Wild Varanger

Book excerpt: Varanger, Norway's largest peninsula, captivates visitors with its breathtaking Arctic landscapes and surprisingly rich wildlife. Biologist and nature photographer Jörg Hemmer takes the reader on a journey through barren tundra, vast highlands and lush birch forests to Caribbean beaches and the breathtakingly rugged coastline of the Arctic Ocean. With over 140 inspiring photographs, some in large format, the author describes the breeding biology of seabirds, the courtship rituals of ruffs and the hunting strategies of gyrfalcons. He shows how plants and animals have adapted to the cold climate and how people cope with the challenges of life on the northern edge of Europe. Two new chapters have been added to the second edition. One deals with the history of the Barents Sea region. The other tries to shed light on where the indigenous Sami people came from and how they developed reindeer husbandry. Clear and concise, this book is a passionate guide to Europe's outpost on the Arctic Ocean.