Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 26

Waterfalls

Glaciers carved into the rock...  

... and rivers started to flow.   

Torngat waterfalls show the forces of nature at work over millions of years.  After the winter's snow has melted and collected into ponds on top of the mountains, the falling water cuts its path deeper and deeper into the hills as it makes its way to the sea. 

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 22

Yes, We Saw Polar Bears, Part 2

Polar Bears...  

...are at home in the water and on the land.   

This bear noticed us while he was swimming, and he took a leisurely paddle to shore. Then he shook off the water that was weighing him down and gracefully trotted off along the rocks. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for having the right settings on her camera and for sharing the photos.        

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 20

Wake and Wash

The Wake and Wash of a Small Craft...  

...are the footprints of where we went.   

Every day at the Base Camp we went out to explore the park. Most days we went out in speedboat, zodiac or passenger boat. Behind us we left a mark of wherever we went, our wake of disturbed water behind the boat and our wash of splashed water, waves and foam. Unlike our footprints on the land, our watery tracks were erased by the sea after only a few minutes.

        

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 13

Bigger Than Our Boat

But what kind of whale?...  

...we couldn't tell for sure, but they certainly dwarfed our little zodiac.   

We were out spotting grounded icebergs, and found we were not alone in this calm cove. Later, at the Base Camp, we tried to identify these animals. Minke whales, probably, because they are so common in this area, or sei, perhaps, likely feeding on a small fish called a sand-lance. It was an unexpected pleasure. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for these photos.  

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 12

How Many Blues and Greens Are There In An Iceberg?

Turquoise, azure, indigo, teal, cerulean, aqua, sea-green...  

...as the light changes, the colours shift.   

Icebergs were something we were interested in seeing up close, and we saw quite a few of them. These 15,000 year-old mountains of fresh water float south into the Atlantic Ocean, melting as they go. Most of their beauty goes unseen and unappreciated. Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for the closeup photo of the light shining through the base of the iceberg.        

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 11

Fishing at North Arm

North Arm...  

...is always a good spot for fishing and a boilup.   

At North Arm, archaeologists have found campsites dating from thousands of years ago. People love it here. On this perfectly calm day, Base Camp staff set up a fire, boiled the kettle and cooked a char fresh out of the water. It was very tasty.          

Torngats 2015 - Where Nature and Culture Connect 10

Yes, We Saw Polar Bears - Part 1

Polar Bears were something we wanted to see...  

...and they were everywhere we went.   

We were out in zodiacs on a day trip for fishing and a picnic, and we spotted this fellow in the water. He had spotted us first, of course, and he headed for the camoflage of the nearest island. He trotted up the rocks, gave us a few intense stares and a goodbye glance before he disappeared into a crevice.  Thanks to Muriel Edmunds for the photos, and for having her good zoom lens on her camera at the time.       

Seeing What's Not There - Day 23

Reflections on a Wooden Deck  

A Series of Reflections in Tiny Pools of Rainwater

-  on the wooden planks of a backyard deck       

The focusing distance of the reflection is much farther away from the camera than the focusing distance of the wooden deck at my feet. This sets up a strange in-focus and out-of-focus conflict for a viewer's eyes, which is only resolved when the viewer's brain says: "We are looking at the trees." 

Seeing What's Not There - Day 21

Reflections in a Light Breeze  

Rippled Reflections of Riverbank Trees 

-  in a light spring breeze       

It is the wind that causes the water surface to have tiny ripples in the surface. It is the reflection of the trees on the riverbank that shows the ripples. And if I wasn't standing where I was, at just the right angle to the water, I wouldn't have caught this scene at all. 

Seeing What's Not There - Day 16

Spring Melt

Reflections in a Vernal Pool

-  life waking up in shallow pools of melting water         

In pools and puddles where spring melt water collects, under a mat of floating seeds and dried grasses, you will likely find signs of plants and animals coming to life again after the winter. Insects, salamanders, frogs and toads may refresh themselves here and as the pool dries up, they will move on to seek a more permanent home.