Blogs

Spinellus Fusiger on Mycena: parasites on the forest floor

Deep in the damp, shaded forests where fallen leaves and decaying wood create a thriving microcosm, an unusual fungal relationship unfolds: Spinellus fusiger, a parasitic fungus, attaching itself to the delicate Mycena mushrooms.

Alkefjellet, the Majestic Cliffs of the Arctic

Nestled along the remote Arctic waters of Svalbard, in Norway, Alkefjellet is a breathtaking natural spectacle, revered for its dramatic cliffs and thriving seabird colonies.

Water droplets in marvelous patterns on the high tundra

Evey once in a while you encounter something in nature that you cannot comprehend. During a norwegian hike I noticed something weird right next to my feet.

The Whalers graveyard of Smeerenburg

Smeerenburg was the main site for Dutch whaling operations in the 17th century. Today, the historic graves of dutch whalers are quickly decaying due to the melt of the permafrost.

Nordaustlandet: The edge of the world

If the world were flat, Nordaustlandet would be right at the edge of it. The island is located at 80°N in the arctic sea. To the north of it is nothing but the diminishing sea ice of the North Pole.

Iceberg calving at Negribreen

At negribreen, huge blocks of ice slide through the muddy seabed until the tide sets them free and allows them to drift southward.

Sailing the Arctic with Tall Ship Antigua

The best way to explore the rugged Spitsbergen shores is no doubt by sailing a tall ship like the Antigua.

The Microcosmos of the Rondane

The Rondane is a mountainous area in central Norway. Besides low shrubs, not much seems to be growing here, but if you take a closer look, a microcosmos appears right under your feet.

Frisian lakes and islands

The Dutch province Friesland is famous for its lakes and the Wadden Sea, the largest tidal flats system in the world.

The hike to Steindalsbreen

The Lyngen peninsula is dominated by a 90km long mountain range, often referred to as the Lyngen Alps. The glaciers in the area offer magnificent hiking opportunities.

Lilliehöökfjorden - Arctic paradise

The pristine views of Lilliehöökfjorden, arguably the most beautiful fjord of Spitsbergen, quickly make you forget your rushed every-day-life.

Besseggen - Hike amongst giants

The spectacular views on the mountain ridge Besseggen make it one of the most popular hikes in Norway. Each summer, some 60.000 visitors walk the ridge in a strenuous 6-8 hours hike.

Antigua photo trip 2019

Every September, the crew of tall ship Antigua welcomes enthusiast photographers and takes them on a magnificent sailing trip along the shores of arctic Spitsbergen.

Barentsburg: glory days of communism

The mining settlement Barentsburg was once an example of Soviet grandeur beyond the borders of the empire. After 30 years of decay, the town now undergoes another transformation.

Traces of war in Signehamna

The early years of the Second World War passed relatively quiet on Spitsbergen. Initially, Germany’s occupation of Norway in 1940 didn’t have consequences for the mining settlements at the arctic islands. Nevertheless, the mining settlements were evacuated.

Engelskbukta and its cruel history

The calmness of Engelsbukta hides a rather savage history. A few centuries ago, whaling enterprises turned the waters in the bay red.

The contrasts of Coraholmen

Coraholmen used to be a relatively flat island, but that all changed when a nearby glacier surged and slowly bulldozed its way through the fjord.

The hike to Lamlitinden (Hadseløya)

The island Hadseløya offers magnificent hiking opportunities, like the beautiful hike to Lamlitinden.

Kjenndalsbreen

Just like other glacier arms in Europe, Kjenndalsbreen has shrunken significantly over the recent years. Though, the magnificent drive along Lovatnet still makes a visit a wonderful experience.

Abandoned: Beelitz-Heilstätten

This vast sanatorium complex just South of Berlin has seen world powers come and go. Today, it's slowly decaying.

Lovatnet and its dramatic history

A view at Lovatnet makes you feel like you just entered a fairy tale. Azure waters, steep mountains and glaciers, waterfalls, and lush green vegetation seem to create the perfect picture. The valley is also the gateway to the Kjenndalsbreen and Bødalsbreen glacier arms. The fertile valley has attracted farmers for centuries and it’s known to be inhabited as far back as the fourteenth century. but the tranquil appearance of Lovatnet hides a rather grim history. Steep mountain slopes create a risk of avalanches and rock slides, and just that has happened quite a few times in this valley.

The Lyngstuva shipwrecks

The rocky northern cape of the Lyngen peninsula is notorious for its strong tidal currents. Many ships have ended their journey here prematurely, and two of the shipwrecks can easily be spotted at the cliffs of Lyngstuva.

Aurora in September

The Northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, is an amazing light show that forms when electrically charged solar particles enter the earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases like nitrogen and oxygen. The lights can be observed around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. (the phenomenon at the South Pole it is called Aurora Australis). An aurora usually consists of green-blue light, though there can be shades of purple or even red.

A Meet-up with sailing ship Antigua

This post is about a journey that has not happened - yet. In autumn 2019 we will embark on a sailing trip along the northern coast of arctic Spitsbergen. If weather permits, we’ll be sailing from Longyearbyen towards the historical whaling site Smeerenburg. Walruses, whales, polar bears, glaciers and beautiful sunsets are all on the photographic wishlist.

Haukelifjell

Haukelifjell is a mountain and a mountain pass in Telemark, South Norway. The road E134 across the pass connects Oslo with Haugesund on the west coast. Haukelifjell borders the Hardangervidda, a vast mountain plateau at 1200m-1400m. Generally, the road is open throughout the year, but with the highest point at Haukelifjell (1085m), the road is sensitive to severe snowfall and may close sporadically.

Briksdalsbreen

Briksdalsbreen is one of the most-visited glacier arms of Jostedalsbreen. It is set in Briksdal Valley, at the end of Oldedalen Valley. In high season, the path to the glacier can get pretty crowded, with a tourist train taking the cruise ship visitors up and down the hill. There’s even a souvenir shop.

Austerdalsisen

Svartisen is the largest glacier of Northern Norway, part of the Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park. It is not nearly as crowded as the glaciers in Southern Norway and the area offers very nice hiking opportunities.

Sea eagles of the Lofoten

Nordland has a large population of white-tailed eagles, or Sea Eagles, which are present all year round. The majestic birds of prey are the lagest birds of prey in Norway and can have a wingspan of up to 2½ meters. The sea eagle is a protected in Norway and most Western European countries. At some point in the 1970s only 500 breeding couples were left in all of Western Europe. Fortunately, the population bounced back and Europe now has 9.000 to 12.000 breeding couples. A large portion of that lives in Norway.

Mývatn: volcanic hotspot

Mývatn is a shallow lake in the north of Iceland. In Icelandic Mývatn means Lake of Midges, because of the huge amount of them that appear in summer. Besides midges, the area is inhabited by large amounts of migratory birds like ducks, that nest here. For most tourists tough, the birds and the fertile lake are not the primary reason to visit the Mývatn area - it’s the geologic phenomena like active volcanos, hot springs, endless lava fields, tubes, and other formations.

Nordic engineering

Despite the elaborate network of ferry services, overland travel in the land of fjords is pretty time-consuming. Road construction in the rugged coastline of Norway has always been a challenging job, but the Norwegians never stop to improve their road network.

The decline of Bødalsbreen

Jostedalsbreen is the biggest ice mass in continental Europe. Its glacier arms stretch into many of it’s surrounding valleys. Often they are named after those valleys or villages nearby. Bødalsbreen is one of those glacier arms, at the north side of Jostedalsbreen, though in the last decade it lost some of its dramatic appearances.

Askja by 4 Wheel Drive

The caldera of the Askja volcano is located deep in Iceland's desolate interior, which resembles a moon-like desert of lava rocks. To get to the Askja, you'll have to take a few hurdles.

Låtefossen

Driving on Route 13 between Odda and Skare, it’s impossible to miss the beautiful roadside waterfall Låtefossen. The twin waterfall is 165m high, the photo shows the cascades of one of the two parts. The waterfall is fed by melting water from the Hardangervidda plateau, so its flow is highly influenced by the season, with spring and early summer seasons having the biggest flow.

The legend of Skógafoss

A legend tells us that the Viking Þrasi Þórólfsson buried a treasure beneath the waterfall Skógafoss. Chances are slim you'll find the chest, but a visit to the waterfall is still worthwhile in any season.

Senja in September

A Rough coastline, barren mountains, farmlands and forest, and tiny fishing villages; the island Senja has everything that makes Norway fantastic.

Viewpoint Snøhetta

The viewpoint Snøhetta combines the beauty of nature with Norwegian architecture. The shell of steel, wood, and glass makes a warm shelter at 1200m and gives a beautiful view on Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park. The valley in front of the pavilion is a former artillery range of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The area is now cleared and given back to nature. The highest mountain of Dovrefjell, Snøhetta (2286m), completes the view in the background.

Monte Palace: demise of a luxury hotel

The lush green islands of the Azores are often called the Hawaii of Europe, and it’s easy to see why. The volcanic nature is evident on each of the nine islands in the archipelago, with some of the islands still having active volcanism. A beautiful spot is the caldera of Sete Cidades on the main island of the Azores, Sao Miguel. With its breathtaking views on the twin crater lakes, it is no surprise that someone decided to build a luxury hotel on the rim of the caldera.

The ferries to Scandinavia

If you’re traveling by car from mainland Europe to Scandinavia, the various ferry services are a good option to get there. There are several carriers providing services, with DFDS, FjordLine, StenaLina and Color Line being the most important companies. The ferry lines each have their character, emphasizing for example on speed, or luxury.