Arctic eco-tourists injured by glacial ice wave
Seventeen British eco-tourists were injured by a giant ice wave which smashed into their luxury Arctic sightseeing boat after witnessing an ice cap melting. Three holidaymakers were airlifted to hospital with injuries including broken arms, legs and fractured ribs after the accident which occurred off the Svalbard islands 300 miles north of Norway. Two of the Britons, who were taken to the Norwegian mainland, had injuries that were described as serious but not life threatening. One is understood to have suffered a head injury after the boat was tossed in the ice fall. Oceanwide Expeditions, the British tour agency that organised the holiday, said it was the first time in 20 years that any of its clients had been involved in an accident.
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Polar travel is now a booming industry as increased awareness of global warming has spurred a flood of concerned tourists eager to catch a glimpse of climate change for themselves. The Svalbard glacier is one of the world's smaller ice caps making it particularly sensitive to climate change. It has been thinning steadily since the 1930s, according to experts.
The increasingly mild weather which threatens the Arctic is making it easier to reach previously ice-bound beauty spots. However, warming has also led to greater instability among the massive glaciers, causing huge pieces of ice to break off them. Such breakup, or calving as it’s termed, is occurring increasing frequency, and often is the highlight of tourist expeditions.
[via The Independent]
