I saw many GROWLERS, bergy bits and bergs today as we ventured through Krossfjorden. Nope, no bears yet, but pieces of ice that have broken or “calved” off of the glaciers. Two active glaciers in this fjord are Tinayebreen and Lilliehookbreen. Growlers are less than a meter, bergy bits are 1-5 meters, and icebergs are larger. In contrast, the frozen sea ice attached to shore is called fast ice. When it breaks off and drifts it is called drift ice, also referred to as ice floes. When this floating ice packs together like a mosaic, it is called pack ice. As I scanned the ice with my binoculars, I did find (as did everybody else on board the ship) a bearded seal resting on an ice floe. I was surprised by the enormity of its size and the rusty cinnamon color of its head. It lounged with its head looking down into the water. This is so it can make a hasty retreat in the event that a polar bear should appear. Note: Seals need ice. It is their habitat. Polar bears need seals. They are it major food source. So, no ice, no seals, no polar bears.
Bergy Bit
1st Bearded Seal lifting its head up for us.
2nd Bearded Seal looking at us.
I again apologize for the quality of this video. It is very shaky, but I want to share the sounds of the ice. I am zoomed in quite a bit to see this bearded seal.
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