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JM Buchet Photography
Varanger — To the Far North
From Finnish Lapland to the shores of the Barents Sea
The journey to Varanger begins as soon as we arrive in Finland. From Ivalo, the road winds its way between lakes and forests, through Nordic landscapes where the first encounters are never far away…
In Ivalo, we already discover those magical northern lights… with a warmth unlike any other!
Kaamanen area
The Western Capercaillie, an unexpected encounter
Kongsfjord, our basecamp...
In early June, at this latitude, the sun never sets… creating the fantastic light I love so much! The nights are short!
The Ruffs
In early June, the Varanger Peninsula is only just beginning to awaken... Snow still lingers in places... Yet nature is already stirring, welcoming the Ruff back to their traditional leks for their annual gathering. The males engage in spectacular displays and mock battles, competing for the females and the chance to reproduce!
Around the leks...
While the Ruffs are busy displaying and competing, other species make an appearance around us.
Further to the north-west...
Elsewhere in Varanger — around Båtsfjord
The peninsula still has many more encounters in store. Along the way, Northern Gannets, Yellow-billed Loons and Razorbills add to the remarkable diversity of birdlife in the Far North.
Photo de Plongeon à bec blanc
Varanger Peninsula south coast - Vadsø
Varanger Peninsula East Coast - Vardø
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the Nordic countries, the conquest of the poles and all the adventures that led explorers there... Paul-Émile Victor fired my imagination with his Arctic and Antarctic expeditions... Amundsen, Nansen, Heyerdahl — names that echo through my childhood memories, each telling a different story, each an extraordinary adventure!
And then, there I was, in the far reaches of Norway, in Vardø, suddenly coming face to face with a statue of Fridtjof Nansen! What an extraordinary life this man led! To get an idea of just how remarkable it was, read his biography — and look up the “Nansen passport” as well…
In Vardø, at the far eastern end of the peninsula, new species await us, particularly on the island of Hornøya, inhabited only by birds: European Shags, Razorbills, Atlantic Puffins, Brünnich’s Guillemots… and a lighthouse! Shrouded in the mist that stayed with us all day, the sense of closeness to the birds is even stronger. We can approach them without disturbing them. This is their home; we are merely their guests for the day!
On the way back, one last encounter awaits us... Common Cranes are familiar to us during their migrations, when they pass through our regions or stop over at Lac du Der. I knew they spent the summer in Sweden, but I had no idea they travelled this far north.
Finding them here, in the far reaches of Finland and Norway, was a wonderful surprise... and a lovely way to bring this journey to a close.
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