s/v Nine of Cups A Sidetrip to Antarctica March 10-20, 2006

Return to Home Page

Antarctica Facts: Capital:          None Population:     Officially none, except at research stations                         and then 1,200 in winter; 5,000 in summer Land Area:      5,100,021 sq miles...varies due to changing ice shelves.                          It is the 5th largest continent. Language:         No official language Currency:          No currency Highest point:    Vinson Massif 16,066 feet above sea level According to the Antarctica Treaty of 1959, this continent is "owned" by no one, although several governments have claimed territory and have permanent stations located on the continent. Only research for peaceful means is allowed. Overall, it is the coldest, darkest, highest and driest continent. We left Nine of Cups on a mooring in Ushuaia and boarded the ship, Explorer (aka The Little Red Ship) bound for Antarctica for 10 days. Our trip took us across the Drake Passage, the Antarctic Convergence (the meeting of the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans) to the Antarctic Peninsula.

We were blessed with fine weather crossing the Drake Passage and arrived at our first stop  at Aitcho Island in the South Shetlands to find green moss hills and lots of gentoo penguins.

Without a doubt, Antarctica is the most exotic place we have ever visited. It is "other worldly". Beautiful, cold, austere, serene, remote...it is each of these, all of these and so much more.

The wildlife was incredible. We saw gentoo, adelie, chinstrap and macaroni penguins. Other birdlife included several types of albatross, skua, snowy sheathbills, petrels and Antarctic terns. Most birds were not shy and showed no fear of humans. We were told to maintain a distance of 15 feet from any wildlife, but obviously the birds had not read the manual and walked right up to us, curious about these large animals invading their turf.

On Danco Island, the sign noting the historical signficance of the island also provided good, but limited, reading material for this local gentoo penguin. One in 800 fur seals are white and we were fortunate enough to spot one on the beach at Deception Island. In addition to fur seals, we saw elephant seals, Weddell seals, crabeaters  and the fierce leopard seals.

Ice is a major part of the landscape here. It is everchanging and magnificent. We had the opportunity to drift and wander through ice floe aboard Zodiac inflatables. The colors, hues and shadows were incredible.

The ice is home to many of the animals. Above, a penguin peeks out at resting seals.

We stopped and toured two stations: Akademik Vernadsky, a Ukranian station and Lockroy, a British station. Above, a vodka toast at Vernadksy.

Whales were a common sight especially Minkes, fins and humpbacks.

Return to Home Page