Liquified Natural Gas Terminal, Hammerfest, Norway
The Melkøya Liquified Natural Gas Terminal sits on an island just off the coast of Hammerfest, Norway. Gas flows 104 miles from the Snøhvit fields under the Barents Sea, until it is liquified here and transferred to ships for dispersion across the globe. The terminal was completed in 2007, and marked the beginning of enormous growth in Norwegian Arctic oil and gas drilling, which is expected to continue in the coming years.
Liquified Natural Gas Terminal, Hammerfest, Norway
The Melkøya Liquified Natural Gas Terminal sits on an island just off the coast of Hammerfest, Norway. Gas flows 104 miles from the Snøhvit fields under the Barents Sea, until it is liquified here and transferred to ships for dispersion across the globe. The terminal was completed in 2007, and marked the beginning of enormous growth in Norwegian Arctic oil and gas drilling, which is expected to continue in the coming years.
LNG Tanker, Hammerfest , Norway
The Melkøya Liquified Natural Gas Terminal sits on an island just off the coast of Hammerfest, Norway. Gas flows 104 miles from the Snøhvit fields under the Barents Sea, until it is liquified here and transferred to ships for dispersion across the globe. The terminal was completed in 2007, and marked the beginning of enormous growth in Norwegian Arctic oil and gas drilling, which is expected to continue in the coming years.
LKAB Iron Ore Terminal, Narvik, Norway
After relying almost entirely upon the export of local iron ore for over a century, the port city of Narvik is marketing itself as a potential stopover for ships en route to and from the newly ice-free North East passage across the Russian Arctic Ocean.
LKAB Iron Ore Terminal, Narvik, Norway
After relying almost entirely upon the export of local iron ore for over a century, the port city of Narvik is marketing itself as a potential stopover for ships en route to and from the newly ice-free North East passage across the Russian Arctic Ocean.
Narvik Harbor, Norway
The port city of Narvik is marketing itself as a potential stopover for ships en route to and from the newly ice-free North East passage across the Russian Arctic Ocean.
Northlands Terminal, Narvik, Norway
Northland Resources recently completed this terminal to facilitate increased production of iron ore in the nearby Swedish mountains. The lease for the terminal land is only ten years, after which the port of Narvik hopes to take over the facility and convert it to a shipping hub for large containers. Narvik is marketing itself as a potential stopover for ships en route to and from the newly ice-free North East passage across the Russian Arctic Ocean.
Grøtsund Port Construction, North of Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway, is built around a bustling, but small, port. As ice melts in the Barents Sea, and offshore oil drilling accelerates in Norway and Russia, Tromsø is positioning itself to become a major supply and repair hub for drilling rigs and their attendant ships. The Grøtsund facility is being built in anticipation of serving these newly active drilling operations.
Grøtsund Port Construction, North of Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway, is built around a bustling, but small, port. As ice melts in the Barents Sea, and offshore oil drilling accelerates in Norway and Russia, Tromsø is positioning itself to become a major supply and repair hub for drilling rigs and their attendant ships. The Grøtsund facility is being built in anticipation of serving these newly active drilling operations.
Narvik Harbor, Norway
The port city of Narvik is marketing itself as a potential stopover for ships en route to and from the newly ice-free North East passage across the Russian Arctic Ocean.
The Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise, Docked at Kirkenes, Norway
Located just a few kilometers from the Russian border, Kirkenes has a long history as a trading portal with Russia. Today it is an international port, where many Russian fishing and industrial ships prefer to work, as nearby Murmansk is iced in each winter. Kirkenes feels the last reaches of the Gulf Stream and is able to be kept open year round.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway, is built around a bustling, but small, port. As ice melts in the Barents Sea, Tromsø is positioning itself to become a major hub for tourism and trans-arctic shipping, as well as drilling rigs and their attendant ships.
Hurtigruten Ferry in Trollfjord, Lofoten, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North. In an effort to remain profitable, the century-old Hurtigruten - Norway's primary coastal ferry service - has recently replaced most of its traditional vessels with more luxurious cruise ships.
Hurtigruten Ferry in Trollfjord, Lofoten, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North. In an effort to remain profitable, the century-old Hurtigruten - Norway's primary coastal ferry service - has recently replaced most of its traditional vessels with more luxurious cruise ships.
Ullsfjorden, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North.
On Board a Hurtigruten Ferry, Ullsfjorden, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North.
On Board a Hurtigruten Ferry, Ullsfjorden, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North.
On Board a Hurtigruten Ferry, Ullsfjorden, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North. In an effort to remain profitable, the century-old Hurtigruten - Norway's primary coastal ferry service - has recently replaced most of its traditional vessels with more luxurious cruise ships.
On Board a Hurtigruten Ferry, Sørøysundet, Norway
Tourism in the Arctic regions of Europe is accelerating, and the melting of sea ice will soon enable ships to travel the Northwest Passage, and stay more months in the far North.
Nordkapp, Norway
For centuries, Nordkapp -- the northernmost point in continental Europe -- has marked the end of a long journey; the place where one turned around to go home. Now, as Arctic ice melts, and wealthy, sophisticated tourists seek out more exotic and remote places to visit, Nordkapp will be just the beginning; the jumping off point for travels to Svalbard, Siberia, and indeed the North Pole itself.
Nordkapp, Norway
For centuries, Nordkapp -- the northernmost point in continental Europe -- has marked the end of a long journey; the place where one turned around to go home. Now, as Arctic ice melts, and wealthy, sophisticated tourists seek out more exotic and remote places to visit, Nordkapp will be just the beginning; the jumping off point for travels to Svalbard, Siberia, and indeed the North Pole itself.
Proposed Site of the Gamnes Oil and Gas Transfer Terminal, west of Kirkenes, Norway
This remote peninsula outside of Kirkenes, Norway will likely soon be built into a major transfer hub for oil and natural gas. As polar ice recedes, and drilling is more feasible in this region north of Norway and Russia, ships from both territories will need a place to offload their oil onto bigger, intercontinental ships for travel to Europe, Asia, and North America.
Vardø, Norway
The remote coastal city of Vardø has seen its population decline for several decades. But as shipping and energy industries accelerate in the Berents sea, Vardø is exploring new opportunities. Its geographical location at the easternmost tip of arctic Norway places it right at the edge of Russian oil exploration, and shipping lanes heading east across the North East Passage to Asia.
Vardø, Norway
The remote coastal city of Vardø has seen its population decline for several decades. But as shipping and energy industries accelerate in the Berents sea, Vardø is exploring new opportunities. Its geographical location at the easternmost tip of arctic Norway places it right at the edge of Russian oil exploration, and shipping lanes heading east across the North East Passage to Asia.
National Vessel Tracking Service, Vardø, Norway
The remote coastal city of Vardø has seen its population decline for several decades. But as shipping and energy industries accelerate in the Berents sea, Vardø is exploring new opportunities. Recently located here, Norway's Vessel Tracking Service closely monitors all significant shipping along the country's extensive coastline, including Svalbard, to the north. Vardø is the only city in continental Norway located in a truly arctic climate zone.
Vardø, Norway
The remote coastal city of Vardø has seen its population decline for several decades. But as shipping and energy industries accelerate in the Berents sea, Vardø is exploring new opportunities. Its geographical location at the easternmost tip of arctic Norway places it right at the edge of Russian oil exploration, and shipping lanes heading east across the North East Passage to Asia.
Henningsvaer, Lofoten, Norway
Henningsvaer is a historic fishing village in Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its magnificent landscapes. Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast, making Lofoten a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Henningsvaer, Lofoten, Norway
Henningsvaer is a historic fishing village in Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its magnificent landscapes. Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast, making Lofoten a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Henningsvaer, Lofoten, Norway
Henningsvaer is a historic fishing village in Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its magnificent landscapes. Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast, making Lofoten a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country. Traditional cod fishing is still an important part of the northern Norwegian life and economy, though tourism, shipping, and energy exploration have long been encrouaching on the industry.
Cod Drying Rack, Tromsø, Norway
Traditional cod fishing is still an important part of the northern Norwegian life and economy, though tourism, shipping, and energy exploration have long been encrouaching on the industry.
Lofoten, Norway
Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast of Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its dramatic, mountanous landscapes. Local towns have become a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Lofoten, Norway
Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast of Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its dramatic, mountanous landscapes. Local towns have become a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway, is built around a bustling, but small, port. As ice melts in the Barents Sea, and offshore oil drilling accelerates in Norway and Russia, Tromsø is positioning itself to become a major supply and repair hub for drilling rigs and their attendant ships, as well as tourism and trans-arctic shipping.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway, is built around a bustling, but small, port. As ice melts in the Barents Sea, and offshore oil drilling accelerates in Norway and Russia, Tromsø is positioning itself to become a major supply and repair hub for drilling rigs and their attendant ships, as well as tourism and trans-arctic shipping.
Lofoten, Norway
Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast of Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its dramatic, mountanous landscapes. Local towns have become a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Road Construction, Lofoten, Norway
Plans are underway to permit drilling of oil and natural gas immediately off the coast of Lofoten, a region of Norway beloved for its dramatic, mountanous landscapes. Local towns have become a major hub of environmental activism throughout the country.
Project Statement
The Arctic is at a critical turning point. For most of human history, the forbidding region has been inaccessible to all but a few small groups of indigenous subsistence communities and elite European explorers. The twentieth century brought new exploration and increased industrial activity to these remote northern areas, but the cold winters and ice-packed oceans have proved to be formidable barriers to mass industrial expansion …until now.
Global climate change has recently resulted in the warmest years on record, while increasing worldwide energy consumption has led to more aggressive searches for fossil fuels and other mineral resources. As the planet warms, and the sea ice melts at a record pace, stakeholders in energy, extraction, shipping, fishing, development, and tourism are gearing up to take advantage of the region’s suddenly increasing accessibility. Some small towns are poised to become major hubs for transportation and extractive industry, while long fabled sea routes, including the Northwest Passage, are about to become viable for commercial shipping and tourism. Meanwhile many coastal communities are rapidly preparing to move inland before their hometowns are inundated by rising tides.
My goal, over many years, is to document in photographs the colonization of a new space, and to record the dramatic changes certain to occur in the remote areas of northern Alaska, Canada, Norway, Greenland, and Russia. In the summer of 2013, I traveled with Michael Burger, a creative writer and environmental lawyer, to northern Norway — the most fully developed Arctic region, where government and industrial entities are preparing to take advantage of the substantial changes just beginning to take shape.