During the night we cruise past the rugged peaks of the Liverpool Land peninsula and reach the mouth of King Oscar Fjord. We are now in the vast Northeast Greenland National Park; measuring almost a million square kilometers (almost twice the size of France), this is the largest National Park and the largest area of protected land on Earth and includes the northernmost land on the planet.
There are no permanent settlements in the area, but up to the middle of the 19th Century various nomadic Inuit hunters lived in this spectacular region, harvesting the natural riches of the area.
The program for our days in the National Park depends on wind, sea, weather and ice conditions. In such a remote region so far north, Mother Nature dictates all human activity. Our exact route and activities will be determined by the Captain and the Expedition Leader jointly and are typically announced the night before.
Some of the interesting landings we may visit include the 1300-meter-high rock wall Bastionen on the coast of Ella Island. Further north we may pass pass the small Maria Island, where the Germans had a camp during World War II. The Germans' attempt to gain a foothold in Greenland during World War II is a fascinating story in itself. Past Ruth Island, we hope to make a landing on Ymer Island at Blomsterbugten, a small oasis in the national park. From the tiny hunting lodge Varghytten we can enjoy the formidable view of the characteristic, flat mountain Teufelsschloss, where the multicoloured rock layers testify to the area's exciting geological development. From here, we may aim to sail by the mighty iceberg-producing Waltershausen Glacier before entering beautiful Moskusokse Fjord. On our way back towards open sea we might aim for landings on Jameson Land, which is a breeding ground for polar bears.
Wherever we go in this vast wilderness, our guests can be sure of encountering excitement, adventure, and mind-boggling natural beauty. Our experienced Expedition Team will be on hand to provide guests with as much knowledge of the region as possible; either in hand-crafted lectures, evening recaps, onshore, or over a cup of coffee on deck. Throughout our time in the National Park, our skilled Expedition Team members will be constant lookout for the charismatic wildlife of the region - keep your binoculars handy!