Antarctica
Antarctica is the last frontier, the Earth’s southernmost continent, an untamed wilderness which only few adventurers have the privilege of exploring. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and at over 14 million sq km, it is the 5th largest continent. Around 98% of it is covered in ice, yet is it the driest continent, as well as the coolest and windiest. Only the resilient survive its harsh conditions, such as penguins, many varieties of seals, whales, moss and lichen, and the hardiest of birds such as albatross and skuas.
That said, it is one of the most inviting and fascinating corners of the earth to anyone who loves nature at its pristine best.
Antarctica is: spectacular scenery, unique wildlife and extraordinary wilderness, While some may think it is too cold to visit, in summer the temperatures sit above 0 so it is no colder than a trip to the ski slopes. The sun shines brightly and the air is as pale a blue, as the sea is deep.
We are fortunate that many an explorer have travelled before us so that now we can visit and enjoy the experience in comfort and safety.
The simplest way to get these is a cruise from Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. It is less than a two day trip across the Drake Passage to the Antarctica Peninsula which is an area teeming with wildlife, and spectacular glaciers, mountains, volcanoes, islands and channels. The Peninsula is quite protected from the weather so in just a few days here, the explorer can get a real taste of Antarctica. From here, some cruises also continue on to South Georgia and The Falklands which are spectacular in their own right and make one feel like they are following on the footsteps of the great man himself, Ernest Shackleton.
Other cruises explore the Weddell Sea in search of the great Emperor Penguins, and also cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand to the Ross Sea Region.
A typical day on your Antarctic cruise involves some lectures from on board scientists and Antarctic specialist, 3 or 4 landings per day with ample time to wander amongst the penguin colonies, zodiac cruises amongst the ice bergs in search of wildlife, and of course whale watching. All with plenty of time to soak up the wonders of this most magical continent.
“ I seemed to vow to myself that some day I would go to the region of ice and snow and go on and on till I came to one of the poles of the earth, the end of the axis upon which this great round ball turns.” Ernest Shackleton