This morning the National Geographic Explorer continues to push north passing the Arctic Circle just after 5:00 a.m. At 66 degrees 33 minutes north, the Arctic Circle represents the southernmost latitude where twenty-four hours of daylight occurs on the northern summer solstice. As the ship continues north for the next several weeks to come, all on board will not experience another sunrise or sunset. We are truly in the land of the midnight sun.
Svartisen, “Black Ice” National Park, deep inside Nordfjord is quite alluring to us because a large submerged rock at the narrow entrance allows passage to only smaller vessels with experienced captains at the helm who dare to enter. After successfully navigating the entrance, Captain Leif Skög gently nosed the ship into the mouth of the glacier fed river in this lovely steep walled fjord.
Intrepid hikers explored the area with literally no trails, ascending to the edge of the snow line for a spectacular view. Some chose to explore by kayak the waterfalls along the granite edges of this quiet fjord. Others opted to see the beauty from water level in our fleet of Zodiacs. Curious common seals watched our watercrafts as we quietly took in the splendor.
Leaving Nordfjord, we traveled south back across the imaginary line of the Arctic Circle and through the spectacularly narrow opening to the fjord.
For the third time today, we found ourselves crossing the Circle, before visiting the quaint community of Træna. Sixty-six degrees 33 minutes north passes through the middle of town. The hotel department surprised us with a traditional Scandinavian treat of herring near the globe monument that celebrates the Arctic Circle running through Træna home to just under 500 individuals.
From here dear traveler, we journey into the light.
