Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld was one of the
most famous Swedish explorers and geographers, mostly known for his travels in the huge
areas above the Polar Circle. During his great expedition with the steam- and sailing ship
Vega, his ambition was to sail around Europe and Asia through the Bering Strait. That
journey came to last for two years, because he and his crew were forced to stay over the
winter in the ice only a few miles from navigable waters.
The expedition is reported by Nordenskiöld
himself in a scientific work. The captain of the Vega, Louis Palander, wrote a book of his
own. Mostly unknown is the diary that the carpenter on board, Sven Andersson - known as
Vega-Sven - wrote and which was published as late as 1978. These three individuals are the
story-tellers in this cd-rom & internet project. The project is done in co-operation
with the National Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, The Royal Academy of Science and the
National Maritime Museum also in Stockholm and sponsored by the Kunskaps- och
kompetensutvecklingsstiftelsen in Sweden. (Knowledge and Competence Development
Foundation of Sweden.)
Visual material for the story (-ies)
are mostly the black and white
photographs by the photographer of the expedition , captain Louis Palander himself. He was
one of Sweden´s earliest pioneers in photography. Around 70
glass plates depicting above all the Siberian Chutchi is the main
part of the material. But also the crew and some landscapes may be found on the remaining
plates. Some maps and woodcuts from the popular press at the time are included.
This cd-rom & internet project
aims at an all- inclusive description of the Vega expedition. It concentrates on the
period during the winter months of 1878-1879 when they were forced by the mass of ice to
unwillingly keep up winter quarters. It was frustrating indeed for Nordenskiöld , his
crew and scientists to be so close to navigable waters but still having to be put to a
standstill. But perhaps that was fortunate for us living now ? Because hadn´t they been
forced to sit in the ice that winter waiting for spring to come, we hadn´t been able to
admire Palander´s fine photography today. Normally there was not much time for him to
indulge in his hobby. And all other crew and scientists could use the time for
research and contemplation.
The carpenter, Sven Andersson - Vega-Sven -
wrote a diary all through the travel. It is a moving document mostly addressed to his wife
at home - Marie. He writes about weather and wind of course, but also about quarrels
onboard between the crew and their officers and the tough daily routines. He also
describes his encounters with " the wild and dirty natives". His descriptions
stand out from the cool and scientific observations of Nordenskiöld. Comparing the two
accounts gives a vivid picture of class distinctions onboard the Vega.
Modern Arctic Research will also be
included in the cd-rom. Since the early 80´s Swedish ice-breakers have been roaming the
Arctic seaways on expeditions run by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariate. The
Nordenskiöld tradition is strong. Today´s high-tech approach to Arctic studies could be
compared and measured with the adventures of the early explorers.
A full-length English version of
this web-site might appear in the future if our sponsors are good to us. The sponsors can
be reached and influenced here.
The cd-rom will be
available soon through P&Design
Frejgatan 62 - 113 26 Stockholm
Phone 08-32 69 93
Fax 08-30 11 12
Knut Ekström
Social anthropologist & documentary filmmaker
Phone & Fax: +46-8-641 21 89 / +46-8-644 56 82
e-mail: knut.ekstrom@abc.se
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