Arctic Eden: Journeys Through the Changing High Arctic

by Jerry Kobalenko

In this intimate portrait, Jerry Kobalenko shares a series of journeys he has taken around the High Arctic by foot, skis, kayak, and ship that provide a multifaceted view of this most beautiful and most vulnerable part of the Arctic. Combining natural history, exploration, and personal experiences gathered during 20 years of Arctic travel, the book explores the ice caps and glaciers of Ellesmere Island; introduces us to Axel Heiberg’s magical fossil forest of cypress trees; follows the author’s journey of more than 400 miles on skis from Devon Island to Alexander Fiord, punctuated by several near-fatal encounters with polar bears; and comments on changes in climate Kobalenko has witnessed throughout the High Arctic. The book also showcases Kobalenko’s magnificent photographs of the region, capturing wildlife such as walruses, muskoxen, and Arctic wolves, and stunning geographical features from towering icebergs to virgin snowscapes under a sky of wild lenticular clouds.

Genres: Photography

200 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lucreţiu Calotă]

This is a good book to get an idea of how it is in the High Arctic region. Jerry is traveling the Ellesmere island for 20 years now. His writing has a natural feeling about beeing in a frozen place. Is just like you are there, with him. And the pictures are beautiful.

[Irene]

Stunning photography, and insightful commentary. Published in Vancouver by Greystone Books and the David Suzuki Foundation in 2010. Subtitle is Journeys Through the Changing High Arctic; offers insights about early history as well as changes over time.

[alexander shay]

Much more of a personal journey than I expected. It's a certified coffee table book, and for that I expected more varied pictures and a bit better quality. Not really what I was reading the book for, but not a boring read to follow someone who continues to go back to the Arctic again and again and continue to see the beauty in it.