Sigurður Jónsson | Monday December 4 - 2006

Ptarmigan pair

Ptarmigans above Isafjordur

Here is a puzzle... find the hidden Ptarmigan couple in their winter dress? During a short hike in the mountain above Isafjordur last Sunday afternoon the Aurora skipper came across this Ptarmican couple. They were happily oblivious to the fact that Ptarmigans (Lagopus muta) are one of the most popular Christmas dinners in Iceland... or perhaps they simply knew that this guy never carries a more dangerous weapon than a camera.

Days are very short in Isafjordur now. We are just north of latitude 66 deg North, sunrise is around 11am and sunset around 3.30 pm. But because the mountains around Isafjordur are so close, the town doesn't see the sun for two months, from around 20th of November to 20th of January. So now it's time to light up the fjord with Christmas lights.

When the sun is seen again in the town around January 20th there is a traditional celebration with coffee and whipped-cream-pancakes.

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Welcome to the website for Borea Adventures, Iceland, your number one stop for Arctic adventures in high latitudes. We provide great adventures and expeditions in Iceland, Greenland, East Greenland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard (Spitzbergen), mainly using our spacious yacht, the Aurora. Our philosophy is to make our trips as silent as possible where we minimize the use of motorized power and encourage physical activities, whether sea kayaking, climbing, sailing, walking and hiking, wildlife, ski touring and backcountry skiing for beginners, experts and people of all ages. The North Atlantic is our playground and we offer scheduled trips for individuals and groups as well as customized itineraries and charter for groups. We travel in harmony with the wildlife of the area: Arctic Foxes, Birds, Seals, Whales and Polar Bears. Aurora is a sturdy expedition yacht and was raced four times around the globe as part of the Clipper Round the World yacht race under the ownership of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. She gives us a great opportunity to provide Arctic adventures in areas that are hard to reach otherwise. We call her our floating basecamp. Our name is derived from Greek mythology where Boreas was the god of the north wind. Aurora on the other hand was the Roman rosy-fingered goddess of dawn. Aurora Borealis is a name for the Northern lights which are common in our area. As we humans have proven through the decades, names can be hard to remember. Especially if a bit of alcohol gets passed around the galley too many times! You might spell our name Boreal Adventures, Borial Adventures, Borea Adventrues and Borealis Adventures. Thank you for visiting Borea Adventures.