A day off stories of doomed hydrogen balloonists in 1897. A doomed whaling industry. All wrapped up in a grand landscape.
The endless number of whales at the smelters established in the North of Svalbard, appropriately named Smeerenburg, ended. Also the new petroleum industry made it not so profitable. One good thing this also new but doomed industry has achieved is saving the whales. Ironic.
The walruses, seals and birds enjoying this now quiet place make it seem that nothing ever happened. There are not too many signs except the graves of the men that stayed buried here in the permafrost.
Back to the ship for the journey back to Longyearbyen.
