ln 1596 the Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz discovered an Arctic archipelago which he named after its ‘pointed peaks’ – Spitsbergen. Renamed Svalbard when sovereignty was given to Norway in 1925, it is today increasingly populat with those in search of a readily accessible destination capable of delivering an almost complete Arctic experience. Between the an middle of April and late August the sun never sets, and this provides plenty of time to observe wildlife which is (in the main) no longer hunted, and as a consequence tends to be unperturbed by human presence. Whether you are thinking of going on a cruise there, want a memento of a trip you have already made, or would like to see Spitsbergen without going at all, this film is the perfect solution. Watch polar bears at close range; observe walruses at one of their haul-out places; experience the sights and sounds of a Little Auk colony; witness the bird cliff at Alkefjellet with its tens of thousands of breeding Kittiwakes and Brunnich’s Guillemots; marvel at the ability of Spitsbergen flowers to adapt themselves to the harsh Arctic conditions. lt is all here, in stunning high quality footage.
Contributions by Tony Crocker (birds), Michelle van Dijk (flowers), Rinie van Meurs (polar bears) and Dr lan Stirling (walruses).
Watch two clips below: