Edgeøya’s northwestern headland
Kapp Lee is the northwesternmost point of Edgeøya, a southeastern island in the Svalbard archipelago. Three huts are located on this headland, one of which is known as Karosaelen, “the carousel,” for its octagonal shape. Built by trappers in 1904, this hut lies next to two others that were built in the 1960s as outposts for oil explorations.
Picture by Werner Kruse
The green vegetation of Kapp Lee is often a welcome contrast to the monochrome landscapes surrounding it. We often see walruses in this area, either on shore or surfacing not far from our Zodiacs. Kittiwakes can be spotted along the beaches of Kapp Lee, perched among the scattered whale bones, while reindeer and Arctic foxes are not uncommon sights farther inland.
Main image by Martin Anstee