“Spitsbergen close-up”. Travel meeting with Sylwia Kunze

“The Arctic is a land of ice, snow, rugged landscapes and almost endless space. It would seem that living in such extreme conditions is almost impossible. And yet in the summer Spitsbergen shows a completely different face - surprisingly colorful, full of life and accessible to travelers.

Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, lies far to the north, in the region of 80th degree north latitude. Despite its location, its climate is milder than one might expect. This is due to the warm Gulf Stream called the Gulf Stream, whose influence makes the sea generally ice-free in summer and creates exceptional conditions for polar navigation.

In June, July and August, the polar day lasts here — the sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours. The tundra is released from under the snow, colors appear, and temperatures can reach 5—10 degrees Celsius above zero. It is then that Spitsbergen comes to life and invites you to discover its extraordinary corners.

During my trip, I had the opportunity to experience this Arctic up close. I visited the Ymerbukta Bay area to stand on the mighty Esmarkbreen Glacier, visited the Nordenskiöld Land, the Adventdalen Valley and the Foxfonna Ice Plateau, and sailed an expedition pontoon under the impressive bird cliffs of Fuglefjell.

My tour also included unusual places related to the history and life of the people of Spitsbergen — Pyramiden in Billefjorden, Barentsburg in Grønfjorden and Longyearbyen, the largest settlement in the archipelago. During the meeting, I will tell you about my journey, show the Arctic as seen up close and introduce its unusual landscapes, nature and places where raw nature meets human history. I invite you to the story “Spitsbergen up close”.

“I am professionally engaged in teaching English, I am also a tutor and a school mediator.

Privately, with my husband and sons, I explore the world, trying to get to know it up close and confront reality with childhood ideas and dreams — from a time when these places seemed unattainable because they were “behind the iron curtain”.

I am always drawn to the mountains and Podlasie, which I have traveled many times on my bike. The fascination with this region resulted in the photo exhibition “Podlaska rozsypanka” in 2019.