Honningsvag, Norway

 

Honningsvag is on the small island of Mageroya overlooking a pristine bay of the Barents Sea.

SEABIRDS OF STAPPEN ISLAND

We took a four-hour excursion to the village of Gjesvaer to embark on a small sightseeing boat to Gjesvaerstappan Nature Reserve, a winged paradise for bird lovers. We were hoping to spot Atlantic puffins, kittiwakes, arctic skua, big gannets, stormy petrels, razorbills, white-tailed eagles, cormorants, and guillemots.

We set out for our Arctic Seabird Safari

The trio of steep-sided, grass-covered main islands, Storstappen, Kjerkestappen and Bukkstappen. So this is the Stappen Islands. Landing on the uninhabited islands is not permitted.

After passing the cormorants, everyone was on the lookout for the estimated 50,000 pairs of puffins.

This steep island is home to thousands of gannets.

Gannet Colony

Back on the dock, cod was drying.

A Couple of Trolls

A Trio of Trolls

DRIVE TO NORTH CAPE

Our afternoon excursion took us to the North Cape, the most northerly point in mainland Europe. It is located on the Mageroya Island where the Barents and Norwegian Seas meet. The cliffs of Nordkapp rise more than 1,000 feet above the sea.

Very elaborate Visitor Center and Museum. It included a chapel, panorama film, gift store, restaurant and museum.

Just north of 71 degrees latitude and still headed north.

The weather was perfect at the Nordkapp. This globe monument was erected in 1977 and has become the symbol of the North Cape. 

The Children of the World Monument erected in 1989.

The North Cape plateau sits over 1,000 feet above the ocean.

Eider Ducks

Gannets

Atlantic Puffins

Razorbills

Reindeer

Back on the Saturn and under way, we passed by the North Cape for one last view on our way north to Svalbard Islands.