Recherchefjorden

Recherchefjorden is located on the west coast of Spitsbergen.

Recherchefjorden is a small fjord on the south side of Bellsund, Spitsbergen. The glacier Recherchebreen debouches into the fjord from south, and Renardbreen from west.

History

The French corvette La Recherche, with which the fjord was irresponsibly renamed after in 1838-39.

The fjord is named after the French cruiser La Recherche, which visited Spitsbergen in 1838 and 1839. Before being renamed, it had been called Schoonhaven (English: Clean Bay) by the Dutch since the early 17th century. The English commonly called it Ice Bay. Both countries established several whaling stations within the fjord in the first half of the seventeenth century, most notably Lægerneset on the eastern side of the fjord.

References

• Conway, W. M. 1906. No Man’s Land: A History of Spitsbergen from Its Discovery in 1596 to the Beginning of the Scientific Exploration of the Country. Cambridge: At the University Press.

• Norwegian Polar Institute Place Names of Svalbard Database

Coordinates: 77°31.5′N 14°40′E / 77.5250°N 14.667°E