Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Norway
The Polaria building is designed to look like blocks of ice pushed ashore by the Barents Sea.
Attraction of the Month, Norway
A wild, arctic experience with a purpose The arctic maritime experience centre Polaria lets everyone get up close and personal with the wildlife and nature of the high north – right in the middle of downtown Tromsø. But a day at the Polaria is not all fun and games. Through fascinating films and intuitive exhibitions, entertainment is balanced out with important education about the environmental threats facing both the Arctic region and the whole planet. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Ola Røe
The Polaria centre, which is designed to look like blocks of ice pushed ashore by the rough Barents Sea, is hard to miss when walking around in the city of Tromsø. Inside, four seals, named Bella, Mai San, Loffen and Lyra, play around in the arctic aquarium next to a range of Arctic fish species. “Polaria has exchanged predators like orcas, sharks, bears, wolves and eagles with curious human spectators from near and far. They all fall in love with the seals’ calm temper and intelligent nature. According to my colleagues in the aquarium, the seals are far smarter than their dogs at home. They’re all full of personality and 108 | Issue 98 | March 2017
have become an important part of everyday life for all of us. It’s hard not to get attached,” admits Polaria’s managing director Geir Stokke. Such intimate meetings with the Arctic mammals are rare. While medium-sized harbour seals, such as Loffen and Lyra, can be found in various parts of the world, larger bearded seals, like Bella and Mai San, are normally not found south of the Svalbard archipelago. Luckily, if you, like many before you, get an icy crush on the smart seals and cannot stand the thought of saying goodbye, you can sign up for an exclusive sponsorship programme to stay
in touch and contribute to their welfare. “If you decide to become a sponsor, all your money will be used for seal toys and accessories for the pool. You get the opportunity to enter the aquarium to greet and pet the seals, and you’ll receive updates about your new friends in the year to come. We currently send newsletters to far off countries like Australia and the United States,” says Stokke.
A priceless panorama of a changing world Before meeting the Arctic seals and fish, however, you will be given an educational experience bound to leave a lasting impression. Polaria was established as a foundation when the Norwegian Polar Institute, a national institution for polar research, was moved to Tromsø and still cooperates closely with renowned researchers at Framsenteret to communicate new knowledge on the polar region in a visual and intuitive way.