SMEREENBURGFJORDEN
A Strong Northern Scent
PODSTAWOWE INFORMACJE
The north-western part of Spitsbergen boasts fascinating terrain, comprising several fjords, dozens of islands, and numerous glaciers. This diversity results in a landscape that is both varied and beautiful, with prominent alpine features sculpted by the relentless work of ice.
This area is also home to many intriguing places waiting to be discovered. At its heart lies Smeerenburgfjorden, along with its neighbouring fjord, Bjørnfjorden, numerous bays, and straits.
Smeerenburgfjorden is a place that combines scenic beauty, wildlife presence, and intriguing history. Here, on Danskøya Island, there is Virgohamna, from where Salomon August Andrée embarked on his ill-fated and tragic balloon expedition to conquer the North Pole in 1897. It was also here, on Amsterdamøya Island, where a famous settlement for whalers was established in the 17th century. And at Likneset Cape one can find whalers’ cemetery.
The area is characterized by a wealth of wildlife. There are many strict reserves in this region, and a beach with a walrus colony can be found here. The North brings proximity to the ice, where seals reside, attracting polar bears with their presence. We often spot them here, especially around Danskøya Island. One year, the sea washed a whale carcass onto the beach of this island, and several bears were present here for a few days. Not coincidentally, a Swedish zoologist Karl Wilhelm Samuel named the inner fjord of Smeerenburgfjorden – Bjørnfjorden, or “Bear Fjord”.
Despite sparse vegetation and flat terrain in this area, reindeer can be seen here, surprising observers that they can survive even in such harsh conditions.
Embarking on Another Adventure
The surroundings of Smeerenburgfjorden mark the last parts of mainland on the way to the North Pole, and it is also the beginning of a sailing adventure. In the upper part of the fjord, electronic marine maps end, and traditional navigation must begin. Just 12 nautical miles north is the 80th parallel North, a latitude that few people in the world can boast of having crossed.
