Antarctica is the world's fifth largest continent, and extends for 14,000,000 square km or approximately 9,000,000 square miles. 2% of this landmass is bare rock, while the other 98% is covered in ice averaging 1 mile thick. It's also the largest desert in the world, in that it is a climate that has less than 250mm (10 in) of annual rainfall. This is certainly true of Antarctica.
The beauty of the continent is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean and with the Transatlantic Mountain range splitting it in half, it draws people form near and far to experience its ethereal existence. There are no indigenous peoples in the country, although several over a few hundred years have staked claim in it. Explorers included Captain James Cook of the UK who, in 1773, crossed the Antarctic Circle for the time in history and Sir James Clark Ross (UK) who founded the Ross Sea and Ice Shelf while searching for the magnetic South Pole. Antarctica's only permanent residents include penguins, seals, whales, krill, albatross, petrel and skua. Visitors will be greeted by a nonchalant, unthreatened stare from the animal population.
To reach Antarctica, you will need to depart from South America, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand with most ships leaving from South America. At one point you will cross the phenomenon known as the Antarctic convergence. Deep flowing cold water from Antarctica meets with deep flowing warmer water from equatorial regions and creates a circumpolar (goes around the pole) barrier approximately 20 - 30 miles wide. Since it came into existence 20 million years ago or so, during which time, there has been little exchange of marine life from one side to another.
In the Antarctica, dreams meet reality as you take in the breathtaking landscapes and seascapes. As you step onto Antarctica's bare landscape, you'll still see truly wondrous views. Depending on the tour operator you go with, there'll be between one and three landings daily, where you go on the mainland using zodiacs. Each trip lasts up to three hours with the cruises themselves normally lasting between 10 and 15 days. Once you reach land, there various things you can do and see.
You can camp, go mountain climbing, go kayaking or scuba diving. This may let you see this southern world and its inhabitants, such as seals, penguins and whales. You can also visit Deception Island, a volcano that has collapsed to form a natural harbour in the Southern Shetland Islands. Visitors, too, can make a stop at the surprisingly heated Pendulum Cove. A channel that has been nicknamed "Kodak Gap," Lemaire Channel, is extremely popular with visitors. It resides between the Antarctic Peninsula cliffs and Booth Island. If you want to laze away a day, check out Paradise Harbor, with breathtaking scenery and glaciers. Nearby you'll find the Falkland Islands, with a history that goes all the way back to the 16th century; then, Patagonians came to the islands and so did the Argentineans, French and British.
Smaller groups tend to go to Antarctica due to the limitation of the number of passengers allowed ashore at any one time. Expeditions to the Antarctica are seasonal and include stops at remote areas, historical huts, and wildlife sightings. Travel is only really possible in the summertime between November and March, when there's over 20 hours of sunlight. Temperatures are usually between one below degrees Celsius and 30 below degrees Celsius, depending on where you are; because this is also the windiest place on earth, this also affects the temperature. Nonetheless, no matter where you choose to land on Antarctica, you will find that you've literally set foot on a new world, pristine and largely untouched
The beauty of the continent is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean and with the Transatlantic Mountain range splitting it in half, it draws people form near and far to experience its ethereal existence. There are no indigenous peoples in the country, although several over a few hundred years have staked claim in it. Explorers included Captain James Cook of the UK who, in 1773, crossed the Antarctic Circle for the time in history and Sir James Clark Ross (UK) who founded the Ross Sea and Ice Shelf while searching for the magnetic South Pole. Antarctica's only permanent residents include penguins, seals, whales, krill, albatross, petrel and skua. Visitors will be greeted by a nonchalant, unthreatened stare from the animal population.
To reach Antarctica, you will need to depart from South America, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand with most ships leaving from South America. At one point you will cross the phenomenon known as the Antarctic convergence. Deep flowing cold water from Antarctica meets with deep flowing warmer water from equatorial regions and creates a circumpolar (goes around the pole) barrier approximately 20 - 30 miles wide. Since it came into existence 20 million years ago or so, during which time, there has been little exchange of marine life from one side to another.
In the Antarctica, dreams meet reality as you take in the breathtaking landscapes and seascapes. As you step onto Antarctica's bare landscape, you'll still see truly wondrous views. Depending on the tour operator you go with, there'll be between one and three landings daily, where you go on the mainland using zodiacs. Each trip lasts up to three hours with the cruises themselves normally lasting between 10 and 15 days. Once you reach land, there various things you can do and see.
You can camp, go mountain climbing, go kayaking or scuba diving. This may let you see this southern world and its inhabitants, such as seals, penguins and whales. You can also visit Deception Island, a volcano that has collapsed to form a natural harbour in the Southern Shetland Islands. Visitors, too, can make a stop at the surprisingly heated Pendulum Cove. A channel that has been nicknamed "Kodak Gap," Lemaire Channel, is extremely popular with visitors. It resides between the Antarctic Peninsula cliffs and Booth Island. If you want to laze away a day, check out Paradise Harbor, with breathtaking scenery and glaciers. Nearby you'll find the Falkland Islands, with a history that goes all the way back to the 16th century; then, Patagonians came to the islands and so did the Argentineans, French and British.
Smaller groups tend to go to Antarctica due to the limitation of the number of passengers allowed ashore at any one time. Expeditions to the Antarctica are seasonal and include stops at remote areas, historical huts, and wildlife sightings. Travel is only really possible in the summertime between November and March, when there's over 20 hours of sunlight. Temperatures are usually between one below degrees Celsius and 30 below degrees Celsius, depending on where you are; because this is also the windiest place on earth, this also affects the temperature. Nonetheless, no matter where you choose to land on Antarctica, you will find that you've literally set foot on a new world, pristine and largely untouched
About the Author:
Jeff Paulett is a partner of Coastal Cruises. If you would like to know more cruising the Antarctic, please visit their site at Coastal Cruises.
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