Eternity Fjord


 

Apparently, nobody knows why it's called Eternity Fjord (Evighedsfjorden).  On the way into the fjord, we thought we were about to have another disappointing day of fog, but it cleared off during Rob's lecture on all of the different kinds of ice, and so there was Zodiac cruising to be done.  Lars' knee was bothering him, so he stayed on the ship, but Sheila went out in a boat steered by Shelli, one of the naturalists.

Zodiacs away!

Carlos and Elise seem to be in a hurry!

Shelli lays out the rules:
1) Don't fall overboard
2) Have fun! (while obeying #1)


We caught up with the others, who had noticed that these little "bergy bits" were covered with birds--which makes them "birdy bits".



A bunch of Black-legged Kittiwakes

The Zodiac on the far left carried our visiting scientists who are studying the acoustics of glaciers.


Oh look--there's more!

OK, enough of that!




A group of Razorbills, plus one Black Guillemot (Murre)
And also a Glaucous Gull with a couple of this year's youngsters.

A better look at the gulls



Mostly Guillemots, with some Razorbills (they're the ones with their snoots in the air)




Not close enough to see if those are gulls or Kittiwakes on the cliff






Those white patches often indicate a popular nesting spot.
This one is probably done for the year, so new visitors have moved in.

A few cormorants or possibly Shags, sunning themselves.

Our driver, Shelli

The good ship Resolution, looking small next to that glacier.

Yet more Black Guillemots and Razorbills

And a peek at the Greenland Ice Sheet!
Shelli estimated it at 1200 feet up, so maybe 100-150 feet thick?

Impressive!

Now for Lars' views from the ship (some of which were included above).

Kittiwakes flying.

Black Guillemots flying







Black-legged Kittiwake

Can you find Sheila's Zodiac?



Dirty ice! It's not really the glacial ICE that wears away rocks, it's what the ice has IN it.
Think of the ice like the paper in sandpaper.

A close-up of the waterfall you can see at the far right of some of the glacier pics.









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