Early this morning we visited Monacobreen (= Monaco
Glacier) located in Liefdefjord 8 which means ¨Love bay¨ and runs for about 30
km in length, this fiord is about 13 km at the entrance and about 6 km in width
at the Glacier. The Glaciers at the end
of the bay were named by a German surveyor named Paul Seliger. The main glacier is named Monaco after the
Duke Albert I of Monaco and then to the left Ema and Idabreen being named after
the daughter and wife of the surveyor.
It was an extremely sunny morning a bit unusual such warm weather but we
had an enjoyable Polar-Cirkle boat cruise where we observed a few bird species
such as Kitiwakes, Fulmars, Artic Skuas, and Glaucous Gulls. Some of us went into a hike on the near
mountains and they came back tired but with a smiley face.
In the afternoon some went into a Polar Circle boat
cruise along Liefdefjord from Monacobreen to Mushamna or Mouse Bay-to visit the
area around an ex hunter hut. Around the
area there are two small lakes there that contain a variety of waterfowl
including birds like Eider ducks, Brent Goose, and Red-throated Divers.
On the shoreline we encountered a small herd
of walruses and a second herd that was swimming next to the hut.
We had an extraordinary warm day and we ended
the evening with a visit to Moffen Island besides to be a well known place for
walruses, this visit contained two small clusters. However Moffen is also exceed the 80 degrees
north which is the closest place to the north pole that we visit on this trip.
