3 mins | 07 Jan 2025
The landscapes of Svalbard, located fewer than 600 nautical miles from the Geographical North Pole, are typical of the High Arctic. This pristine Arctic tundra is home to some amazing animals. Majestic fjords cut across ice-capped mountain ranges, and glaciers extend for miles. In the tundra, plant makes its way through the permafrost. A Norwegian archipelago situated between the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea, renowned for its rough terrain, glaciers, and arctic animals. It is one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, making it an excellent destination for wildlife adventures.
Winter in the High Arctic can be harsh for herbivores. Access to food is restricted, and what they do find may be of poor quality. A Svalbard reindeer makes excellent use of the summer by regularly munching on the tundra’s abundant vegetation. Similar to animals that hibernate in the winter, it accumulates fat reserves that it can burn off when circumstances are tough in the colder months.
Polar bears are an iconic symbol of the North Pole. These lonely bears tower above adult humans, reaching heights of up to 10 feet (3 metres). They’re a sight to behold, with their bright white fur reflecting sunlight. From a safe distance, you might see one of these rare apex predators hunting a seal beside a glacier or swimming between ice floes.Walruses use their tusks to pull themselves onto the ice and for social interactions. Ringed seals are frequently seen near the ice, where they burrow breathing holes in the frozen sea.
Fun Fact: Polar bears have black skin under their white fur. This helps them absorb and retain heat from the sun, keeping them warm in the frigid Arctic temperatures. Their fur appears white, but it’s actually translucent, which helps them blend into the snowy environment. Their insulating layer of fat helps to keep them afloat while they swim. Book Svalbard Cruises.
The Svalbard reindeer is only found on Svalbard, as the name implies. It is the only reindeer subspecies found on the archipelago, with herds roaming the glaciated tundra on practically every island. They are easily recognizable by their spectacular antlers, which can be seen in various stages of growth throughout the summer. With thick coats, tough hooves, and a diet of tundra flora, they are a tenacious icon of Arctic nature. Unlike other reindeer, they remain in the same places year-round, often grazing in small herds. Their tranquil atmosphere makes them a popular sight among Hurtigruten passengers.
Fun Fact: Despite the challenging climate, these animals are hardy and do not hibernate. Book Svalbard Cruises.
The Arctic fox can be found all across Svalbard. It has thick white fur in the winter, but in the summer, seek for a shorter coat of brown or gray fur. This darker coat blends well with the summer tundra’s rocks and vegetation, offering camouflage when snowfall is minimal.
Spotting Tip: They can be tough to notice, but maintain a look out for rocky outcrops and tundra plains. Book Svalbard Cruises.
Svalbard is a bird lover’s paradise, with 41 species of seabirds breeding here each year. Keep a watch out for Black Guillemots and Common Eiders drifting across the fjords’ calm waters, as well as Brünnich’s Guillemots breeding on the sheer coastal cliffs. Listen for Glaucous gulls squawking and a group of Little Auks tweeting. This is the smallest auk species, at an average of 20 cm, and it nests practically everywhere in Svalbard.
Fun Fact: These seabirds are often found along the coastal cliffs of Svalbard, and they offer great opportunities for birdwatching during the expedition. View Svalbard Cruises.
Svalbard’s chilly seas support a variety of whale species. Beluga and minke whales are the most prevalent, but humpback and fin whales are also frequently spotted. These enormous sea creatures are remarkably agile, occasionally tossing their entire bodies out of the water in a spectacular acrobatic show.
You might possibly come across the huge blue whale, the largest mammal that has ever existed on Earth.
Fun Fact: This ocean behemoth – The Blue Whale has the ability to blow up to 10 metres into the air via its blowhole, and it makes the loudest and deepest sound of any creature. View Svalbard Cruises.
Walruses and other species of genuine seals can be found swimming in Svalbard’s waters. These unique marine mammals are well suited to live in the cold waters. A thick coating of blubber protects them from the cold, and their noses close while diving, allowing them to eat underwater! You may spot bearded seals in a shallow bay or shy ringed seals dragged out on the ice.
Fun Fact: Walruses use their tusks to pull themselves onto the ice and for social interactions. Ringed seals are frequently seen near the ice, where they burrow breathing holes in the frozen sea. View Svalbard Cruises.
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