28 A VOYAGE TO SP1TZBERGEN. 
In 80° 40' N., sporadic blocks of drift ice were en¬ 
countered, which increased in number and size the 
farther the ship went. The ice between the large ice 
masses was two or three inches thick. An accident 
happened to the Sofia in 81° N., which compelled her 
to return to an anchorage in King Bay in order to be 
repaired; but as she was too much damaged to do 
further work in the ice, the expedition returned home, 
reaching Tromso on October 20. In 1869 Captain 
Koldewey proceeded to Shannon Island, and made 
numerous scientific observations there. The winter 
coming on, he was obliged to go into harbour, where 
he was frozen in on September 22. During the winter 
sledge journeys were made, and the highest latitude 
reached was 77° 1' N., on April 15, 1870, when severe 
storms drove the party back. At this point the shore 
was lined by ice four miles wide, and apparently 
several years old. Extensive surveying and other 
scientific operations were carried on. A large fiord 
was discovered in 73° 13', which was ascended for 
seventy-two miles. This expedition was a very suc¬ 
cessful one from a scientific point of view, and was 
important in showing that on the east coast of Green¬ 
land, in 75° N., reindeer, musk oxen, and other ter¬ 
restrial animals occur in great abundance, while the 
climate seems to be mild, Another important voyage 
