Arctic Circle Mugs

The Artic Circle // Ice Queen original artwork - 1950s pin up woman as the icy queen of the Arctic ocean over a coordinates old map - Beautiful snowy beach and mountains lanscape Antartica like - Surreal nostalgic vintage collage by MsGonzalez

Wow. What else can I say to describe what it was like to be in Reine on this winter morning? After a few mornings of cloud, it finally cleared and we were treated to two continuous hours of sunset, with beautiful oranges and yellows to the south and pinks to the north. Just stunning. Location: Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway Camera: Nikon Df with 16-35mm f/4 lens

We got very excited on the last night of our recent trip to Lofoten because it looked like everything was coming together. The sky was clear, the northern horizon was starting to glow green...and then this happened. Luckily we got a few beams before the clouds completely covered them up again!

I couldn't believe how many gorgeous sunsets I saw in Lapland. The sun seemed to be in golden hour for most of the day and became even more striking around sunset. What a great way to start an evening of northern lights watching! This shot was taken just outside the glass igloo village at Santa's Resort, Kakslauttanen.

The sea crashes onto the rocks of the island of Hamnøya in the village of Reine. This was sunrise on my second-to-last morning in the islands, and it was by far the most memorable day of our trip. For two hours, the sun sat just above the horizon to the south and lit up the entire fjord in pink.

Morning in Nusfjord -- the lapping of the waves against the rocks, the cawing of seagulls, the absence of vehicles and busloads of visitors. It's a wonderful place to wake up and start the day. Location: Nusfjord, Lofoten Islands, Norway Camera: Nikon D750 w/ 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and Lee Big Stopper filter

Do you or someone you know love arctic animals? This Arctic Animal Conservation - Save The Arctic Circle design is for you. Threatened polar animals surrounding a circular graphic and message makes a great gift for wildlife lovers, conservationists and environmentalists alike. This design has distressed effects for a vintage look.

Olstind Mountain aglow in the pink of a January sunrise in the Arctic. The sun hardly got over the horizon, but for the two hours that it sat there, it turned everything an otherworldly pink colour. It really was a sight to see.

arctic animals

A tantalising hint of the aurora behind the clouds on Flakstadøya in the Lofoten Islands. Unfortunately these clouds were an ever-present part of our trip there so this was just about the closest we got to seeing the aurora. That said, there's no way we could complain, because Lofoten in January is one of the most stunning places in the world.

Join those who find uncomfortable thrilling, the Arctic Circle Running Club

Just a cool map design presented to you by the artists at Arctic Fitness

arctic atomic ship

Reflections of the outskirts of the town of Svolvær. Taken on a late winter afternoon under the threat of a winter storm.

One of many forest-lined roads that snake through Finnish Lapland -- this one just north of the Arctic Circle outside Kemijärvi. Unlike many sections of road in the area, this one was not covered in reindeer seeking shelter from the ever-present mosquitos!

A circle design with a photo of the National Park.

Arctic Monkeys quote

Auroras seen at the Fort Yukon Long Range Radar Site in Fort Yukon, Alaska above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. Lovely colors and to the eye, they were extremely bright and vivid.

Arctic Char

The 2013 edition of the Icehotel, with its entryway's ice glowing brighter than the full moon above. Camera: Nikon D700 w/ 24-70mm f2.8 lens ISO100, 15s @f13

Curious and beautiful weathered iceberg in Hornsund, Svalbard, in the Arctic Circle. This photo was taken from the deck of the ex ice-breaker Polar Star. Camera was a Canon EOS 5D Mark II Featured in Groups, such as "Superbly Visual"

An island appears against the gloom of an approaching winter storm in the Barents Sea, as seen from the Hurtigruten heading east from Tromsø.

A waterfall of water from a nearby glacier crashes down the rocks of Strupen Plateau in the Lyngen Alps.

The island of Magerøya in Norway's Arctic north is an interesting place to visit in winter, especially because it's so far north (at 71º north) that it has no trees on the entire island -- meaning it often turns into a sea of white, especially when storms like the one on the horizon roll in!

Approaching the huge Braswellglacier ( with a face of over 150 miles ), Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean. Taken from the deck of the ex ice-breaker Polar Star, at midnight, under the midnight sun. Camera: Canon EOS 5 D Mark II

One of the many icebergs seen on an inflatable "Zodiac" cruise around Burgerbukta, in the Arctic Circle, Spitsbegan, Svalbard.

The giant globe statue that stands at North Cape (Nordkapp), the northernmost point in mainland Europe (we'll just ignore the fact that it's on an island). It was a stormy day -- not unusual for the area in the winter -- which made for some very interesting skies.

There's a reason drives around Norway take so long. Yes, it could have something to do with the winding roads that dangle a speed limit in front of you as an unattainable goal, and maybe a little to do with doddering caravans too. But I think a lot of it has to do with stunning scenes like this! Location: Between Olderfjord and Repvåg on the road to Nordkapp in northern Norway Camera: Nikpn D750 w/ 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and Lee Big Stopper filter

The Tenojoki (Teno River, or Tana River if you're on the Norwegian side) winds its way between Finland (on the left) and Norway (on the right). Seen from the top of Nuvvus Ailigas, one of three fells named "Ailigas" that watch over the Utsjoki region.

A RIB (rigid inflatable boat) ready to head out to sea for a snorkeling trip. Yes, I jumped in a snow-filled RIB to go snorkelling in winter. Yes, I may be a bit crazy.

A gorgeous little spring babbling through the forest just in front of the lodge where I stayed in Äkäslompolo (Lodge 67ºN).

I set out to walk the length of Svinøya Island in Svolvær to see some stockfish (cod that spend all winter drying on racks around the Lofoten Islands) up close and personal. While I was successful in this mission, I was also saw some absolutely stunning views of the fjord surrounding Lofoten's capital as well.

In the centre on the mountain side is the formation called "Svolværgeita," or the goat of Svolvær. In the summer you can climb to the top of it and stand in the goat's horns!

The MS Polarlys, part of the Hurtigruten fleet that travels up and down the coast of Norway daily, pulls into Tromsø under the midnight sun at around 12.30am. I captured this from the top of the Fjellheisen cable car, which conveniently runs until 1am in summer.

The sky glows orange with the midnight sun over the Tjeldsund Bridge that links the mainland with the islands of Vesterålen and Lofoten.

The mountains around Tromsø¸ basking in the glow of the 'midnight sun' (it was actually around 10pm, but I think that's close enough). Captured from the beach at Folkeparken -- it's a great place for views of mountains in almost every direction, yet still so close to the centre of the city! Location: Tromsø, Norway Camera: Nikon DF 2/ 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens

Everywhere you look in the fjords of northern Norway, there seems to be another waterfall. I've had to pass so many of them because I know I'll never get anywhere otherwise, but this one, with such a photogenic old stone bridge spanning it, was unmissable. Location: E8 south of Tromsø, Norway Camera: Nikon D750 w/ 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and Lee Big Stopper filter