If there is an island in the Svalbard archipelago that most will never have heard of, then it is this one here. Or these ones, as “Jyplingane” is actually a plural word, meaning something like “the Greenhorns”.
But anyway, if you actually want to call this tiny bit of land an island, then it may just as well be two 🙂 it is indeed possible to pass through the “main island” and the offshore rocks on the northern end at low water, provided the passage way is not blocked by ice or occupied by polar bears. The passage requires careful navigation, it is very shallow and rocky and the offshore waters are also shallow, especially on the western side.
Jyplingane: “the Greenhorns”.
More a gravel bank than an island, with less than 500 metres from one end to the other.
To prevent misunderstandings: it is, in any case, a passage for Zodiacs of boats of similar small size only. Definitely not for ships.
Schröder-Stranz
The Jyplingane are situated in Nordenskiöldbukta, a wide-open bay on the north side of Nordaustland. You may have heard of the area if you have, for example, read about the tragedy of the Schröder-Stranz-expedition. A group of 4 including the expedition leader left the expedition ship Herzog Ernst in this area in the late summer of 1912. Their – pretty suicidal – plan was a crossing of Nordaustland and the main island of Spitsbergen to see the ship again in Krossfjord in the west coast. None of them was ever seen again.
But they left their ship a bit further northeast, behind Scoresbyøya (from the perspective of our lovely little island here, that is). So why should anyone want to visit Jyplingane>?
Polar bears!
I was there twice during the later summer of 2021. In August, we happened to be in the area on a small sailing ship and we saw that there was something going on there. As it turned out, there were about 17 or 18 polar bears on Jyplingane, feasting on the remains of a dead whale.
Polar bear party on Jyplingane, August 2021.
A feast indeed for the polar bears and a feast for those few blessed humans who were privileged to be able to observe the spectacle for some hours. The bears could hardly have cared less about us who circled around the island in our dinghy, and if they did, then just because they were curious and had a look at us. No problem as long as you stay inside the boat and keep your eyes open. One polar bear was so curious even in the water that he kept swimming towards us and we had to back off quite regularly! Quite unusual. Well, we kept our distance and that was it.
… or not
Of course I was keen on getting back as soon as the opportunity was there. This happened in September, exactly 4 weeks after that first memorable visit. We were hoping for a similarly spectacular experience as in August.
Four weeks later: Jyplingane without polar bears.
So, what happened? Nothing at all! There was not a single polar bear left on Jyplingane and nothing visible on the neighbouring islands. Strange! Even if there was nothing much left on the whalebones that were still lying there, one would expect that at least a bear or two were still hanging out on the island, resting and digesting and not having any stress or anything to rush for. So we kept circling around Jyplingane several times until it was established beyond any doubt that the island was completely deserted. Incredible!
So I took the opportunity to get on land and touch this wild little island at least briefly. It was an amazing feeling to stand at this very place which had been full of polar bears just 4 weeks earlier!
But this is Spitsbergen, this is the Arctic, this is nature. Unpredictable, and always good for a surprise 🙂
Jyplingane photo gallery
And finally, as (almost) always, some impressions of “the Greenhorns” (Jyplingane). With and without polar bears.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.