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Trips
to Antarctica
Between November and March it is possible to make your dream come
true: visiting Antarctica.
Sailboat trips and cruises to the “White Continent” leave from
the city of Ushuaia,
located in the southern Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego (see map), covering
more than 1200 km.
The
trip usually takes 8 days but it may take 20 days if you wish to include
Cape Horn, Sandwich, Orcadas, Georgia and Falkland
islands
It
is also possible to take a semi-circumnavigation route to end up in another
continent, but several more weeks are needed. Along the way there are
different beautiful places rich in marine fauna that can be reached by
pneumatic boats. It is in those spots that activities take place making
the most out of the Antarctic summer when there is sunlight almost all
day long. Trips are always different because according to weather conditions
only certain places are reachable and the fauna can be more or less varied
and abundant.
While crossing
the Drake
strait, conferences on environment and the importance and characteristics
of the destinations are given by scientists and naturalists. Once in the
Antarctic region, there are stops to visit the bases of different countries:
the Almirante Brown station as well as the British station which has become
a museum
As
the ship approaches the islands, you will be able to watch several species
of penguins, seagulls, albatross, petrels and cormorants. Seals and sea
elephants can also be seen resting on the shores or on top of the icebergs.
Since everything in the Antarctic region requires special care and protection,
it is forbidden to touch the animals. Humpback whale watching
is also of special interest and always thrills passengers sailing across
the Gerlache strait. Bahía Paraíso, famous for its beauty,
is also one of the favorite spots chosen by whales
since its feeding grounds are rich in nutrients.
The ride along the narrow Newmayer
and Lemaire channels is shocking due to the height of ice blocks,
shaped into strange figures by the strong winds.
Prices
for tours to Antarctica depend on the length of the trip, the kind
of ship and the location of the cabins. Options include small ice breakers
with 30-40 passengers or larger vessels with 300 passengers. Traveling
for 10 days in triple and quadruple cabins sharing toilets are about US$3000
per person. There are also last-minute deals at discounted prices but
you will have to take the chance to be left behind if someone else pays
the full fare. Trips include most on-board services, information material,
tours and on board speeches given by scientists and naturalists. Rates
do not include personal insurance, drinks, laundry, telephone calls or
tips.
The official
language on board is English. Ships are provided with excellent heating
so it is recommended to wear light clothes except for walks where it is
essential to have winter clothes, raincoat, sunglasses and skin protection.
Several sailboats
offer custom trips including visits to Port Williams and Cape Horn, several
scientific stations, old whale shelters, the Shetland and Deception islands.
These sailboats have a capacity of 2 to 4 passengers and 4 weeks are required
to cover the itinerary. Rates
start at US$280 daily per person.
Some agencies
also offer different activities other than the traditional walks or fauna
watching. These include climbing, camping, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding,
windsurfing and diving.
It is advisable that foreign passengers include a couple of days in the
beautiful city of Ushuaia
to take advantage of several outdoor and indoor options: the Tierra
del Fuego National Park, the “End
of the World Train” or the exquisite local spider crab meat.
There are several cozy hotels
overlooking the magnificent Beagle
Channel.
About
Antarctica
The Antarctic Continent is of great importance to the global community
since many countries do research work and activities there.
An
ice sheet covering Antarctica makes it difficult to know its exact dimensions
though it is estimated to be 14 million sq km without taking into account
the islands and the frozen seas surrounding it. There is a vast sea area
that lies between Antarctica and the rest of the continents: 1000 km to
South America, 3000 km to Africa and 2000 km to Oceania.
Its climate is extremely cold, dry, windy and it hardly rains. There is
almost no summer. The coldest temperature ever recorded was –89,3°C
and winds reach 320 km/h with common blizzards and storms.
There
is very little flora and fauna: just lichens, moss, scarce plants and
invertebrate arthropods.
In contrast,
marine life supports abundant plankton due to the long periods of daylight.
This is a rich source of food for animals such as penguins, seals, elephant
seals, Antarctic pigeons, petrels, albatross, cormorants and seagulls.
Environmental Attitude
Since the ratification of the Protocol of Environmental Protection, Antarctica
has been designated as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.
Its
main value is that of being the only unspoiled source of information for
a wide range of geophysical, geological and biological studies which are
useful to all humankind.
Scientific
activity might be seriously restricted unless its natural characteristics
are well preserved from rising levels of pollution mainly caused by men.
Antarctic land and marine environments are so vulnerable that special
care must be given in order to preserve them.
The pioneers
It has been really a heroic deed what the first explorers experienced,
considering the harsh weather, the risky journeys and the physical efforts
they had to make. Maritime expeditions to Antarctica were a boom in 1911
and 1912 when the South pole was reached by Norwegian explorer Amundsen.
Later in 1914, Shackleton tried to cross the Polar Plateau but his ship
was trapped by the ice during the entire winter. The first aerial explorations
were done in 1929 by an American called Byrd.
In 1942 Commander
Oddera was in charge of the first expedition to carry out hydrographic,
cartographic, biologic and geologic surveys. The first runway in Antarctica
was built at Marambio station in 1969. It ended a long period of isolation
since the only way to get there had been via maritime routes. The Antarctic
explorers worked hard under harsh conditions: living in small tents, getting
water to survive, eating canned food, struggling with loneliness.
Let´s
keep their spirit alive by preserving Antarctica for the generations to
come!
More information:
www.marambio.aq,
www.antdiv.gov.au
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Pictures:
www.marambio.aq
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