SPITSBERGEN ECLIPSE

LONGYEARBYEN - LONGYEARBYEN

11 days / 10 nights, Longyearbyen - Ny Ålesund - Hinlopenstrait - Svenskoya - Barentsøya -
Edgeøya - Hornsund - Van Keulenfjorden - Recherchefjorden - Longyearbyen

Departures 2008: AMR10 Jul 25 /  MOL10 Jul 26 / MLT10 Jul 27

*** 2008 departures are sold out***

The Norwegian name for this archipelago including Bear Island and Jan Mayen is Svalbard. However it is usually known as Spitsbergen. Covering an area almost as big as the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen with its population of 3,500 in five settlements is still today virtually unspoiled wilderness.
With its rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers, it is a true High Arctic archipelago, and only 600 miles from the North Pole. Its abundant wildlife was once a huge draw for whalers and trappers but now discerning visitors are discovering the attractions of huge Arctic seabird colonies and the chance to enjoy and photograph species like Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and the Polar Bear.

The day by day programs of the Spitsbergen Eclipse cruises focus on the Total Solar Eclipse of 01 August (9.40 - 9.50 UT northeast of Nordaustlandet). The center of totality, with a duration of just over 2 minutes, runs in a northwest – southeast band, with a width of about 60 n. miles, on a distance of 60 n. miles northeast of Kvitøya. Chances that we can get into this center with our ships are less than 20 %, depending on the extend of the sea-ice. The edge of the totality, with a duration of 1 second, is about 30 n. miles northeast of Storøya and runs through Kvitøya. Chances that we can get into the zone of totality in this area are about 50 %, depending on the extend of the sea-ice. Depending on the beginning date of each of the four Eclipse voyages, these voyages will carry out a different program, but in essence they will offer the same landings as on the Around Spitsbergen voyages, though the order of the landings on each of the four voyages will differ from each other.

 OCN

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