Svalbard seal
Svalbard seal – Esmark Glacier

The picture of this Svalbard seal was taken on a relatively warm June day. We were on our way to Barentsburg, the last Russian outpost in the islands, and sailed past the Esmark Glacier. This seal was staring at our boat for a while; then (probably thinking we weren’t that exciting) decided to slip into the sea for some really cold underwater fun instead.

Oslo is crisp and sunny today; – 10° C, so not very cold. About the same a bit north of here on Svalbard. Should you want to visit this stunning otherworldly Arctic archipelago, it’s only a few hours flying from Oslo. The long polar night is a fascinating period but it’s now nearing the end. Beginning 7 March, an entire week is dedicated to the return of the sun with all kinds of fun and games in the snow! Also, Svalbard Museum is currently exhibiting the world’s first large mammals.