September 2, 2010

The Beauty That Is Antarctica

Icebergs are not the only association that can be done for Antarctica but penguins, albatrosses, and elephant seals as well.From tiny baby fur seals that weigh 10 pounds at the most to massive blocks of ice that hold 3.3 billion gallons of water achieving a weight of 3 million tons, the windiest, driest, and highest continent does not fail to impress.

Choosing to go to Antarctica for the Christmas holidays were two well traveled teachers despite its reputation as a land of frozen wastes and uneventful expeditions. Saying that they have been to the continent is what drives these teachers to continue with their plans of going to the land of Antarctica. They did not only read about the explorer in a travel magazine but they have spent much of their time thinking about the trip. Get in touch with this resource if you have a desire to find out about antarctic cruise.

Preparation was important, the women found. Considering a day spent in Antarctica, you will need three pairs of socks with one being wool, rubber boots weighing a massive 15 pounds, insulated underwear under your regular set of clothes and parka, and rubberized pants and slicker that are not only seamless but waterproof as well. Lastly, they should have a waterproof and a regular pair of gloves.

From cold feet, the situation can always develop into a case of frostbite. This is the Southern Hemisphere's summer. Having ice warm up to a point above the freezing point led to some possible travel on the breaking ice pack but the water remained at 32 degrees nonetheless. It was in one Antarctic research station where air temperature was measured by a thermometer to be at 47 degrees. It was snowstorms and sleet storms for the Explorer when the evening came which was the reverse of the direct sunlight it enjoyed all day.

Highly unpredictable weather as well as wind directed day to day itineraries were what the women were told about. However, never in their 24 days on the southern ice cap did the women encounter anything like the 84 below wind chill that hit the two ladies' hometown on Christmas Eve. To get a closer look on cruises to antartica visit this site.

Although dreaded, the Drake Passage proved to be no obstacle. Claiming a lot of ships along the way is this passage going from the tip of South America in Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula.The Explorer's passage took 48 hours and the women used the seat belts on their bunks to strap themselves in for sleep. It was a bruising experience for one of the ladies.

At least a million penguins were there. You could even walk up to them not to mention their nests. All the penguins do with one another is talk. Something enjoyable is what it was. A lot of seals were there as well. Their mouths were open as they scooted around the place. You may be in for a bite if you get close to them and their babies.

Much beauty can be seen all throughout. Shades of blue were in the sky and on the water which was so clean. Magnificent were the icebergs that ran up to three stories high and were as big as city blocks as they floated along with penguins. 20 years is the amount of time that the old whaling stations they saw have been closed down. Part of their journey did not involve a plane ride but a view of the early explorers' huts in the South Pole, a number of these still had old canned goods.

Starting their trip was a trip to Punta Arenas on the south end of Chile to the Shetland Islands, and then moving on to Antarctica then the South Orkneys, then to South Georgia and then the Falklands before going back. Agreeing to how different their holidays has become are the two.

Permalink • Print

Related Entries

Made with WordPress and an easy to customize WordPress theme • Blank skin by Denis de Bernardy