ICE QUEEN

Tamsin Cocks chats to Arctic captain Sophie Galvagnon about life on the top of the world and the launch of sustainable polar cruising company, Selar

- Tamsin Cocks

How did you become a polar explorer?

My father captained large fishing vessels and I've always had an adventurous spirit. Growing up in Sweden, I've always been drawn to colder climates, and this led to working on Swedish icebreakers. In 2008, I got an opportunity to work on a passenger ship for the Antarctic season, and I got a crush on the first iceberg I saw. That sparked a passion for ice navigation.

What are some of the most amazing things you've seen?

I could talk about some of the close encounters with polar bears... but for me, it has to be witnessing Arctic ice in the special autumn light. The dark and powerful red evening light illuminates the ice in otherworldly blue hues - it's breathtaking. I also love to discover uncharted territory: we once found a canyon in Svalbard, with a hidden lake below a glacier.

How much uncharted territory is left in the world?

While the Antarctic is relatively well mapped, the Arctic remains a mystery. Large portions of Eastern Arctic territories, including northern Greenland, Svalbard and Alaska, are largely unexplored. We do pass these discoveries on to governing institutes, but it doesn't usually translate into official maps as it's not an official expedition with certified data.

What accolades have you achieved?