous glacier in Nordaustlandet, Svalbard.
This miles-long glacier was estimated to be nearly 100 feet high.
A view of Bear Island, the southern most island of Svalbard.
We only got a glimpse of these puffins.
A Guillemot fishing off the coast of Tusenoyane Island, Svalbard.
An intriguing sunset near Nordaustlandet, Svalbard.
As the evening darkens we see a lonely polar bear in the distance off the island of Edgeoya.
