Ahlstrandhalvøya

AECOGuidelinesSite-SpecificAhlstrandhalvøya

Access

Landing area restrictions apply.
Limited roaming area.

77°33.1’N 014°58.8’E

Vegetation

This is one of the most favorable and productive climatic regions for plants at Svalbard. Within the range of a short walk, several of the most typical of Svalbard vegetation types can be observed, including saxifrage heath, wetland, grassland, moss heath, along with exposed ridges of vegetation.

Fauna

The birdlife on this peninsula is relatively rich and varied and Ahlstrandhalvøya is an important feeding area for family groups of barnacle geese and female common eider. Several species of waders, including ruddy turnstone, purple sandpiper, sanderling and grey phalarope are also present in the area. Reindeer are commonly seen grazing on the rich vegetation.

Cultural Remains

The cabin, Bamsebu, in Ingebrigtsenbukta, was built as a beluga whaling station and is the only excellent example of a beluga whaling station remaining in Svalbard. Next to the cabin is the small storage place, Kjeftausa, where a turned boat forms the roof. Three of the seine boats lie on the beach in Fleur de Lyshamna. The names of the bays, beaches and headlands of Ahlstrandhalvøya originated from the cultural heritage environment connected with the hunting of beluga.

When Belugas Were Big Business

Large piles of beluga whale bones adorn the beach, the result of hectic and valuable summer-hunting during the interwar years. The beluga blubber as well as the skin was sought after. The beluga whales swam in large groups into the fjords where trappers were waiting with large seine nets to close the mouth of the fjord, trapping and slaughtering the whales. This slaughtering place is a unique cultural remain in Svalbard.

Guidelines

The slaughtering place and the remains of the belugas are protected cultural remains. Please do not touch.
The small patches of wetland next to the cabin Bamsebu have low trampling tolerance, so please walk outside them.
Avoid landings and traffic in areas with large numbers of eiders and geese.
Approach areas with family groups of eiders and geese carefully. Keep the group of visitors together and walk slowly. Disturbance during breeding and moulting season may cause chicks being separated from the adults, making them easy prey for glaucous gull and Arctic fox.
From late May through July avoid traffic on and around the islets off Fleur de Lyshamna as birds are breeding there.
Please respect the private cabin Bamsebu.

Tip

A four kilometer hike will take you from Ingebrigtsenbukta to Fleur de Lyshamna. If you walk the first part along the beach you will avoid the wet tundra. During the trip you will cross the spectacular tilted folded strata of the Ullaberget series

The spectacular tilted folded strata are part of the Ullaberget series. Photo: Yan-Ali Tabarnd