> Northern Europe

After seeing photographs of the marvelous ice flowing from the Ilulissat Ice fjord I was excited to see it in person. The Jakobshavn Glacier (Sermeq Kujalleq) is the source of the ice and produces about 10% of all the icebergs from the Greenland ice sheet.  It’s estimated that 35 billion tons of ice makes its way through the icefjord each year.  The ice that eventually gets to the sea can be 200 feet high (12-15 stories) or higher. Ilulissat is more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, so in the mid summer the sun may never set.  These photos have been made over three visits.  Most of these pictures depict very large icebergs floating in open water.  A few are within the icefjord itself. Whales are also present.  I’ve been fortunate to see many and to hear them vocalizing in the confines of a small bay formed by icebergs. Their voices echoed on the ice surrounding the bay. Quite an experience to go along with these amazing visuals. 

Be sure to see the additional gallery, Greenland-Midnight Sun, when the sun barely sets and rises soon after.

 

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