Greenland Sea, Arctic Circle

The Greenland Sea is a body of water bordered by Greenland to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the North, the Svalbard archipelago to the east, and the Norwegian Sea to the south.  It’s considered part of the Nordic Seas, along with the Norwegian Sea, and acts as a natural link between the Arctic Ocean in the North and the Atlantic Ocean in the south.

This sea has a tough Arctic climate – chilly northern winds and temperatures that rarely climb above freezing.  The frigid air, drifting icebergs and constant ice cover shape a stunning and dramatic landscape.  Ocean currents stir things up here, too, blending cold, fresh Arctic water with saltier Atlantic water, supporting a unique ecosystem.

But despite the harsh conditions, the Greenland Sea is full of life.  Tiny organisms at the bottom of the food chain thrive in these waters, providing food for everything from large invertebrates and fish to seabirds and marine mammals.  Even along the rugged coast, mosses and lichens grow, feeding deer and musk oven.  It’s also a key breeding ground for harp and hooded seals and a great spot to see whales – and sometimes even polar bears, like the one in catching a ride on an ice floe.

The challenging environment of the Greenland Sea has also drawn adventurers, like the Polar Row expedition led by Fiann Paul in 2017.  This team achieved the first recorded human-powered sea crossing, rowing from Tromso, Norway, to Lonyearbyen, Svalbard.  Covering roughly 600 mi (965km), they completed the incredible journey in a record-breaking 7 days and 7 hours.