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Arctic

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A second calving happens moments later at another location on the glacier.
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And it is over sometimes in just a few seconds.
A group ahead of us is returning to the ship. We embark and disembark at the aft portion of the ship, back, for each zodiac landing.
Zodiacs and expedition leaders waiting for their groups to load for a new location landing.
Next landing is Smeerenburg. Smeerenburg was a whaling settlement on Amsterdam Island in northwest Svalbard. It was founded by the Danish and Dutch in 1619 as one of Europe's northernmost outposts. With the local whale population soon decimated and whaling developed into a open sea industry, Smeerenburg was abandoned about 1660.
Smeerenburg Dutch Whaling Station.  1614 to 1655.  There were 15 buildings and 200 inhabitants.   This is where the whale blubber was cooked and its buildings.
The lookout tower is manned by one of the expedition leaders looking for any wild animals that may arrive hungry looking for food... "Tourists"s
Remains of the Dutch Whaling Station and the blubber cookeries. What was left was excavated in 1979 to 1981.
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Zodiac out on the water. Notice the glaciers and mountain peak across from the Smerenburg.
Zodiac returning to the ship.
Walruses are relatively long-lived, social animals, and are considered to be a "keystone species" in the Arctic marine regions.
The walrus has played a prominent role in the cultures of many indigenous Arctic peoples, who have hunted it for meat, fat, skin, tusks, and bone.

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