Festningen

At Festningen the rock strata have been tilted almost vertical and eroded so that walking a few kilometres along the shore crosses some four hundred million years of geological time in sequence, from Devonian sandstone through to the Cretaceous, which makes it one of the most complete accessible sections anywhere in the Arctic. Dinosaur footprints are preserved in one of the beds. The site is protected and nothing may be collected.

What's there

• The vertical strata - beds tilted upright so a walk crosses them in sequence.
• The time span - some four hundred million years across a few kilometres of shore.
• The dinosaur footprints - tracks preserved in one of the Cretaceous beds.
• The name - the fortress-like ridge of harder rock the site is named for.

When to go

June to September is the boat and walking season. The shore is exposed to swell from the fjord mouth. Snow covers the section outside summer.

Things to know

The site is protected and collecting rock or fossils is prohibited. Landing depends on swell at an exposed part of the coast. Polar bear protection is required ashore.

Nearby

Isfjord Radio is west, and Longyearbyen is east.

Key facts