By: Linda Bendt

No one would deny this hasn’t exactly been the harshest winter Minnesota has ever seen. In fact, those who enjoy winter sports, activities and the beauty of the snow are feeling a little shorted this season. In honor of those winter lovers and the adventure travelers who await ideas for their next expedition, we thought we’d share an intriguing and mysterious destination – The Arctic.

Ice, ice and more ice

For most, the Arctic is synonymous with glaciers, icebergs, ice formations and anything else to do with living in, on or under the ice. And for good reason. The central Arctic Ocean is ice covered year round, and snow and ice are present on land for most of the year.

The Arctic is a region located at the northernmost part of the Earth. It consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

For those travelers curious to visit this northern tundra, the area is home to some of the world’s most sought-after animal viewing – polar bears, arctic fox, walrus, seals, whales, reindeer – and equally beautiful and interesting land and ice formations ever to behold.

A Journey Worth the Trip

Without doubt, getting to the Arctic is an expedition in itself. But the journey there is a large part of the experience. Most people travel first to Norway where they’ll board an expedition ship (most carry less than 200 passengers). These ships are ice-class vessels, which specialize in travel through ice sheets and formations. However, like many typical cruise ships, they provide luxury cabins, dining areas, fitness centers and other amenities.

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of these expedition cruises is the staff on board. Naturalists, photography instructors, undersea specialists (who operate an underwater video camera to share sightings under the surface) and historians (whaling history runs deep here) are just a few of the professionals on board to ensure passengers soak up and experience everything imaginable.

The ships head north, following Norway’s majestic fjord-carved coastline with thousands of islets. Each fjord is different from its neighbor, showcasing roaring waterfalls, granite cliffs and tiny local villages that literally cling to the steep sides of the fjord walls.

Just 350 miles north of Norway’s mainland lies the Svalbard Archipelago, a wilderness region of massive icebergs, deep fjords, ice-capped mountains, and the masters of the Arctic – polar bears. Only 600 miles from the North Pole, Svalbard is the best place on earth to observe polar bears in their natural habitat: on the pack ice.

Many of the expedition ships also carry small, more mobile zodiacs and kayaks so travelers can easily disembark the main ship and get out on the water to further explore the surroundings.

The elusive ‘Ice Bear’

Often called the ice bear, polar bears are meeting difficult challenges in today’s changing global climate. Experts estimate there are as few as 20,000 of these magnificent animals left in the world and in 2008, The US Department of the Interior listed the polar bear as a Threatened Species. As the Arctic continues to warm and their ice homelands melt, researchers fear polar bears could disappear by mid-century.

“Now is definitely the time to witness these amazing animals in their natural habitat,” says Craig Beal of Travel Beyond. “The expedition ships provide an awe-inspiring way to experience them. Whether it’s on floating ice bergs, swimming in the Arctic waters as they hunt or scaling the ice-capped mountains, there are few things that compare. And, unfortunately, we worry that time is running out to see them.”

Clearly polar bears are built for the cold weather. They are insulated by two layers of fur and a thick layer of fat to help keep them warm. Their small ears and tail help prevent heat loss. Ironically, they have more problems with overheating than they do from the cold (especially when they run).

These ice bears grow to staggering sizes. Adult males typically weigh in at 775 to 1,200 pounds and often reach more than 10 feet tall when standing on their hind legs. Adult females are smaller, normally weighing 330 to 650 pounds.

Beyond the Bears

As mentioned, the Arctic surroundings are home to other wonderful wildlife and sea life viewing. However, there is a natural phenomenon that occurs in this part of the world that is a visual experience like no other – the Midnight Sun.

During the summer months in the Arctic, given fair weather, you can see the sun for a continuous 24 hours. The duration of the midnight sun depends on how far north you are. For example, in the northern islands of Svalbard, the sun shines continuously from April 20 to August 22. One hundred twenty-four days of zero darkness! Most areas in Northern Norway experience the midnight sun from mid-May to mid-July.

The Svalbard Islands

Many visitors looking to experience the Arctic often find themselves visiting the northern islands of Svalbard (meaning cold coasts). Consisting of nine main islands, nearly 65 percent of the surface of Svalbard is protected – three nature reserves, six national parks, 15 bird sanctuaries and 1 geo-topical protected area.

More than 60 percent of the total land mass is covered by glaciers and snowfields. In fact, the world’s third largest glacier, Austfonna, lies on Svalbard. In size, this icecap of 124 miles follows only Antarctic and Greenland.

So whether you’re interested in the history of whaling, seeing the Midnight Sun or experiencing the majesty of the ice bear, Norway and the islands of Svalbard might just be the trip for you.

For more information about expeditions to the Arctic, contact us.