Greenland – glaciers & ice

[part of a series of posts beginning here]

It’s hard to imagine the size of Greenland, or its ice cap.  Even those glaciers that flow down to the sea, like the Thryms glacier below, are truly massive.   (Notice our ship, the National Geographic Endurance, at lower left!) Read on for more about our outings among the ice, including video…

We had several opportunities to experience the ice up-close and personal.  On our first morning in Greenland, small groups hopped in Zodiacs to cruise among the brash ice, bergy bits, and icebergs that had calved off the Thryms Glacier in Skjoldungensund fjord [location: zoom into the map].  Four days later on the opposite coast, we had an even better Zodiac outing in Neria Fjord, offering spectacular views of ice in elegant shapes and a range of iridescent blue colors [location].   Don’t miss the photo gallery – especially the short video!

One day in Tunulliarfik fjord [location], the weather was extremely calm so they launched the kayaks, allowing each of us an hour or two to paddle freely among the berglets and smaller bergy bits.  What a treat!  My kayak partner and I paused several times just to listen.  Sitting quietly among a thousand tiny bits of ice, each of them crackling as they melted and (pop!) released ancient bubbles of air trapped by the glacier.  The sound is known as “ice krispies”, for good reason!  Listen to my video and check out the gallery, where there’s also an underwater video. (A bit risky for my iPhone, but it was fine!)