Longyearbyen...next stop Reykjavik

I have fallen in love with Svalbard...it reminds me a lot of Antarctica except that at any moment you could get attacked by a polar bear...not far from the truth as when we were there, a polar bear got very close to town by was chased away by a helicopter and monitored for 2 days before they lost it, the polar bear was then found on the other side of the Fjord opposite Longyearbyen so the helicopter chased it away again! Apart from the treat of the apex predator attacking you, Svalbard has a lot to offer including incredible scenery with mountains that need to be climbed and snowboarded (already planning a trip back), a very quaint town bursting with the mining history and the polar feel about it.

The JCR approaching Longyearbyen...awaiting the pilot to navigate us through the shallow fjord. 

Wind increasing with height creates this incredible cloud formation which I could and did watch for a long time!!!

I stayed with my friend Otti and her partner Stephen in their flat with an awesome view for  few days before heading home! Thanks again guys, they definitely showed me around town!!!

I went on a fun expedition with Svalbard Wildlife expeditions https://www.facebook.com/wildlife.no/

where we kayaked across the Fjord and then hiked the highest mountain around Longyearbyen called Hiorthfjellet 

https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/the-arctic-challenge%3A-kayak-and-hiking-to-the-summit-of-hiorthfjellet-svalbard-wildlife-expeditions/6542/

Holly Jenkins (who was sampling for her PhD on the cruise) and me! We had to coordinate...it was difficult haha

I think this my favorite graffiti!

With most of the team from the JCR we spent our first day off visiting an ice cave....such an epic mission after being stuck on a ship for 5 weeks, it was the most we had walked in that time and I tragically got shin splints! 

 We descended through this small hole..

Having our cookies and hot syrup! 

 Our guide dog!

 Incredible formations from the melting glacier that then freezes over the winter.

 There is so much history in Longyearbyen...originally it was a mining town however, now there is only mind 5 left which only has ~12 years worth of coal in it. Svalbard is frantically trying to decide which is the next best energy store to use...they are edging towards geothermal energy. It's now seen as a 'family society.'

 Lots of vising yachts...I hope i moor up here one day!

 The cool thing about Svalbard is that it holds the vault of lots of different types of seeds within one of he old mines!!! For more information about Svalbard there are many websites which give a much more detailed overview that I can: https://www.spitsbergen-svalbard.com/spitsbergen-information/history.html :)

Next stop Reykjavik where I am completing lots of various water samples but concentrating on dissolved oxygen winkler titrations to calibrate oxygen sensors on some moorings...stay tuned for more science!!!