Across the Top of the World
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EXPEDITION DOSSIER 22ND JULY – 5TH AUGUST 2019 ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD TO WRANGEL AND HERALD ISLANDS © J Ross TO WRANGEL AND ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD HERALD ISLANDS This unique expedition crosses the Arctic Circle and includes the isolated and pristine Wrangel and Herald Islands and a significant section of the wild North Eastern Siberian coastline. It is a journey only made possible in recent years by the thawing in the politics of the region and the retreat of summer pack ice in the Chukchi Sea. The very small distance between Russia and the USA along this border area was known as the Ice Curtain, behind which then and now lies one of the last great undiscovered wilderness areas in the world. The voyage journeys through the narrow Bering Strait, which separates Russia from the United States of America, and then travels west along the Chukotka coastline before crossing the De Long Strait to Wrangel Island. There we will spend four to five days under the guidance of local rangers on the nature reserve. Untouched by glaciers during the last ice age, this island is a treasure trove of Arctic biodiversity and is perhaps best known for the multitude of Polar Bears that breed here. We hope to catch many glimpses of this beautiful animal. The island also boasts the world’s largest population of Pacific Walrus and lies near major feeding grounds for the Gray Whales that migrate thousands of kilometres north from their breeding grounds in Baja, Mexico. Reindeer, Musk Ox and Snow Geese can normally be seen further inland. A visit to massive bird cliffs on nearby Herald Island is also planned. The ‘mammoth steppe’ vegetation complex, a rich and diverse relic from the Pleistocene epoch nurtures over 400 plant species and never fails to astound visitors with its sublime beauty. The number and type of endemic plant species, the diversity within plant communities, the presence 2 WWW.HERITAGE-EXPEDITIONS.COM [email protected] TO WRANGEL AND ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD HERALD ISLANDS ITINERARY the administrative centre of the Chukotka region, before getting NOTE: You can join this expedition to know your fellow voyagers and either in Anadyr or in Nome, Alaska. crew on board the Akademik Those starting in Nome will fly by a Shokalskiy. If flights have been on Heritage Expeditions charter flight time we plan to depart Anadyr to Anadyr and will join the ship and this evening. As we depart you the expedition members who have are invited to join the captain, travelled direct to Anadyr. officers and the expedition team on the bridge. The Anadyr estuary is Day 0: Nome renowned for its Beluga Whales. Those departing from Nome, Alaska, should arrive in Nome Day 2: Anadyrskiy Bay and at Sea before midday and preferably the As we sail across Anadyrskiy Bay previous night. towards the Bering Strait there will be introductory lectures, an On arrival, you should check in with introduction to the staff and ship Bering Air at the Nome Airport who and a series of compulsory briefings will have details of our charter flight. During this flight you will cross the International Date Line, arriving into Anadyr on Day 1 of the expedition. You will clear Russian Customs and Immigration. Day 1: Anadyr All expedition members will arrive in Anadyr; depending on your time of arrival you may have the opportunity to explore Anadyr, 3 WWW.HERITAGE-EXPEDITIONS.COM [email protected] TO WRANGEL AND ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD HERALD ISLANDS At the south-eastern end of the appreciate. The earliest human island there is a prominent walrus occupation is dated 3,200 years BC haul out, if the animals are present and it has been established that they it is one of the easiest places to were seasonal hunters from Siberia. observe them and get some good The island’s presence was speculated photographs. about and marked on maps by early Russian explorers but it wasn’t until Day 5: At Sea 1849 that it was ‘rediscovered’ by We continue our journey north the British. A Canadian expedition across the Chukchi Sea, there attempted to establish a permanent should be sea ice to negotiate settlement and claim the island for © J Shaw our way through as we get closer Canada; they were evicted by the to Wrangel Island; this may offer Russians who claimed the island. We will pass the Diomede Islands, our first opportunities to see Polar sometimes called Tomorrow Island Bears, seals and walrus on ice. Today it is a Russian Federal Nature and Yesterday Isle because they In preparation for our arrival at Reserve of international significance straddle the International Date the island tomorrow there will be and importance. A lot of its Line. Here Russia and America are briefings and lecturers. significance lies in the fact that it is a major Polar Bear denning area. separated by only 2.3 nautical miles of ocean. We will remain in Russian Days 6 to 10: Wrangel and In fact it is sometimes referred to territory as we cruise south past the Herald Islands as a Polar Bear maternity ward on account of the large numbers of islands. Ice and weather conditions pups born there. It is also the last permitting, we will spend the next landfall for migratory species flying In 1867 when the USA purchased few days on Wrangel Island and if north. Each summer thousands of Alaska from Russia the new boundary possible we will also include a visit to birds migrate here to breed, including was drawn between Big (Russian) nearby Herald Island. Snow Geese, Snowy Owls, skuas, and Little (USA) Diomede Islands. This Arctic Terns, Ross’s, Sabine and Ivory makes Big Diomede Island Russia’s Wrangel Island is one of those Gulls. eastern-most possession. The island islands that you have to visit to was originally inhabited by Yupik There are many landings that we Eskimos but after World War II the can make to search out wildlife, wild native population were relocated flowers and Arctic landscapes. Polar to the mainland. Today there are Bears will be high on our list of animals no permanent residents but the to see and with a little patience we Russians maintain a Border Guard should be rewarded with a number station there. It is an important island of encounters. Musk Oxen and for birdlife with good numbers of reindeer were introduced to the Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common island in 1975 and 1948 respectively, and Brunnich’s Guillemot and though reindeer numbers are low. Horned and Tufted Puffin. If the We also have a chance to visit Dragi Border Guards grant permission (we © A Terauds Harbour where the survivors of the have applied for it) we will Zodiac Karluk which was crushed by ice in cruise the coast near the station, 1914 scrambled ashore and lived until the bird numbers in this region are they were rescued. If ice conditions spectacular, especially puffins. permit, we will explore Herald Island to the east of Wrangel Island. We continue along the North Siberian Coast, although well mapped and Day 11: At Sea, Bering Strait and charted, there have been very few North Siberian Coast Expedition Cruises and consequently there is a lot of scope for expedition As we sail south there will be landings. Depending on weather opportunities to download memory and sea conditions we will attempt cards, share conversations and an expedition landing today. recap on our time at Wrangel Island. © A Terauds There are several choices, at Cape 4 WWW.HERITAGE-EXPEDITIONS.COM [email protected] TO WRANGEL AND ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD HERALD ISLANDS Vankarem there is a seasonal large Day 14: Preobrazheniya Bay walrus haul out, the animals may or Today we will be in the vicinity of DATES may not be present. The area around Preobrazheniya Bay where there Voyage #1906 the Cape is bounded by narrow sand are some outstanding ‘Bird Cliffs’ Nome to Nome ridges with numerous coastal lagoons which we will Zodiac cruise, the rock 21st July to 4th August 2019 and inlets; nearby there is a small faces, ridgelines and soaring granite Chukchi village whose residents still spires are home to an abundance Voyage #1906 make their living hunting walrus, seals of bird life. Species that can be seen Anadyr to Anadyr and whales. There is another smaller include Common and Thick-billed 22nd July to 5th August 2019 Chukchi village called Nutepelmen Murres, Black-legged Kittiwakes, which is situated on a spit at the Least and Crested Auklets, Vega entrance to Pyngopikhin Lagoon, Gulls and Arctic Tern. Both Horned PRICES further west of Cape Vankarem. and Tufted Puffins are normally Heritage Suite $14,500 pp in vast numbers stretched along Has a large lounge area, a separate Day 12: At Sea and Masik Village bedroom with double bed and private cliffside grasses. bathroom. Large forward and side This afternoon we plan to visit facing windows. Masik Village, an archaeological This evening join the staff for site at Mechigmen Bay which is an expedition recap and a Mini Suite $13,650 pp Has a separate bedroom with a double part of Beringia National Park. disembarkation briefing, and bed, lounge and private bathroom. This site consists of subterranean then simply relax as we sail across Large side facing windows. dwellings, food caches and possible Anadyrskiy Bay towards Anadyr. ceremonial structures where Tonight we will enjoy a farewell Superior Plus $13,125 pp Has two lower berths and private bathroom. materials used in construction were dinner to celebrate our journey.