18 Aug 2017
SHO: The Shokalskiy visits Shokalskiy Strait
After our visit to Cape Chelyuskin we set off with the intention of exploring Severnaya Zemlya (Northern Land). This archipelago was a the last bit of substantial land to be discovered on Planet Earth.... It was not discovered until 1913/14 and wasn’t described until 1930/32. It is fascinating to think that men had been to the poles but there were still new lands to be discovered. The archipelago has one of the harshest climatic regions of the world and some of the youngest ecosystems.
We experienced some of this harsh weather yesterday but today is fine and relatively warm. We have spent the last couple days exploring the Shokalskiy Fiord which separates Bolshevik Island from October Revolution Island. The Strait takes its name from the same Mr Shokalskiy as does our ship, so it was appropriate that we sailed through here. We cruised Marata Fiord this morning a very beautiful and spectacular fiord with at least three huge glaciers emptying into it. As I write this we have set sail for the northern islands in the archipelago.
17 Aug 2017
Our overnight run south from Wrangel Island continued to be kind, with the wind and seas pushing us nicely along. It wasn’t until we passed near Koly…READ MORE
16 Aug 2017
And so the wind and sea that makes Wrangel Island such an isolated outpost in the high Arctic, challenged us to the end. The forecast strong northwes…READ MORE
16 Aug 2017
The last couple of days have been critical days for this expedition. We had crossed the Laptev Sea to the Taymyr Peninsula and then had to pass throu…READ MORE
