Bear Island. June 1596 Bear Island. 1839

Bear Island The Bear Island was named by the Barentsz Expedition in 1596 after a severe fight and killing of a bear. The La Recherche Expedition visited Bear Island in 1838, and the members were impressed by the fantastic shapes of the cliffs on the island.

© University Library of Tromsø - 1999. The Northern Lights Route is part of The Council of Europe Cultural Routes. The Cultural Routes are an invitation to Europeans to wander the paths and explore the places where the unity and diversity of our European identity were forged.