Wednesday 2 December 2009

the long polar night


Since the last days of November , the arctic regions are in polar night season. They have to say goodbye to the sun. It will shine back again in about two months. Until then, welcome Polar Night!


Twilight is at noon, the sun trying to peak over the horizon - not succeeding though. But it never gets really dark. In fact there is a kind of permanent twilight, and in full moonlight , the "polar night" days are more enlightened than a dark night at the tropics.


Christmas night is all along the day...






Sunday 29 November 2009

Mount Thor, Nunavut: a mountain for Thule


Mount Thor is a mountain in Auyuittuq National Park, on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.
Mount Thor features the Earth's greatest purely vertical drop at 1,250 m (4,101 ft), with an average angle of 105 degrees. The highest uninterrupted cliff face at more than 1 kilometer!


Despite its remoteness, many climbers come there for a unique experience.
The mountain is made of granite . It was first climbed in 1953. The world record for longest rappel was set on Mount Thor, July 23, 2006.
Named after Thor, the Norse god of Thunder (like "Thursday"!), this majestic peak rises some 1675 meters above the surrounding valley.


Coordinates 66°32′N, 65°19′W