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The Northern Sea Route

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The Northern Sea Route THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE A SPECIAL 27-DAY CRUISE ALONG THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE EXPEDITION DOSSIER 2 – 28 AUGUST 2021 Wrangel Island Reserve © S Blanc A SPECIAL 27-DAY CRUISE ALONG THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE Wrangel Island Reserve © K Ovsyanikova Wrangel Island Reserve © M Kelly Wrangel Island Reserve © G Riehle ALASKA Nome CHUKCHI SEA BERING SEA Arctic Ocean Wrangel Is. Anadyr North Pole RUSSIAN FAR EAST EAST SIBERIAN Franz SEA Josef New Land Siberian Islands Severnaya NORWAY Zemlya Murmansk BARENTS SEA he allure of the mysterious Northeast Passage Having been sought for centuries by European has captivated adventurers for centuries. explorers who hypothesised upon its presence and T Its Russian-controlled waters are steeped economic benefits, The Great Northern Expedition in history and mystery, while abundant wildlife is of 1733-43, sponsored by Peter the Great, made found along its remote shores. Only a handful of many significant discoveries, but also revealed the passenger vessels have ever completed a transit of route was not an economic trading proposition. this waterway, but recent changes in the summer It wasn’t until 1878-1880 that Swedish explorer sea ice conditions mean that it is now possible for Adolf Erik Nordenskiold completed the first ever a brief time each summer. In 2017, we fulfilled our transit proving that the route was navigable, albeit long held ambition of completing a successful with some difficulty. In 1914-15 Boris Vil’kitskiy, with Northeast Passage double transit. We are excited to icebreakers Taymyr and Vaygach, made the once again be running this geographical odyssey second transit of the Northern Sea Route as part from Anadyr to Murmansk in 2020. Join us as we of a major push by the Imperial Russian Navy to trace the route of legendary Polar explorer Adolf render it navigable for strategic purposes. The Erik Nordenskiold, navigate narrow fiords, search development of the Northern Sea Route became for unique wildlife, glimpse into the past and a central objective of the Soviet Union’s policy for experience the warmth of Arctic hospitality in its Arctic regions so in 1932 the Northern Sea Route local villages. Administration was established. WWW.HERITAGE-EXPEDITIONS.COM 2 [email protected] A SPECIAL 27-DAY CRUISE ALONG THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE The vast shallow waters north of Russia, protected by the expansive sea ice that covers the region for most of the year, are a refuge for many Arctic species; Polar Bears roam throughout but there are especially large concentrations on the reserves of Wrangel Island and Franz Josef Land. During our voyage we travel through the ranges of the Pacific, Laptev and Atlantic Walrus and there is the opportunity to encounter these © A Chavanne iconic tooth walkers in large haulouts. The triumvirate of Arctic ITINERARY Day 2: Preobrazhnaya Bay gulls – Ivory, Sabine’s and the Crossing the Gulf of Anadyr NOTE: You can join this elusive Ross’s Gulls all breed there will be opportunities for expedition either in Anadyr or on the shores of the Northeast wildlife watching as well as time in Nome, Alaska. Those starting Passage and there are good to become familiar with the in Nome will fly by a Heritage opportunities to see all three. ship. This afternoon we plan to Expeditions’ charter flight to While Bowhead, Beluga and explore the magnificent coastal Anadyr to join the ship and Narwhal Whales all call these cliffs of Preobrazhnaya Bay by remaining expedition members waters home and our naturalists Zodiac, these cliffs are home who have travelled direct to will be keeping close watch. to an exceptional diversity and Anadyr. abundance of seabirds including Venture ashore on some of the Brunnich’s Guillemot, Crested Day 0: Nome least known and seldom visited and Parakeet Auklets plus Tufted For those departing from Nome, shores on the planet, Severnaya and Horned Puffins. Zemlya Archipelago was the Alaska, your adventure begins last major group of islands on with a flight across the Bering Day 3: Whale Bone Alley and earth to be discovered, the New Sea to the Anadyr, the capital of Gil’mimyl Hot Springs Chukotka and the starting point Siberian Islands offer a wealth We visit Whale Bone Alley on for our expedition. of opportunities for discovery. Yttygran Island, one of the Sailing the mythical waters of most significant and intriguing During the flight you will cross Chukchi, East Siberian, Laptev, archaeological sites in the Arctic. the International Date Line, Kara & Barents Sea this is truly a The name comes from the large arriving into Anadyr on Day 1. It is geographic odyssey. number of Bowhead Whale jaw advised that you arrive in Nome bones placed along the beach the day before or by midday Our vessels were built for in the form of a pathway. The today at the latest. navigating passages like this, site is believed to date from the with Akademik Shokalskiy 14th century and its origins and Day 1: Anadyr participating in a Soviet purpose and even the identity Join your ship this afternoon in convoy in the late 1980s, and of those that built it are still Anadyr, the bustling political in 2017 transiting the passage debated. The waters nearby and commercial hub of twice unassisted with Heritage remain rich feeding grounds for Chukotka. Once aboard join Expeditions. We invite you to whales and weather permitting, your expedition leader for join us on an historic journey to we will look to take the Zodiacs introductions to the ship, staff discover High Arctic landscapes in search of Gray Whales and and crew. This evening there that few people have witnessed, walrus. enjoy wildlife and wilderness are excellent chances to spot Beluga Whales as we sail out of experiences that until now have This afternoon we plan a landing the Anadyr Estuary. been the preserve of a few High at the Gil’mimyl Hot Springs. Arctic explorers and researchers. Deep within the hills of eastern WWW.HERITAGE-EXPEDITIONS.COM 3 [email protected] A SPECIAL 27-DAY CRUISE ALONG THE NORTHERN SEA ROUTE THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE Chukotka, this is a beautiful location for exploring the tundra with its rich plant life and the chance to see Sandhill Cranes which usually breed in the area. Day 4: Cape Dezhnev and Uelen Village Early this morning we will arrive at Cape Dezhnev, the eastern extremity of the Eurasian continent. Named after the Cossack explorer Semyon Wrangel Island Reserve © N Russ Dezhnev, the first European to sail through the Bering Strait, it the afternoon’s activities; works In fact it is sometimes referred to is sometimes possible to see the produced from this studio can as a Polar Bear maternity ward coast of America just 50 nautical be found in most of the major on account of the large numbers miles away. Ashore, visit the Russian museums. of cubs born here. In addition monument erected in honour to the Polar Bears for which it is of Dezhnev as well as explore Day 5: Kolyuchin Island renowned there are numerous the remains of the traditional Today we plan to land on other Arctic species which we Chukchi village of Naukan Kolyuchin Island; a 4.2km will be looking for including Musk from which the inhabitants long home to thousands of Ox, Arctic Fox, Snow Geese and were resettled in the 1950s. The seabirds just north of the Russian the Snowy Owls which breed Bering Strait is a vitally important mainland. Although we will be here annually. migratory pathway and we may visiting after the peak of the see flocks of King, Common breeding season, there should still Because Wrangel has not been and Spectacled Eiders passing be large numbers of Tufted and recently glaciated the diversity south. A few nautical miles to Horned Puffins, Brunnich’s and of tundra flora is exceptional and the west of Cape Dezhnev is Common Guillemots and Black- during walks ashore we should the village of Uelen; the most legged Kittiwakes. There may see the last flowers of summer. north-eastern village in Russia. also be an opportunity to Zodiac With three days scheduled to In the afternoon we will get to cruise around the base of the explore, the expedition team enjoy the hospitality of the local cliffs where there are excellent in conjunction with the local people who are predominantly photographic opportunities. As rangers will customise our Chukchi. The village is the largest we set sail for Wrangel Island join program at Wrangel to deliver centre for traditional Chukchi your expedition team on deck the very best opportunities to and Inuit art in the world. A as there will be good marine see and appreciate this truly cultural performance and visit mammal watching opportunities remarkable island and to their famous bone-carving – Humpback and Bowhead its inhabitants. studio and museum will conclude Whales have been seen in the area previously. Day 9: East Siberian Sea Join your expedition team to Days 6 to 8: Wrangel Island learn more about the rich history Wrangel Island is one of those and wildlife of the Northeast islands that you have to visit to Passage as our expert lecturers appreciate. It is a Federal Nature share their knowledge while Reserve and World Heritage Site we transit the East Siberian of international significance. Its Sea. This sea is defined by the significance lies in the fact that Novosibirskie Islands in the west it is a major Polar Bear denning and Wrangel Island to the east, area and one of the few areas along its southern shores are of the Arctic to not be glaciated three of Siberia’s major rivers, © K Ovsyanikova during recent glacial episodes.
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