Page 14 - 2003 SVALBARD, NORWAY

th
th
the 8 and 9 centuries; therefore the Vikings must have known
about this remote archipelago on the edge of the Arctic Ocean.

The flight was spectacular during the last 30-40 minutes when we
were flying slow and low over the remarkable landscape of this
Arctic archipelago. Mountains appearing to be composed of sand

piles, glaciers heading for the sea, snow fields blindingly white
under the sun and blue sky! The inner walls of various cirques

were dramatic with the lines of remaining snow looking like fossil
plants espaliated white against the brown. Nunataks filled the

upper sections of the glacial rivers of ice, sharp and jagged peaks
emerging from their thick winter snow blankets. Occasionally,

green mosses could be seen near the streams and in shallow
ponds where melted water stood. Everyone was amazed at the
extent and beauty of this Arctic scene. We flew for 30 minutes