This week, guests aboard National Geographic Explorer in Iceland took an unexpected last-minute detour on the final day of their voyage. On the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavík, the volcanic fissures that have been active on and off throughout 2024 had once again begun to erupt, allowing guests to witness an unforgettable geological event.
At Sea, North Pacific Ocean
A Journey from Nome to Tokyo: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture, August 21, 2024
Sunset at sea. —Maria Intxaustegi, Cultural Specialist
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Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
A Circumnavigation of Iceland, August 23, 2024
After an early dinner, we mounted a trio of buses that carried us out onto the Reykjanes peninsula to an abandoned airstrip. From there we could already see the spectacular eruption very clearly, but to get a better look, we made our way onto some of the old storage bunkers which lined the airstrip. This gave us a view of the eruption in all its glory, with smoke billowing into the sky from the two-kilometer-long fissure, and also a number of smaller fires. —Andreas Guðmundsson Gähwiller, Cultural Specialist
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Wrangell Narrows, Alaska
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness, August 22, 2024
A short-billed gull takes off from the Wrangell Narrows. —Steve Backus, Naturalist
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Sisimiut, Greenland
High Arctic Archipelago: Canada and Greenland, August 23, 2024
A curious sled dog puppy approaches in Sisimiut’s dog town. While the adults are very much working dogs, the pups are free to roam and socialise until they reach a year old. —Jonathan Fuhrmann, Naturalist (Photo by Lars Abelsen)
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Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell & the Misty Fjords, August 23, 2024
A majestic bald eagle photographed during Zodiac cruises in God’s Pocket in Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska. —Patrick MacQuarrie, Cultural Specialist
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Santiago Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape (7-Day), August 23, 2024
Early morning kayaking with some playful sea lions. —Felipe Wittmer Naranjo, Naturalist
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Tracy Arm, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands & Tracy Arm Fjord, August 23, 2024
Kayaking during slack tide, when the still water resembles a mirror. In these conditions, we could even see salmon swimming beneath our kayaks. —Paola Espitia, Naturalist
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Genovesa Island, Galápagos
Wild Galápagos Escape (7-Day), August 24, 2024
This Nazca booby is an endemic species of the Galápagos Islands, found nowhere else in the world. We will continue learning more about these amazing islands in the company of our naturalist guides. —Ixora Berdonces, Naturalist
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Lake Eva, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape: Haines, the Inian Islands & Tracy Arm Fjord, August 25, 2024
Brown bear cubs play fighting. —James Coyer, Undersea Specialist
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Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia
Journey through Southeast Asia: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, August 26, 2024
A young male orangutan mid call. —Adam Woolcott, Naturalist
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Kushiro, Japan
A Journey from Nome to Tokyo: Ring of Fire to Ainu Culture, August 27, 2024
A rehabilitating red-capped crane in the Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve in Hokkaido, Japan. —Michael Nolan, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
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Fernandina Island, Galapagos
Wild Galápagos Escape (8-Day), August 28, 2024
We embarked on a walk along the beach and through a rocky trail, where we spotted numerous sea lions basking in the sun and sea turtles gracefully swimming close to the shore. One sea turtle was even resting on the beach, providing a perfect photo opportunity. —Paul Vergara, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
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