Discovery and Naming

Discovered by Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596 while searching for a route to China. According to the story, it was named "Beer Eyland" after Barentsz encountered and killed a polar bear nearby.

Geography and Landscape

Located in the Barents Sea, roughly midway between the Norwegian mainland and Spitsbergen, the island is 20 km long and 15 km wide, with an area of 178 km².
The northern part of the island is mostly flat and contains hundreds of small lakes, while the southern part is characterized by a steep and almost inaccessible coastline.

Wildlife and Bird Colonies

Home to one of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere, with over a million birds during breeding season.
Common species include guillemots, little auks, kittiwakes, and northern fulmars.

Meteorological Station

Hosts a weather station established in 1918, still operational today.

Historical Hunting

Site of the first large-scale walrus hunt in the 16th century.
Used for hunting by Norwegian and Russian hunters, including the Pomors, in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Cultural Heritage

Contains remains from centuries of human activity, including the Hammerfest House, built in 1822, the oldest hunting cabin in Svalbard.

Coal Mining Attempts

Initial attempts at coal mining, beginning in 1898, were unsuccessful. However, Bjørnøen AS operated a coal mine at Tunheim from 1916 to 1925, achieving moderate success. Tunheim was later evacuated and destroyed during World War II.

Norwegian Territory

Became part of Norway in 1925, along with the rest of the Svalbard archipelago.

Marine Ecosystem

The polar front near Bear Island mixes cold Arctic waters with warm Atlantic waters, creating nutrient-rich areas that support plankton and seabirds.

Marine Mammals

The waters around the island host most Arctic whale and seal species, including ringed seals, bearded seals, minke whales, and white-beaked dolphins.
Polar bears are rarely seen, as they typically follow the ice north as it begins to retreat in early spring.

Do you want the chance to explore this rarely visited island in the middle of the Barents Sea? On our trip, Lofoten, Bear Island & Svalbard with M/S Quest 2025, we will attempt a Zodiac cruise around this fascinating rocky island and, if conditions allow, maybe make a landing.

Read more about the trip here!

Source: Norsk Polarinstitut

We have now landed on the Galapagos Islands! We step off the plane at Baltra Airport and begin our walk to the terminal, a stroll of about 200 meters. Before we even reach the terminal, we are greeted by a large land iguana. Shortly after collecting our luggage, we meet our local guides and hop on a bus to the nearest pier. From there, we take a Zodiac ride of about 10 minutes to our ship, Coral II.

 We are served a well-prepared lunch as soon as we arrive, and we only have a few minutes to settle into our cabins before it’s time for the safety briefing and changing clothes for our first excursion to North Seymour Island.

At the landing site, we are greeted by Sally Lightfoot crabs – those typically red crabs that truly stand out against the black lava rocks. During the walk, we spot land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds with their red pouches, and sea lions.

Back on the boat, we barely have time to change before dinner is served. At 8 PM, we have a briefing on the next day’s activities. Everyone is excited, exhausted, and in bed by 9 PM.

Just back from a snorkeling session where we saw sharks, turtles, a ray, and – perhaps the most spectacular sight – millions of fish eggs! In a bay where we snorkeled, a species of fish had just spawned, and we swam through a pink shimmer of fish eggs that moved like a magical Northern Light beneath the water.

A bit chilly when we returned to the boat, we barely had time to get dressed before hopping back into the Zodiacs. Suddenly, over 300 bottlenose dolphins approached, and we followed them as they played around us and surfed the waves created by our Zodiacs. It was an unforgettable encounter for everyone, and after landing, conversations bubbled with excitement as smiles stretched from ear to ear on all the expedition members.

We all agree – the Galapagos Islands are truly a little paradise on Earth.

 Carina Svensson began her career at PolarQuest in August 2004 by joining an expedition to Svalbard, with the goal of reaching the legendary Kvitøya. This remote island is known as the site where Andrée and his expedition members were found, 33 years after their failed attempt to reach the North Pole with the balloon Örnen. At the time, Carina had extensive experience in the travel industry, but the polar regions were completely new to her.

– I never thought I would do something like that; I’ve always preferred warmth. But I’ve definitely changed my mind about that," she says with a smile.

Just arriving in Longyearbyen was an experience in itself.

– Everything was new to me – seeing the warning signs for polar bears and then boarding the small ship. It was truly amazing.

Before the journey, detailed studies of ice maps had shown that the conditions for reaching the remote Kvitøya were favorable. The group arrived in thick fog that evening, but by the next morning, the fog had cleared. The guides went ashore to scout the area and soon confirmed that it was safe to land.

Joining the expedition was Håkan Jorikson, director of the Grenna Museum, along with a group of history enthusiasts. The excitement was palpable when fragments of wood and textiles from the camp were discovered almost immediately. No one had been able to land here for many years due to the ice, but now the ice sheet had melted, exposing the ground. It was also revealed that the camp was situated slightly differently than previously believed.

– This allowed us to discover new artifacts, including a pair of blue socks that were completely intact. Incredible," Carina recounts.

For Carina, the story has grown over the years as she has gained more and more knowledge.

–I was completely new to the field back then. But I clearly remember visiting the Grenna Museum afterward and being able to discuss the trip in detail with Håkan. I think I almost appreciated his excitement about the journey more than anything else. Quite fantastic!

Photos: Håkan Jorikson, Grenna Museum 2004