National Geographic Resolution spent the day exploring the southeastern shore of Victoria Island, Canada. Initially, we planned to disembark at the small hamlet of Ulukhaktok, but plans changed, and we spent the morning in a beautiful bay located east of town. Some of us took to kayaks while others boarded Zodiacs for gorgeous trips around the bay. The weather was exceptional, and the small bay was glassy as we investigated the shoreline. We observed cliffs of 720-million-year-old gabbro and gentle slopes of grassy tundra dotted with arctic willow, cotton grass, and sedges. After returning to the ship, we gathered on deck for a lunch barbecue that featured chicken, fish, steak, and hot dogs for the main course. During the afternoon, the water of Amundsen Gulf was glassy smooth as National Geographic Resolution turned west through scattered ice floes. At 4:00 p.m., guests boarded Zodiacs for an incredible, sunny journey through the glittering floes and reflective ice. As we made our way through the ice, numerous seals swam around us or watched us from the ice. National Geographic Resolution paralleled the Zodiacs and picked us up after an hour of fantastic views. Upon boarding the ship, we met in the Ice Lounge to hear Captain Martin’s plan for the upcoming days of travel toward Nome, Alaska. Then we dined on a superb dinner as we continued west. Our evening was capped by Ezra’s fascinating story of Amundsen’s journey through the Northwest Passage.
8/28/2022
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National Geographic Endurance
Sisimiut, West Greenland
In the early morning, the town of Sisimiut came into sight. This is the second largest town in Greenland and the largest city of the Qeqqata municipality of West Greenland. Sisimiut means “the place of the fox holes,” and it is a former whaling port. Many guests chose to join a guided tour in the center of town, and the most eager walkers went on a long hike to a Thule cultural heritage site outside of the town. Everybody had the option to visit the local museum, and they were treated to a generous taste of traditional Greenlandic food. Just before lunch, a kayaker from Sisimiut demonstrated impressive kayak skills, including the so-called “Eskimo Roll,” which we observed time and time again. In the afternoon, geology professor Joe Holliday gave a great lecture on Greenland’s earth science: geology, oceanography, and ice. At tea time, we enjoyed an Ice Cream Social. Today was the last day of our amazing voyage aboard National Geographic Endurance . Our expedition from Nome through the entire Northwest Passage, all the way to Greenland, has left us with a plethora of wonderful memories: meeting people from cultures of the High North, observing stunning sceneries, and witnessing incredible and rare wildlife encounters. We have gotten new insights into natural history and polar exploration and a glimpse of what it is like to live at the very edge of human existence on our planet. We have been incredibly fortunate to enjoy this beautiful part of the world. What a remarkable experience with so many memories to take home!
