First, I spent a few days sailing, hiking, kayaking, and taking Zodiac trips throughout the Norwegian Fjords. Here, we saw a variety of wildlife including lots of birds (guillemots, terns, puffins, and auks), sheep, and seals.
‍

We also learned a lot about glacial action and its role in the formation of the sharp mountain formations. One interesting feature that glaciers can form are the so called troll seats (crater-like rock formations).
‍

During kayaking and zodiac excursions, I also learned a considerable amount about the Arctic kelp forests and their important role in the Arctic ecosystem (see the walrus page for more information about this).
‍

On the hikes, we got a chance to learn about the Arctic plant life such as the famed eight inch trees. These trees can only reach a few inches of height due to the lack of sustained sunlight and shortened growing times. We also saw some of the bird life and locals on these remote Norwegian islands.
‍