Svalbard Cruises & Expeditions

Alkefjellet, which is loosely translated as "Bird Mountain", is one of the most spectacular bird cliffs in all of Svalbard. The towering basalt cliffs rise vertically from the waters of the Hinlopen Strait between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, and are home to approximately 60,000 pairs of Brünnich’s guillemots. The sheer rock faces, which reach 100 metres high, provide protective nesting habitat for birds who are preyed on by Arctic foxes and glaucous gulls.

While Spitsbergen is known for its polar bear population, the island and its waters are also home to walruses, whales, seal, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer. Polar bears tend to be found roaming the northern part of the island – but they can be spotted anywhere. They typically eat seal but reindeer, walruses, crustaceans, birds, bird eggs and whale carcasses are also fair game. The polar bear is the largest of the bear species. Females typically weigh between 150 and 350 kg while males generally weigh in between 300 and 700 kg.

Seabirds are particularly abundant in Spitsbergen.  About 30 bird species are known to breed here. The most prevalent are little auk and the Brunnich’s guillemot. Gulls, such as the black-legged kittiwake, thrive on the island, and it is possible to see three types of skuas (Arctic skua, the rare pomarine skua and long-tailed skua). Other frequently sighted birds include northern fulmar, common eider, barnacle and pink-footed geese, and shorebirds such as the red phalarope and purple sandpiper. Red-throated divers tend to inhabit areas near small tundra lakes. Arctic terns – which can be aggressive – are easily spotted but it’s best to give them wide berth.